GLADIATOR (Russell Crowe) Movie Reaction - First Time Watching! bunnytails

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

The actor who played Proximo (the Gladiator trainer) was Oliver Reed. He was an extraordinary british actor, with a very interesting, fascinating and atypical life. He also was known for his alcoholism, having some scandals on TV and cinema as a consequence of this. During the filming of Gladiator in 1999, he sadly passed away. He had been sober for months, but one night (during a break from filming the movie) in an Irish pub in Malta (after a bet), he drank three bottles of Jamaican rum, eight bottles of German beer, numerous double whiskeys and challenged five young English sailors of the Royal Navy to arm-wrestling at The Pub bar (which after this incident was called Ollie's Last Pub). His bill, which was never paid, is preserved in a decorative frame in the bar.

[@anthonyguadagnino2681]

Stop copying and pasting the same thing over and over and over

[@dansmusic5749]

I did not know he was sober for months before the binge that killed him.

[@swk38]

oliver twist, the who's 'tommy', three musketeers ... just some of the ones i remember

[@hullbarrett]

I am more familiar with Richard Harris *(A Man Called Horse, Orca, and Unforgiven)* than I am with Oliver Reed. As a United Statesian, I only recognize Mr. Reed as Athos in *The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers.*

[@championskyeterrier]

@@swk38 The Lion in Winter! The Devils! The Brood! Burnt Offerings!

[@natmanprime4295]

"WHO WILL HELP ME CARRY HIM?" Gets me every single time 😢 Great film, you reacted well

[@alexbruce9499]

53:19 It's a bittersweet ending. Bunny's explanation of how she felt about it is actually a pretty good description of what that means.

[@Bar-Lord]

I saw this movie when it hit DVD in 2000. In the summer of 2001, I found myself standing outside of the Colosseum. You never know where life will take you.

[@alexmiller9461]

I snuck into this film immediately before I snuck into Final Destination because I was 14 at the time 😂. This film is a masterpiece, and the score... Yooooooo ❤

[@geoffharper8650]

Strength and Honour .

[@Stogie2112]

This is The Way.

[@faisalmemon285]

Honor and Strength.

[@SixFootTurkey_]

In the actual writings of Marcus Aurelius, it was more like Justice and Reverence, but I think Strength and Honor bears similar values

[@faisalmemon285]

@ Or sounds better for the movie.

[@EponymousRex]

Strength and Honour

[@leibmoshe]

When I travelled to Italy I stood in the middle of the colloseum in Rome. Amazing ancient structure. Modern arenas are modelled after it.

[@jamesparker4471]

Dang girl I've seen this movie a hundred times you made me cry. Really enjoyed watching it with you . .

[@benforwho]

A home run for Bunny's channel! Such an historic movie.

[@paulalexandredumasseauvan2357]

EXCELLENT REACTION! 😁 it is a PLEASURE seeing someone with a COMPETENT APPRECIATION for the work! 👍☺

[@luketinsley4289]

Once a soilder always a soilder. We are not allowed to rest. Even when our tour is done. Nothing has changed in 2000 years.

[@luketinsley4289]

@larsyxa i wont say it. It pssis me off no end. When people that nothing about the service. Keep saying it and salute me.

[@TroyConvers5000]

A masterpiece of a film; direction, cast, acting, cinematography, everything, watched this several times in the cinema, have the bluray blah blah. And that soundtrack is by Hans Zimmer, and it's MIGHTY.

[@Stogie2112]

Are you not entertained?! We mortals are but shadows and dust. Strength and honor. I think you've been afraid all your life. He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him. Revenge films are a dime-a-dozen, but "Gladiator" transcends the genre. A magnificent film!

[@bdleo300]

Pity they decided to tarnish its legacy with this 'sequel'

[@Stogie2112]

@ …. I won’t see the sequel. I don’t care if it’s good or bad.

[@maggieshevelew1693]

⁠@@Stogie2112 I won’t either. Nope. Why would you make a sequel, to one of the best endings ever filmed, in what is an absolute masterpiece of a film?

[@Stogie2112]

@@maggieshevelew1693 ... I read the sequel's plot summary just today. It is dreadful. Ridley Scott should be ashamed.

[@maggieshevelew1693]

@@Stogie2112Agreed. I truly hope the fact that there is now a sequel (ugh), doesn’t lessen the impact of this incredible film.

[@suflanker45]

It wasn't Maximus soldiers that arrested him. They were The Praetorian Guard. Caesar's bodyguard and the garrison of Rome. They were about 10000 strong at its height and the commander of the Guard was a very powerful person. To get Quintus loyalty Commodus offered him the position of commander Prefect of the Guard. Historically the Prefect and the Guard could make or break the Caesars if they were weak. The Guard pulled many power moves during its time but one of their most famous and first major power move was killing the insane Caligula and installing his uncle Claudius as Caesar. As Rome declined the Praetorians loyalty was to whoever offered them the largest bribe and then put them on the throne. After 15 years of rule Commodus was deposed by his prefect (who was named Quintus) when he found out Commodus wanted him dead. Commodus was strangled to death in his bath. The Guard were destroyed in 312 at the Battle of Milvian Bridge during a civil war between Maxentius that the Guard were loyal to and Constantine, yes that Constantine the first Christian Caesar.

