The movie begins with General Maximus defeating Germanic tribes. He then wishes to return to his family, but is told by the emperor, Marcus Aurelius, that his son Commodus is unfit to succeed him. Marcus Aurelius asks Maximus to succeed him as emperor to save Rome. Commodus finds out about this and kills his father. Commodus names himself emperor and arrests Maximus. Maximus escapes but returns to his home to find his family has already been killed. He is then captured and forced to become a gladiator. Maximus does well as a gladiator in North Africa, and is sent to Rome to fight in the Colosseum for the gladiator games that Commodus puts on to commemorate his father’s death. Maximus is dressed as a Carthaginian to re-enact the battle of Rome vs. Carthage. Using his military skill and strategy, Maximus is able to lead his team of gladiators to victory. Maximus reveals himself to Commodus and is saved by the crowd. Maximus’ next fight is against an undefeated gladiator. He wins and spares the life of his opponent, defying the orders of Commodus. Maximus then meets with an old friend from the army and devises a plot to take back control of Rome from Commodus. Commodus then challenges Maximus to a public duel. Maximus defeats Commodus in combat, but ultimately succumbs to his wounds. Before Maximus dies, he asks for political reforms, and is honored as a soldier of Rome.           

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I thought that it did a good job of portraying Ancient Rome while also delivering as an entertaining blockbuster movie. I thought that it was really interesting to see Maximus in the role of Hannibal, as a leader who was able to use superior strategy and skill to defeat Roman soldiers. Another important part of the movie was its portrayal of pursuit of individual glory versus service to the state of Rome. Commodus is clearly portrayed as the villain due to endless pursuit of power, glory, and status for himself. He has no desire to serve Rome, he only wants to further his own agenda. Meanwhile, Maximus is the ideal Roman soldier. He is not loyal to any one man, he fights in service to Rome.

The movie begins with Spartacus biting a Roman soldier’s ankle in an act of defiance. He is sentenced to death by starvation. While he is left out to die, he is seen by a Roman named Batiatus, who owns a gladiatorial school. Batiatus is impressed with Spartacus’ spirit and purchases him to become a gladiator. While at the gladiatorial school, Spartacus is trained to become a gladiator by Marcellus and meets Varinia. Next Crassus shows up at the gladiator school, purchases Varinia, and arranges for Spartacus and three other gladiators to fight to the death. Spartacus’ opponent, Draba, refuses to kill Spartacus and is ultimately killed by Crassus. The next day Varinia is taken to go to Crassus’ house in Rome. Marcellus taunts Spartacus over Varinia, which leads to a riot, and Spartacus and the gladiators escape. Spartacus becomes their leader, and many other slaves join with them, including Varinia, who escaped, and Antoninus, an ex-servant of Crassus.

Spartacus and his men defeat the Roman garrison sent to destroy him, led by Glabrus. The Roman Senate panics and gives power to Crassus. Crassus bribes the pirates who were going to help Spartacus escape, and Spartacus is forced to turn north towards Rome. Crassus’ army meets Spartacus’ and wins. Crassus attempts to identify Spartacus among the survivors, but all the survivors refuse to help, instead shouting “I am Spartacus!” Crassus then sentences them all to death by crucifixion. Crassus also takes Varinia, who has given birth to Spartacus’ son. When Varinia rejects him, he seeks out Spartacus and forces him to fight Antoninus to the death. Spartacus kills Antoninus to spare him from crucifixion. The movie ends with Varinia escaping Rome and meeting the crucified Spartacus on the Appian Way, who dies knowing that his son is free.

One topic that we discussed in class that came up in this movie is the Roman conception of friendship. Early in the movie Spartacus attempts to befriend Draba in the gladiatorial school by getting to know him. This is a nontraditional conception of Roman friendship since there was no transactional element and neither gained anything socially from the friendship. A more traditional sense of Roman friendship is seen between Batiatus and Gracchus, Crassus’ main opponent in the Senate. Batiatus and Gracchus have a friendship because they are each able to gain something. Gracchus is able to use Batiatus’ information about Spartacus and Varinia to attempt to take down Crassus, and Batiatus is able to use Gracchus’ influence to get back at Crassus for causing the destruction of his gladiatorial school.