The Ultimate Story of Vengeance – Gladiator Movie Reflection

I’ll start by saying I really appreciate the ability to sit down and watch a movie during finals week. Having seen gladiator before, the idea of a rewatch was exciting without the added bonus of procrastinating work from other classes. Gladiator is an absolute classic – a movie I consider a must watch at some point in anyone’s lifetime. The storyline is not complex; Maximus, a seemingly legendary Roman general, is chosen to be heir to the throne by emperor Marcus Aurelius. The trouble with this? Maximus is not the son of Marcus Aurelius, a title that belongs to Commodus, who naturally believes himself to be the rightful heir to the throne. Overcome by anger, Commodus attempts to kill both Aurelius and Maximus, however failing to kill Maximus, leaving only his father dead. Maximus barely survives, and is subjected to a life in slavery. As a slave, he shows great promise in the realm of gladiators, building a reputation as ‘the spaniard’. Eventually, his great success earns him a trip to the city of Rome where he is to fight in the grand coliseum. At the coliseum, after a fantastic performance, he reveals to Commodus, now the emperor, his true identity. Horrified that Maximus is not dead, Commodus challenges Maximus to finish the job. When it comes time to fight, Commodus inflict a wound that would prove to be fatal unto Maximus before their fight, only to be bested by our protagonist regardless. Maximus kills Commodus in front of all of Rome, before dying himself from the wounds previously inflicted. 

I think this movie is fantastic. There’s this really satisfying sense of vengeance that leaves the viewer happy with the outcome. Additionally, I think anyone who enjoys movies that include fighting will enjoy this movie, as the fight scenes are grand, even if they are incredibly gruesome – the movie is certainly not for the faint of heart. That said, this is definitely not the last time I watch the movie. I have seen it a few times now, and every time I have found it entertaining on multiple levels. On the most basic level, the movie is a cool display of a simple story of a man chasing a life that was taken away from him. On another level though, the movie is really a good demonstration of the grandeur of the Roman Empire. A viewer gets a phenomenal look into how glorious the games and the city were, which is a really cool aspect of the movie. 

All in all, definitely a high quality movie and a good recommendation for a friend.