[@faisalmemon285]

It’s Prefect and not Perfect like in those dumb British schools.

[@martinrayner6466]

Thank you for your beautiful reaction. _A story at its core, all about family with a single golden thread holding them all together. _*_Love._*

[@doorofnight87]

Oliver Reed, who plays Prospero in the film, actually died while filming this (during a day off of filming, he is said to have gone to a bar, consumed something like $400-500 worth of alcohol, beat a bunch of people, including some sailors, in arm wrestling and collapsed of a heart attack, an ambulance was not immediately called as everyone present assumed that he had finally passed out from all he had drank). This resulted in one of the first uses (if not THE first use) of CGI to superimpose his face over that of a stand-in, particularly the seen where he is killed, I think the script originally had him surviving. He got into frequent fights with Russel Crowe and Ridley Scott on set, which was typical of him. This was his first major role in a couple decades, Oliver Reed was an absolutely brilliant actor who was getting some recognition alongside contemporaries like Richard Harris (Marcus Aurelius) in the late 60's and early 70's, but by the late 70's he had basically made himself unemployable for being a foul-tempered, raging alcoholic who was impossible to work with along with being extremely and vocally misogynistic to all the actresses he worked with (and for a talent actor to end their career with such behavior in the 70's gives some idea of what a horrible person to work with he was).

[@TrentRushton]

I loved how at the end Maximus goes home

[@hgman3920]

When Maximus rides home to see his family, he basically rides all the way from Germany to Spain. That's why the horse finally dies under him.

[@factman-w8m]

That trek he took had to take him completely thru France. I assume it was at least two weeks before he got there.

[@muldoone6920]

@@factman-w8m He did say 3 weeks from the war at the start, that he'd be home, harvesting his crops.

[@spoonzor1]

What irritates me is that he is going as fast as he can, and for some reason they reach his home first. I love Gladiator but I hate that Ridley Scott time and time again ignores simple things like that and actual history.

[@factman-w8m]

@@spoonzor1 Don't be irritated.They had posts of roman soldiers everywhere, as far as Hadrian's wall in north england. A messenger immediately was sent out to the closest post in Spain, where Maximus lived,where those soldiers did the dirty work.THey weren't from germania or rome, they were in the romans precinct in spain. Maximus took nearly 3 weeks to get home on his own,stopped many times, many days and nights, and who knows how long it took them from the war zone spot in germania to that execution spot.That could have been the next night. THey may have taken a day to just get to the spot to execute him, while the messenger pony for the emperor commodus, was immediately on his way,first to france, then another pony express from france immediately took off to spain to a large roman soldier post, in Spain where they were the ones executing the son and wife.. Romans had soldier posts as far south as egypt.

[@spoonzor1]

@@factman-w8m I know how wast the roman empire was. But yeah I guess if they took time before the execution it seem logical. Maybe an unnecessary thing to get fixated on. Im just kinda annoyed with Ridley Scott lately :D Love his movies but the historical accuracy on his "historical" movies bothers me. I know this one isnt historical but still a time piece.

[@mikedignum1868]

"Am I not merciful" was an adlib that Connie Neilsen was not prepared for. This film has much in common with a 1960s film The Fall of the Roman Empire. FYI - Did you see the film crew in the crowd during the "Are you not entertained " speech? Left side...blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

[@TroyConvers5000]

That ending will ALWAYS tear me up.

[@willharris7609]

@@TroyConvers5000 Me too.

[@TheHessian123]

19:01 - "How did they get their hair like that"? The Gauls (Tribes around what is now France) and the Tribes around Germany often spiked up their hair like that before a battle. They usually used a mixture of mud and Lime (lime as in the mineral, not the fruit).

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

There are numerous hair care products used in ancient times. Grease and fat were fairly common in sculpting hair from Ancient Egypt to present. As soon as humans could they have come up with ways to decorate themselves with cosmetics. We have a couple of Ice Age and Bronze Age preserved bodies and they had combs, toothbrushes, and notably here had plaited and greased their hair and even had rough tattoos.

[@DavidB-2268]

50:42 by stabbing him there, it would cause a plural effusion, where fluid - in this case, blood - enters the lung, cutting off the ability to breathe.

[@Canadian_Guy_82]

Wow.. it's extremely rare to watch a reactor who is actually familiar with the Punic Wars, the battles of Carthage and the players involved like Hannibal Barca and Scipio Africanus. You know your history and have my absolute respect!! I loved your reaction and this is an automatic subscribe. I can't wait for your Spartatus reaction. The season 1 finale (kill them all) is probably my favourite episode of TV ever made lol!! What an amazing series.. RIP Andy Whitfield

[@benjamindover6685]

'What we do in life, echoes in eternity' What a line

[@willharris7609]

Fun Fact: "Ralf Moeller who played the big guy Hagen was a bodybuilder who also played Conan The Barbarian in a syndicated TV show. He is close friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger who visited him and big Sven Ole Thorson who played Tigris Of Gaul on the set of Gladiator.

