Gladiator

Five Stars: ˜˜˜˜˜

The word “hero” gets thrown around a lot these days. This 2000 epic explores the concept of a true hero in the setting of ancient Rome. In a time of bread and circus much like our own, everybody fight. The question which defines heroism is the why: what are you fighting for? For power, for love, for entertainment, for justice? When civilization itself balances on the edge of a blade, how you use that sword matters. A good question for modern America, this movie fully deserves all its acclaim.

TRAILER

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.”

“Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back.”

“There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile.”

Robin Hood

Three Stars: ˜˜˜

Every time I watch the 2010 version of this story, I am left unsatisfied. It seems to have all of the necessary elements for a successful epic: a great plot, an accomplished director, talented actors… yet somehow it failed to jell. There is nothing glaringly wrong with it, but neither is there anything spectacularly right. The most likely culprit is poor writing which lead to nonexistent character development; although I’m certain the writers would blame the relatively brief two-hour time frame.

TRAILER

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“What has eighteen legs and isn't going anywhere?”

 “It wasn't fear in her eyes, it wasn't anger. It was only pity. She knew that when you gave the order, and our blades would descend upon their heads, in that moment: we would be godless. All of us.”

 “If you have to ask, it’s not a gift.”