Advantages: Acting, story
Disadvantages: Very long

...I don't normally like watching these epic films, but since this one got such rave reviews I decided to give it a try. The film starts in the middle of a war and the Romans win due to their saviour, the general. The emperor dies and the general is banished by the new emperor, and his family is killed. He is bought as a prisoner from a market and becomes a gladiator. The film is at first slow and boring but picks up and gets better as the story line unfolds. It is very gory and also at times emotional. It is truely one of the classic films of our time.... Read review

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Advantages: Exciting, Memorable
Disadvantages:

...My first instinct when watching trailers for this film was an eye-rolling 'stay away', and I did manage to aviod Gladiator for several weeks after its release. I was persuaded to see it by my wife, who had heard all sorts of excellent reviews, etc. Well, seeing it was a great decision. The story follows a Roman General from being the great conquerer and a favourite of the Emperor to a lowly gladiator who narrowly escaped death in the order of the new Emperor. Fortunately for him he was the type of general who led his troops into battle and had the martial skill to rule the arena. A strong story, with humor, sadness, and lots of testosterone.... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting, fast going, challenging.
Disadvantages: Requires concetration.

...The first time I saw it I didn't understand as it was in Mandarin and subtitles in Swedish. A nameless warrior wants to kill an emperor. Isn't that ordinary? But when that warrior talks to the emperor introducing different versions of the assassins' plotting the simple story becomes intruiging. I was fascinated by the way the fights were filmed, by the play of colours and textures and by the way the producers/directors managed to create a complex tension between two females. There is not a lot of dialogues in the film but it is important to follow what's been said to get the twist, beauty and genius of the film. I would consider the film more of an art than action film and believe it would satisfy even the most demanding aesthete. Great story.... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of levels, variety of levels, humour and voice acting well done
Disadvantages: Boring music, somewhat restrictive camera

...*A review of Disney's The Emperor's New Groove for PlayStation.* I've not seen the film but from the video clips featured, the game appears to stick to the film fairly closely, starting out in the village where Kuzco is discovered by good guy Pacha, then following the journey in which the Emperor seeks to find a way back to his palace. Disney's The Emperor's New Groove is said to also feature songs from the film, but the South American style music here is bland and for sure takes a back seat to the action. The only sting found in the game comes from that of the scorpion enemies which appear on some of the stages (!). The voice cast from the film is present however, and the humour - in particular the self-referential - is well-realised though the voice samples for Kuzco's actions can grate after a while. Graphically, the level... Read review

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Advantages: more," I, Claudius" than "Gladiator"
Disadvantages: a very long film, flags in places

...Augustus is a film in the old tradition. Taking a subject period that sees it rubbing shoulders with Gladiator, Ben Hur and Spartacus, for a new film it has the feel of something more akin to a release from thirty years ago. Whereas the likes of Gladiator sells itself with well-done action and big budget effects, this film relies on a well-scripted and well-acted biography of Rome's first emperor. As the aging Augustus lies waiting for his final hours to come he reflects on his rise to power from a country boy on the edge of the empire to the most powerful man in the world. Unlike the movies mentioned above which are fictional tales set against a historical reality, Augustus is a realistic biography and follows the real course of events well. The story of Rome's first emperor is one as good as any fictional tale, and it contains all... Read review

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Advantages: innovation
Disadvantages: tracks are too long for some

...The first time that I heard 'Godspeed You Black Emperor' was soon after the f# a# infinity album was released in 1997. I had found the album whilst browsing through the 'Post-Rock' section of a record shop. Although I had never heard of the band, I liked the look of the record sleeve and bought it. When I got the album home, I sat back with a cup of tea, cranked up the volume and waited. It was the most beautiful music I had ever heard. GYBE are pure emotion. The music surrounded me, absorbed me. There's just something about their sound that seems to vibrate in sympathy with the essence of me. Godspeed You Black Emperor are an enigmatic 9 piece from Montreal, Canada. They remain fairly aloof to the media, and have only done a few documented interviews to date. Instrumentation consists of anything from guitars, strings... Read review

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Advantages: superb film
Disadvantages: non

...the Emperor's death, but before he can do anything about it, he is betrayed by Quintus, and Maximus is put under arrest and sentenced to death. But the great man manages to escape, and makes his way home to his wife and son, only to discover, Roman soldiers had been there first and his family had been killed. After collapsing through exhaustion and wounds Maximus is discovered by rogue slave traders, and taken to Zucchabar a rough dirty old town in North Africa, where he is soon sold on to a Gladiatorial school and forced to fight for his life. Maximus is an intelligent man, and soon realises that if he can, please the public, and put on a good show, he will eventually get to fight in the great Roman Coliseum , from there he may be able to get to Commodus, and gain revenge for his family and Emperor, and take control of his beloved Rome... Read review

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Advantages: awesome battle scenes, brilliant storyline
Disadvantages: absolutely none!

...Actors: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi. Run time: 149 mins (approx). Director: Ridley Scott Gladiator is one of my all time favourite movies, combining brilliant battle scenes, Some great performances from the actors and a superb story. Let me first give you a run down on the story. Maximus is General of the armies of the north, loved by his troops, like a son to the emperor. After the opening battle The Barbarian hordes have been defeated and Rome has no more enemies. The emeperor asks Maximus to return power to the senate and the people of Rome. The emperor's son, Commodus, is furious and kills his father blaming it on Maximus. Maximus escapes but this leads to his capture by slavers. He is forced to fight as a galdiator and defeats anyone who challenges him. This leads him to Rome... Read review

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Advantages: ALL