[@totomomo18]

Great movie. This movie has one of my favorite quotes "I don't pretend to be a man of the people but I do try to be a man for the people" by Gracchus. You know the actor who play Gracchus played Claudius the emperor that is mention in the movie in a great mini series I, Claudius. Other great Russell Crowe movies you should see is A Beautiful Mind, L.A. Confidential ,The Next Three Days. Other great period movies are Rob Roi 1995 with Liam Nissan and The Count of Monte Cristo 2002

[@l.piloto7964]

Dogs and horses are so loyal the will run until the die of exhaustion.

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

Well I don't know about "loyal" so much as they just don't have any inkling of what else to do. You can see resistance to being driven to death in mules, donkeys, and camel who won't actually be driven to death without resistance.

[@l.piloto7964]

@@ididthisonpulpous6526 This is why I label them loyal I have seen mistreated dogs and horse run out of fear with a preference to run away or avoid the bad human. I understand and recognize that some may label it in other ways that would not be inaccurate.

[@havok6280]

I always appreciate when a reactor includes Maximus's entire vengeance monologue...

[@waterbeauty85]

As an homage to his Academy Award winning role in "Gladiator," Russell Crowe uses the same punch combo he used against Joaquin Phoenix in their climactic fight on Keith David in "The Nice Guys" (2016) - a great action comedy buddy film with a bunch of movie homages.

[@leonr1985]

The most Beautiful Reaction of Gladiator i have ever seen.

[@Maxbeedo2]

Love this movie. Was lucky to watch it as part of a film class in college (by far the best movie we watched). The chariot battle holds up as one of the best battles ever put on film.

[@jessc3007]

The ending of this film is a beautiful tragedy. I cried with you. Cry every time, 20+ years later.

[@natmanprime4295]

Same. WHO WILL HELP ME CARRY HIM. Every. Single. Time.

[@steelers6titles]

Sir Derek Jacobi had the title role in the magnificent "I, Claudius", about the first Imperial dynasty. This, that, and the other...

[@waterbeauty85]

That was a great series. Haven't seen it in decades, but I still love Claudius' comeback to people calling him a halfwit: "I've survived longer with half of my wits than others have with all of theirs, so it seems that quality of wits is more important than quantity."

[@gumbomudderx7503]

When this movie came out I bet I watched it dozens of times because it’s so good. The announcer guy who has the crazy eyebrows, he played a guy named Charles Moffett in a tv show called Airwolf that I loved when I was a little kid. He wasn’t in but a couple episodes but that’s where I always recognize him from lol

[@winslowredcross2835]

The beginning got me into reading about the Germanic Cherusci chieftain Arminius, the Germanic hero Siegfried (also known as Sigurd), the Merovingian Franks and the rest of the movie got me into reading about the history of the Roman/Byzantine Empire. The ending is so good. Such a great movie!! Great reaction Bunnytails.

[@steelers6titles]

Richard Harris, another legendary hellraiser, had a big pop hit with Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park".

[@waterbeauty85]

I remember Richard Harris telling a story about acting in a play with Peter O'Toole. There was a long stretch when their characters weren't on stage, so they would pop across the street to a pub to down a few pints then go back to the theater to finish the play. One night, they spent too much time at the pub and got back to the theater just in time to miss their cues. In a rush, Richard Harris ran out onto the stage and tripped. He slid across the stage right to the edge so he was face to face with the people in the front row, and one woman exclaimed "My God! Richard Harris is drunk!" Harris relied "You think I'm drunk? Wait till you see O'Toole!"

[@steelers6titles]

@@waterbeauty85 O'Toole and Richard Burton agreed to abstain from drinking while making "Becket". Afterwards was a different story.

[@johnrenton3217]

The song is featured in the new "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" movie - both Richard's original and Donna Summer's disco version... 🙂

[@steelers6titles]

Someone left a cake out in the rain.

[@johnrenton3217]

@@steelers6titles That's in the movie too... 🤭

[@williamterry8316]

Thanks bunny for another terrific reacts! Gladiator is great and is history, and even bad history, is worth watching. The details are authentic, but since it's a Hollywood movie, all the fights in the coliseum are to death, for drama and action. The general opinion currently is that audiences saw a variety of spectacles; plays, singing, sports like track and field, and live executions, like the scene in "Bread and Circuses". Looking forward the Gladiator 2, as I've always been fascinated by Caracalla.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks!

[@waterbeauty85]

I remember when a restored version of "Spartacus" was released to theaters, a deleted scene of a man having his arm chopped of in battle was put back in. For the scene, a real amputee was fitted with a fake arm, and they actually chopped it off for the camera. Practical effects, man.

[@scottmitchell3641]

Cool.

[@jermainemartinez8282]

Interesting fact: Dolph Lindgren who played Ivan Drago in Rocky was offered the role of Tigris of Gaul. “What we do in life, echoes in eternity” true words. I love this movie, it's definitely in my top 10 favorite movies.

