Crowe fights good fight in new movie

Remember that game you used to play in elementary school: "What's grosser than gross?" Let's play.

So what's grosser than gross?   How about a man crying, snot flying out of his nose and spit coming out of his mouth?

Or a man peeing on himself out of nervousness and fear?

No. Okay, what about a close up shot of a man's shoulder after it has been slashed with a sword and the wound is oozing with blood and pus?

Or a decapitation? Or someone getting sliced in half?

If you don't take offense to any of these images, then you will love "Gladiator." The movie, which opened Friday, is an epic drama that takes audiences back to the Roman Empire, the type of movie that has not been made for about four decades.

The movie starts out quickly. The audience members barely have time to put their popcorn and soda in a comfortable and accessible position and put their feet up before the first battle scene begins.
 

Maximus (Russell Crowe), the main character, gets a fast introduction before the flaming arrows start flying. The battle scene is chaotic as men from both sides run at each other with only one thing in mind: Kill or be killed. The battle ends and the lifeless bodies outnumber the ones still standing. Maximus has led his men to victory and is commended by Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris).

The Emperor reveals to Maximus that he is dying and that he wishes for Maximus to take over his position when he dies until the Senate shapes up and is ready to rule Rome. He does not want his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) to take over for him and he tells his daughter that if only she had been a man she would have been a great Caesar.

Maximus just wants to go back to his farm to be with his wife and son. When the emperor dies, Commodus, who is jealous of Maximus, orders Maximus' death and the death of his family.

Maximus escapes but is then sold into slavery where he is forced to fight to the death in a mini colosseum. The spectators at these fights are like an early version of the audience at "The Jerry Springer Show" where the crowd gets rowdier once the fists start flying. Maximus survives and makes his way along with the other slaves to the real colosseum. Here is where Maximus, the farmer turned general turned slave turned gladiator turns hero.

The movie tries to appeal to those looking for more than action as it alludes to the former romantic relationship between Maximus and Lucilla, the Emperor's daughter (Connie Nielsen). But the relationship between Lucilla and her brother Commodus is more interesting than that and is also reminiscent of people on "The Jerry Springer Show."

At one point he has her lay on the bed with him. He touches her lips and then tries to kiss her. She escapes his incestual attempts but she still can't get away from him. Not until the end of the movie is she fully freed from the hold he has on her.

Crowe plays Maximus with a fierce determination, but Phoenix is the one who steals the show. His eyes tell the story of his corruption. He exudes creepiness.

"Gladiator," is your basic action flick. Director Ridley Scott did a tremendous job with the fight sequences.   This is a movie that definitely must be seen in the theatre where the sights and sounds are magnified. Of course, that is if you can handle all the gore and bodily fluids on the big screen.