[@tsogobauggi8721]

7:00 "Black like bunnytails hair..." 27:15 Freaky like you... 35:42 "They're probably gonna die..." Oh you... :) 40:48 "To my wife..." :D

[@rpmfla]

I highly recommend a film from Russel Crowe's early career titled "Proof" (1991). It stars Hugo Weaving (who you may recognize from The Matrix and Lord of the Rings) as a blind man who likes taking photographs. This was before Russel Crowe became a huge box office star, and one of my all time favorite films.

[@decidueye2963]

90s Crowe > 2000s Crowe

[@zamdrist]

It's always a pleasure to watch this movie with someone who had never seen it. It's such an amazing work of cinema! Great reaction, as always!

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks!

[@chrisamundson8653]

That was a great reaction bunny, I had a lot of fun watching this with you

[@hansenbee123]

First person ive ever seen react to any historical ( medieval or older ) battle scenes and actually ask legit questions....ur awesome.

[@Tomoesong]

Exactly. None of other reactors knew what is Battle of Zama or even what is Carthage. Some of them vaguely remembers Hannibal so no one knew impact of winning first battle in Coliseum.

[@ad61video]

Connie Nielsen is one of the most beautiful women on earth. She is 59 now and still stunning.

[@scottmitchell3641]

Truth

[@maxsparks5183]

Who is Connie Nielsen?

[@petert834]

Gladiator is one of the best movies of the 21st century so far. Everyone cries at the end. Russell Crowe shows how while there are many great actors, some elevate themselves to be movie stars. This movie established Crowe as a movie star. This story is very loosely based on history. There was a Marcus Aurelius and a Commodus but it was not like this. Marcus Aurelius did show some disdain for the destruction of the Republic (by Augustus) and I believe he showed some support for the idea of Rome being a republic, but he also definitely left control to his own son Commodus. Commodus did end up as a bad ruler and more like a dictator and he did apparently sometimes fight as a gladiator in the games he provided which helped his popularity with the people. He ended up being assassinated and his rule generally is considered the end of the great Pax Romana (the 200 hundred of Rome at its greatest and before it started its long fall into ruin.)

[@tomyoung9049]

Great reaction to an incredible story. The emotions this brings up are strong and unstoppable.

[@SophieGreene91]

My BFand I watched the movie with you and girll we cried were feeling the vibe at the same spots and moments of this movie right along with you! Thanks again for sharing with us all Bunny? Cos,we love you and all the films and shows you do. Best forever! Sophia and Hans.🕊️ 🐰 😊 ❤️

[@larrycork49]

I was entertained! I've probably watch 20 reactions to this film and yours is in my top five!

[@scottmitchell3641]

Thanks Bunny! I really enjoyed your heartfelt emotional reactions in this one. Refreshing, as always.

[@l.piloto7964]

We are always entertained with the shows and movies but more so by your reactions🌹thank you Bunny.

[@l.piloto7964]

The Emperor tells Maximus "so much for the glory of Rome". He said it because he as Emperor is seen as Rome and he needed help to get on his horse.

[@scottmitchell3641]

Excellent insight. All these years and I have missed this completely. I was always baffled by that line, until now. Much appreciation. Thankyou.

[@l.piloto7964]

@@scottmitchell3641 My pleasure my friend I am not Maximus, but I live to serve.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Ohh thank you piloto! That makes perfect sense.

[@paulwt9783]

He says that referring to the de facto heir Commodus, who is standing there and who Marcus had just dealt with and expressed disappointment with. He is indicating Rome's glory would end w Commodus as the emperor.

[@johnbuchanon7717]

In this plot, Maximus' character also has a parallel with a Roman leader from 600 years earlier, Cincinnatus, who held & relinquished the dictatorship twice to return home to his farm. American revolutionary veterans created the 'Society of Cincinnatus' in honor of George Washington for declining the option of becoming a 'de facto' American monarch after serving two terms. Rome echoes to this day.

[@sirderam1]

Also note, the US city of Cincinati.

[@thunderstruck5484]

Saw at the theater, classic seen so many times, thanks again!

[@l.piloto7964]

That wound punctured his left lung causing it to slowly fill with blood, this makes breathing difficult and bleeds out mostly in lung so public can't see the large amount of blood loss.

[@thane9]

I'm really glad we were here to see this with you. Shared experiences are really a big part of life. Thanks for watching!

[@TheeCuyahogaChippewa]

Spartacus: Blood and Sand is one of the best series ever made. Extremely underrated.

[@steelers6titles]

From Wikipedia: In November 192, Commodus held Plebeian Games, in which he shot hundreds of animals with arrows and javelins every morning, and fought as a gladiator every afternoon, winning all the fights. In December, he announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. When Marcia found a list of people Commodus intended to have executed, she discovered that she, the prefect Laetus, and Eclectus were on it. The three of them plotted to assassinate the emperor. On 31 December, Marcia poisoned Commodus' food, but he vomited up the poison, so the conspirators sent his wrestling partner Narcissus to strangle him in his bath. Upon his death, the Senate declared him a public enemy (a de facto damnatio memoriae) and restored the original name of the city of Rome and its institutions. Statues of Commodus were demolished. His body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian.

[@Theairgat]

Your “not yet” got me, great reaction!

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Marco Aurelio was played by the first Dumbledore, yes (Richard Harris). Harris appeared in the first two HP films, but later on died. Therefore, Michael Gambon continued playing Dumbledore in the rest of HP saga.

[@TroyConvers5000]

Richard Harris had a long, storied career; the man had a ton of charisma, as did Ollie Reed. Both were world class piss heads too! 😅

[@waterbeauty85]

I remember Richard Harris shared an anecdote about playing King Arthur in the stage musical "Camelot." There's a big scene before the battle at the end when Arthur, despairing that everything he's accomplished will be destroyed, meets a young boy who has learned all about the Knights of the Round Table and the ideals they stood for and wants to join the battle. Inspired by this, Arthur asks the boy what his name is, and when the boys answers "Tom of Warwick," Arthur knights him Sir Tom of Warrick and orders him to leave the battlefield and stay alive to tell future generations the tale of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. That's how it's SUPPOSED to go, but during one performance, Richard Harris was drunk and asked the boy "What's your name TOM?" stepping on the poor kid actor's line, and when the bewildered child hesitantly answered "Tom..." Harris continued "And I suppose you're from Warwick."😂

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

@@TroyConvers5000 Both together had many many great stories!!! Two bosses!!

[@TroyConvers5000]

@@domingocurbelomorales8635 both with dubious histories around women.

[@mikemartin8461]

Bunnytails so glad you watched this I know you fully enjoy it from start to finish

[@solvingpolitics3172]

Marcus Arrilius (misspelled) died of the plague. His son Commodus was a tyrant and despised. As far as Marcus Aurelius, he was an incredibly wise ruler and philosopher. His book he wrote called “The Meditations,” is still in circulation today. It is well worth reading. P.S. Nobody has reacted to the HBO Miniseries Rome. One of the best acted and well made miniseries ever.

[@willlockler9433]

Absolutely do HBO Rome.

[@bdleo300]

Some people did react to HBO Rome

[@steelers6titles]

Good series, about the makings of the Juleo-Claudians, the first Imperial dynasty. There were seven generations from Julius Caesar to Nero.

[@solvingpolitics3172]

@@steelers6titles My favorite miniseries of all time but they were too realistic with the s/x and violence of Ancient Rome. As a result HBO lost 100 million dollars on the show. What a shame. If they had toned it down they could have had a far larger audience. Your thoughts?

[@steelers6titles]

@@solvingpolitics3172 Art before commerce...

[@doorofnight87]

In answer to your question, gladiatorial combat dates back to the Latin and Etruscan predecessors of Rome, and originally were often part of funeral celebrations. By the time that Gladiatorial combat became a public spectacle, there is indication that it started out that many survived the battles, but (kind of like seasons of TV shows ramping up everything every season) over the centuries it became more and more common for the battles to result in death. It also became more common to include wild animals, use its as a way to execute prisoners (christians and lions being the most infamous example (although off the top of my head I am not sure whether or not there is evidence this actually happened or was a later exaggeration). Gladiators could also surrender but that did also lead to the possibility of being killed by their opponent. The hand motions here (and in most/all modern movies) are actually reversed to what the Romans had it: thumbs up actually meant to kill the defeated opponent (the thumbs up looking rather like a blade stabbing the other person) and thumbs down meant to spare them (the thumbs down representing dropping the sword). The Coliseum (or Flavian Amphitheater as was its more proper name) was flooded many times for naval battles. Just like here people could be raised and lowered from the floor. There was running water up to the 3-4 floor of the building, and the entire 50,000 or so people that the building could fit could be cleared out of the building in 10-15 minutes (something I don't think any modern stadium or arena can claim), it was an extraordinary feat of engineering.

[@TheScimitar2]

"Felix? Felix the third?" The Roman Army was comprised of the Legions which were it's Largest Military unit. Each legion has it's own name and number designation such as Legion II Augusta or Legion IV Macedonica. Legion III Felix is the name of the Roman Legion in the movie though in reality there was no Legion III Felix. Though there were the Legion Gallica and Legion Cyrenaica both regarded as Legion III. The former formed by Julius Caesar and latter by Mark Antony.

[@TheDolfanar]

Spartacus and Gladiator are some of my favourite movies. I have always had an obsession with Ancient Rome and nearly even chose to be a history teacher. As far as how “real” or based on history… it’s 90% fictional. I STRONGLY recommend a KZbin channel called “history buffs” that did an episode on Gladiator comparing the movie to history. It’s a A+ channel. I think you’d really enjoy it.

[@ethirnandor5439]

Commodus was a real historic emperor, although there is no historic evidance he killed his father. History depicts him as cruel and weird and/or crazy (his conflict with the senate was real, but historians are not sure if it was crazy or strategic power-politics). He DID have a obsession with the gladitorial fights and actually fought in the colloseum in rigged fights. Maximus as a character was made up: Comodus was assasinated in real history. This was in many ways a decent depiction of the period though. Impressive movie!

[@mjbull5156]

In real history, Marcus Aurelius had no doubts about making Commodus his heir (he was the first Emperor in generations to have his natural son inherit the throne)., nor did he have any illusions about dissolving the office of Emperor. In fact, Commodus was essentially junior Emperor for years when his father died and ruled for tw e lve years after.

[@faisalmemon285]

And also there was no General named Maximus Decimus Meridius.

[@wgandy9541]

Bunny, I really enjoy watching your reaction to these great movies. (Yes I subscribed some time ago) Best wishes to you and your channel.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks very much!

[@jimrocks22]

watched it in the theater amd when Commodus lies with Lucilla someone yelled out “dude! that’s your sister!” the entire theater broke out laughing. Connie Nielson whomplays Lucilla recently has said Maximus is the father of Lucius she knew it but Russel Crowe didn’t know that but she did. Great movie review. Another great Ridley Scott Russell Crowe collaboration was “A good year” very different movie but Russell Crowe is a very versatile actor.

[@dpsamu2000]

Sorry for such a long essay. I just couldn't resist. The first battle running around in that chaotic melee was not how the Roman army fought. They locked shields in a line, and stabbed between the shields at the guy attacking the next guy's shield. It was a winning tactic. Any soldier that broke out of the line brought decimation on the other soldiers in the rank. They would execute 1 in 10 of all the soldiers in the line that broke. Opponents tried to break the line with concentrated attacks or hitting it with horse cavalry. The line could only move forward. Later armies arranged soldiers in squares that could move in any direction. Officers in the squares watched flags their higher commanders watching from a distance waved to know which way to move. Each square had their own flag design so they'd know which flag to watch, and the commanders knew which flag to wave. Gladiators were like the pro football players of their time. They toured the empire entertaining the people. They weren't killed willy nilly. They faked most of it like professional wrestling. They frequently brought in convicts, low lifes, and losers for real kills. They also brought exotic people, and animals from the farthest corners of the world to exhibit. The gladiator shows were paid for by the rich, and they gave out free bread too. The arenas where the shows were performed were circular. It was called "Bread, and Circuses". Everyone including the poor, and slaves could go for free. They also built aqueducts to bring water. They built vast public baths, roads, and ships for trade, and to move the armies. It was to demonstrate to "the mob" the reach, power and generosity of the rich. All to impress, and control the mob. The soldiers were loyal as long as they were paid. That all cost money. Marcus Aurelius asked Maximus to replace him as emperor but Commodus was in charge of the money. That's why Maximus refused. The Roman Empire fell when Roman commanders, and armies, recruited in the eastern empire most of whom had never even seen the city of Rome, rebelled successfully. Cut off from their source of wealth the west couldn't pay the armies, maintain the roads, or defend trade, and bring supplies. Rome fell, and that was the beginning of "The Dark Ages". Julius Caesar tried to unite east, and west as one nation with the marriage to Cleopatra. But that meant Roman capitalists would be collecting less from the east. So they killed him. He had set the Roman Republic up to be united so the transition to equality would be as painless as possible for the rich. It would have worked. His successor, Augustus, the first Roman emperor, ruled 65 years over the longest period of peace, the Pax Romana, in the history of civilization. Among subsequent emperors were "The Five Good Emperors". The last of whom was Marcus Aurelius. But inequality between east, and west brought rebellion of the east. After the fall of the west the eastern empire remained intact, though stagnant, as an economic power of civilization in the east all the way into the 20th century. When the west began to rise again rich capitalists from the east came to the west to exploit it as parasites. The gold they brought had the same economic effect as counterfeit money. That gave rise to the legal restrictions against eastern peoples' economic power. But gold has a way of corrupting law enforcement. Some assimilated into the west, "Christians", and some didn't, "Jews". That gave rise to the European tradition of animosity toward "Jews" continuing to call them parasites.. "The West" became an ancient, legendary, and for most of the east, all but forgotten enemy. Right into the 20th century most middle eastern peoples, with not a little justification, thought of themselves as the highest civilization on Earth. They were. But with industrialization the west rapidly, and quite recently, far outstripped them. At first they were cool with all the goodies western civilization brought. Just like they were when the Romans first came. But they recently realized, as a civilization, how inferior to the west they are. They don't like it. It is like how the US would feel if ancient Greece rose up today to dominate the world with starships, warp drive, and phasers. We'd say "WTF is happening?". "How did they get ahead of us? Why didn't we think of that?". They can get the goodies, but not as good as the west. That's why the middle east hates the west. Ancient science, begun in Greece, was based on observation, and modeling "theory" to explain it. They became great observationists. They drew as accurate pictures as they could of everything they could see. Plants, animals, anatomy, geology, geography, economics, politics, and astronomy. It served well from Greece all through to the fall of Rome. But as observation technology in the renascence improved the models of astronomy weren't matching the observations. Having emerged amidst the ruins of Rome the west recognized no matter how great Rome was they must have done something wrong. The key to modern western thought is based on the intellectual humility to ask, when theory doesn't match observation, "What might I be doing wrong?". The west has taken long strides indeed since then. The west is full of personal hubris but intellectual humility. The east used to be full of personal humility but intellectual hubris. They think they are the best people in the world. Now they have combined the personal hubris of the west with the intellectual hubris of the east. Their leaders have thousands of years of cultural mythology against the west to support the power of their leadership against the west. They don't have the intellectual humility to admit when they're wrong. That's why we have such a clash of civilizations.

[@jacobwalsh1888]

That's a very long post, sadly much of it is quite simply wrong. Decimation was incredibly rare, and Romans absolutely withdrew when needed. Mir did they fight in a solid line like a phalanx, the spaced themselves out and the rank behind occupied the gaps. Sadly the rest of your post is as inaccurate.

[@dpsamu2000]

@@jacobwalsh1888Troll. Incredibly rare is not the same as didn't happen. They did fight in a solid line. It WAS a phalanx. The history of the Roman Empire don't fit on a bumper sticker without some lack of detail. But you can't point to any specific wrong. Unless you want to start a fight so bunny deletes it all. Bunny, Don't fall for it again.

[@robertfindley921]

Watch Pan's Labyrinth. It's a whole new level of creepy, fantasy fun!

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

I’ve always wanted to see that one!

[@steelers6titles]

Scipio Africanus was a major Roman hero. Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime produced a huge epic film about him, Scipione L'Africano, in 1937.

[@paulmartin2348]

There is a quote attributed to Jerry Garcia, "The problem with choosing the lesser of two evils is that you are still choosing evil.". You reminded me of this when you were talking about governmental corruption at the end saying no matter who was in power there can still be corruption.

[@RigoObezo]

I always enjoy seeing people get emotional at the end of Gladiator. Can't wait to see the sequel.

[@patrickpost4294]

Nobody gives up power. Enjoy nerding out researching the History. Great reaction!

[@righthandoftyr947]

For anyone wondering about the real history: Maximus is fictional, but the royal family were all real. Though things played out rather differently in real life. Marcus Aurelius was remembered as a wise and competent philosopher-king, but he never tried to make Rome a republic again. He spent the last years of his life trying (unsuccessfully) to teach Commodus to be a good ruler. He died of illness while on campaign and Commodus ascended to the throne. Commodus unfortunately did not take after his father, he instead became an indolent party boy, spending his time and the empire's wealth on lavish parties, expensive games, and otherwise just frivolously living the high life while neglecting his duties as emperor. He did fight in the arena (which was of course highly unusual for an emperor), though only in carefully stage-managed events where there was little risk and he always won. Without a strong emperor to keep the it in check the scheming and backstabbing among the Roman noble families started to get out of control. Lucilla (the sister, who had been Marcus Aurelius' spymaster) tried to assassinate her brother and put her son on the throne. The assassins however fumbled the attempt and were captured, and after they revealed Lucilla's part in the plot she was exiled and later killed. After being betrayed by his own sister Commodus became paranoid and ruthless against anyone he perceived as going against him. Commodus had a list put together of everyone he viewed as a political threat or a malcontent, which amounted to a sizeable portion of the Roman nobility, and was planning to have them all arrested and killed. The list was discovered by the nobles and they decided their only course of action was to strike first before Commodus could go full Reign of Terror. So they had him assassinated on new year's eve (he was strangled to death in the bath after a poisoning attempt failed). This didn't lead to a restoration of the Roman Republic as in the movie, what actually followed was a series of civil wars known as 'The Year of Five Emperors' (because they were getting deposed so quickly that they went through five different emperors in a single year). The last of the five, Septimius Severus, managed to restore a degree of peace and order, but Rome never fully recovered its former glory.

[@seanwalsh72]

Gladiator is pretty much a perfect movie. One of my favorites.

[@willharris7609]

My favorite all time film. Moves me to tears everytime I see it. I get clowned by my friends but I don't care.

[@venomoverlord7016]

This was the quintissential rome movie the greatest of masterpeices 10/10

[@ManuelMalacara-oz9gl]

I like you don't take it superficial, you question and make very good thoughful comments, congrats!

[@michaelgonzalez6295]

This movie is an interesting mix. The culture, customs, gladiator fights, architecture, early Christianity, etc. are pretty darn accurate. What is not historically accurate is the entire story/ history. Marcus Aurellius never intended to return to a republic. Commodus never killed him. There was peaceful transition. And Commodus lived a long life of debauchery. He was strangled to death by a trainer/slave who was having an affair with his wife IIRC.

[@steelers6titles]

I had a history professor who said that Commodus was exactly as good an Emperor as his name implies lol

[@Mr.Quinnn]

The real marcus arealius died of plauge in vienna. The real comedus was murdered in his bath by his wrestling partner.

[@allenluo3747]

Wow, I was not expecting Hannibal Barca's name drop by a youtube reactor. Much respect to someone who actually reads history. Now the real test is if you know Scipio's given name, before he became Africanus.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

I forgot. I haven't done a deep dive on him yet. I got distracted with video game analysis. :( If I guessed Gaius or Marcus there's a decent chance I'd be right, but I'm not really feeling those for him.

[@allenluo3747]

@@bunnytailsREACTS Well, it's not a big deal. Everyone knows him by his title anyways. Publius Cornelius Scipio was his name. From all the biographies I read of him, I get the impression that he probably wasn't on Hannibal's level, as that man was a military genius, and probably had few equals in history. Yet Scipio was quite brilliant himself, helping his father and his brother conquer the province of Hispania (Spain) for Rome before his late twenties. Eventually, I think it was because of Rome's unrelenting spirit and human resources that finally won against Carthage. That and the fact that Hannibal had a large number of political enemies back in Carthage, the same way that Caesar did in Rome, constantly undermining him in all his endeavors. I think these days people most remember Hannibal himself, and only know Scipio by extension to him, which is kind of a shame, but hardly surprising.

[@thombat999]

The horses on his armor are named Silver and trigger in latin. Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers horses. Argento = Silver, Starto = sorta Trigger. It was the way you released a catapult, to whit Trigger sinces guns dont exist now

[@Jimhen59]

this is what good movies are supposed to do make you go and learn.

[@richardlukesh5807]

At 11:08 when Maximus sees the dead emperor, you'll notice a MANDOLIN playing. On the DVD director's commentary, the director Ridley Scott said he wanted that music played at that moment to show that the blood-feud/betrayals of the Italian Mafia have their roots in Ancient Rome.

[@Stogie2112]

Bunny, if you're up for another epic film, check out "Ben Hur" (1959) - arguably the greatest epic film of all time. This thrilling film is set in the time of the early Roman Empire, and it has religious themes, but you don't have to be religious to enjoy this magnificent film about love, hate, suffering and redemption. It's quite long (3 and 1/2 hours!), but it's worth it!

[@waterbeauty85]

"Ben Hur" s amazing.

[@Stogie2112]

@@waterbeauty85 ... I've watched it many times over 50+ years, and it still mesmerizes me.

[@waterbeauty85]

@@Stogie2112 I saw a couple of young KZbinr reacting to it, loving the spectacle and the writing and one of them excitedly said "It's just that good!"

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

​@Stogie2112 , For many years, it held the record for winning the most Academy Awards, FWIW.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Ben Hur is on my list :)

[@scottmitchell3641]

Bunny reaction: "Oooooooooooooooh!!! I was just gonna say, I love her gold-like shininess and everything ....... she looks so cool . . . . . . and then she just got chopped in half." lol Bunny is just the best reactor.

[@giodagrate5369]

I appreciate the amount of time you put into your thoughts at the end of each movie reaction. Keep up the great work 👍🏼

[@hcpiano]

Maybe my favourite film of all time. Great reaction!

[@UberDurable]

The gladiator movie Spartacus (1960) is based on true events, a good follow-up after this.

[@PhysicalMediaPreventsWea-bx1zm]

As she mentioned several times she actually watched that before this movie. It will probably be on KZbin soon.

[@davezink7944]

I think they used tigers and lions back then - that was their entertainment back then - crazy stuff ! 🤪

[@waterbeauty85]

At the inaugural games for the Colosseum (aka Flavian Amphitheater), the entertainment was scheduled to include condemned prisoners being eaten alive by animals, but the huge, cheering crowd frightened the animals so much that they wouldn't come out even though they were starved, and the prisoners had been smeared with raw meat. To appease the disappointed audience, the animal handler was dragged out into the arena and publicly executed.

[@davezink7944]

@waterbeauty85 that was their NFL , NBA MLB- no TV internet back then - really nuts 🥜

[@steelers6titles]

Claudius, the fourth emperor, was poisoned by his fourth and last wife and niece, Agrippina the Younger (sister of Claudius' predecessor Caligula), and her son Nero. At least according to Suetonius and Robert Graves.

[@09rja]

They ought to make a movie about the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

[@erickmanzano2476]

Is that the same battle in which the movie "the eagle" the son of the general who looses said eagle tries to go back with a barbarian slave to find it ?

[@09rja]

@@erickmanzano2476 Don't know. Never seen 'The Eagle'.

[@TFT-JF]

I love your reactions.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Bunny, you may have very well known the phrase far earlier, but your commenting on the bread and circuses Commodus put on, immediately made me think of your reaction to the ST episode of the same name!!!

[@Nimbus1701]

Extraordinary movie. This is one of those movies that really resonates with guys. 300, and The Last Samurai are a couple of other ones. Obviously, there are many more, but these are the kinds of movies that can somehow touch and speak to almost anyone. Your reaction helps confirm that belief. I am really looking forward to the new movie coming out next week. I plan on seeing it opening weekend.

[@johnclawed]

Marcus Aurelius wrote "Meditations" which was a self-help book he wrote for himself, and not intended for publication. It contains things like how he motivates himself to get up in the morning. It and Aristotle's "Ethics" are said to be the GOAT of self-help books.

[@bruceheckerman7343]

Of all the movie reactors I have watched, you would be my pick to sit down and watch a movie with.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

As long as you don't mind my crying!

[@Ram-nn7uz]

I love to listen to your logic with your reactions. More please 🙏