*GLADIATOR* brought me to tears... | First Time Watching | (reaction/commentary/review)

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This film was phenomenal!! Russel Crow was brilliant as Maximus and the spectacle of seeing the gladiator games in the Colosseum was just breathtaking. Enjoy :)
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GLADIATOR brought me to tears... | First Time Watching | (reaction/commentary/review)
*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.

[@xenijagrunschnabel7766]

It's not possible not to cry watching this film. I wish I had seen this film in theater when it came out.

[@BryGoose]

This and Last Samurai get me everytime

[@xenijagrunschnabel7766]

@@BryGoose Love Last Samurai. Watched IT for the First time only a few months ago. It's my favourite Tom Cruise film

[@BryGoose]

@@xenijagrunschnabel7766 for sure my Tom Cruise favorite too. Although Edge of Tomorrow is a close second

[@Ghizmo78]

You were asking why he picks up the dirt. It’s for better grip on the sword. Takes the sweat off the hands. Like when a weight lifter uses chalk on hands . To remove sweat and grip better. Great movie.

[@dudedysseus]

I never thought about the parallel of both Maximus and Commodus both having to "win the crowd" in their own ways. Good observation.

[@samansu9106]

Tbf to Marcus Aurelius, it is established that Commodus had always been a sadistic, cowardly, and power hungry fool. His father knew he was not a moral man and knew from a young age that he could not allow his son to be Caesar. He certainly failed to love his son as he should have and potentially made the problem worse, but not loving Commodus didnt turn him into a monster. He already was one.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah I like this take. It honestly marries what’s I said with some of the opposite takes in the comments. I think he certainly could have done a better job and things wouldn’t be as bad but there’s definitely a lot of “nature” there, not just “nurture”.

[@samansu9106]

@thecocoacouch thanks! I really appreciated that you addressed that Marcus Aurelius probably wasn't a good father. Too many people gloss over it because Commodus is evil already. Being a ruler makes it hard to be a good and present parent for sure, but it doesn't help his kids. At least we get examples of good parents in Maximus and Lucilla. It's definitely possible to still be a good parent when busy or away. Marcus Aurelius and Commodus is just heartbreaking no matter how bad of a person Commmodus was already... It's an amazing scene.

[@radicalreactions1633]

You don't understand psychology. A psychopath, which is what Commodus is, CANNOT BE FIXED, no matter what the parents try to do. @@thecocoacouch

[@thecocoacouch]

Just scrolling around and noticed you’ve commented soo many times!!! Love the energy.

[@jujubegold]

Phoenix’s role in this film portrayed a sociopath. He wasn’t corrupted by his father not respecting him or lack of love per se. It was his greed for power. His father knew his lack of morals would destroy Rome.

[@thecocoacouch]

I think he may have been though for most of his life. I honestly believe if perhaps he wasn’t emperor and focused more on raising his son well, he would have turned out A LOT better. But that’s just my POV hey.

[@jujubegold]

@@thecocoacouch Perhaps. But in the film we don’t see the big picture of how he was raised. But we do see how he relates to those around him. His father, his sister, his stepbrother. It’s quite possible it was something his father failed to teach. As he admits it at the end. But sometimes people are just born evil. I think it was in his case. But it makes for an incredible performance!

[@radicalreactions1633]

PSYCHOPATH, hence him not being a "moral" man since he was YOUNG. Psychopaths are born that way. Narcissism is lack of love, entitlement, need for power, doesn't care about anyone else but themselves - which is also Commodus.

[@radicalreactions1633]

That's because you don't understand psychology, again, it would change ZERO.@@thecocoacouch

[@radicalreactions1633]

What stepbrother? No, again, psychopathy cannot be taught OUT of someone, they're born that way. His performance is the same in every film, that's not a good performance when you know that they're looking at an emotionless tool that can't cry a tear.@@jujubegold

[@iceprincess2134]

One of the things no one seems to have commented how the end ties into Marcus Aurelius' comment about how Lucilla would've male a great Caesar. Now that Commodus is dead her son is the next in the line of succession and since he's so young she gets to be regent.

[@Muck006]

"Not being loved by his father" ISNT the reason why Commodus "goes berserk" ... he ALWAYS lusted for power ... and thus SHOULD NOT HAVE IT!

[@robbob5302]

Maximus uses the dirt as talc. So his hands aren’t sweaty. And his sword won’t slip.

[@shainewhite2781]

Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture. "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? IS THIS NOT WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR!?"

[@yannhollister9091]

One of the best soundtrack of all time, composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerard

[@dzravt]

I'm pretty sure the soil was to stop their hands from getting too sweaty so the sword won't start slipping so fast. In gymnastics we would put powder on our hands before swinging from the bars, or our feet, for that same reason.

[@wompa70]

Commodus is a textbook sociopath. Marcus really couldn't do much in raising him to make him different. Now, he could have had a better succession plan than springing it on Maximus and NOT TELLING ANYONE! lol. Maximus was a farmer. His life was dedicated to the dirt and his family. That's why he checks the soil before each battle.

[@radicalreactions1633]

No, Commodus is a textbook PSYCHOPATH, BORN that way.

[@MegaMerdeux]

Sociopaths are made that way by circumstances of society. Psychopaths are born this way. I wonder then what exactly happened to Commodus that turned his a sociopath? I personally don't believe he's a sociopath and neither a psycho. He's simply a dude who's weak, resentful and lack of self respect. And chose that dark path.

[@sophiepalmer-doran344]

the flashes from the afterlife to the present may show his transition from this life to the after life

[@bea3ce687]

It's not that Marcus Aurelius didn't love Commodus: it's that he could see that he was not the right choice for a ruler. While Commodus was a spoiled brat and equated "obtaining anything he wanted from daddy" to "being loved". Now, as Marcus aknowledges himself, that is a his failing as a father. He was an intellectual, a philosopher, and still he brought the Empire to his wider extension. He was deemed one of the "good emperors" both by his contemporaries and by history. But you can imagine how much time he had for his children... The idea of adopting a future heir in the family, anyway, was not invented by Ridley Scott: Marcus Aurelius himself was not the natural son of Antoninus Pius, he was adopted into the family in order to become the heir, because evidently he was considered the best choice. So Commodus could have piped down, the idea was not out of the ordinary at all... Emperors were not kings, there was no "bloodline" to maintain. Of course this is just fiction: irl Commodus started to work with his father a few years before he died. It is true though (according to historical reports) that he was cruel, immoral, and vicious. Evidently he let it loose once he was the only emperor. And he was indeed killed during a Senate conjury by none other than a former gladiator (but in a way less spectacular way!)

[@burrichgrrl57]

Thank you for this. I was thinking that Commodus was the first son to become Emperor. The previous ones, the "golden ones" were adopted.

[@Augustus_Imperator]

I remember when it came out, I was just a little kid and my father rented it as a VHS, it's already been 23 years, so many years have passed but I will never forget it and the cultural phenomenon it became, it deserves it all.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

That scene is amazing when he removed his helmet to the emperor...it seemed as though the emperor pissed his pants.

[@joaoluizfonseca6914]

I think this was Joaquin Phoenix's first Oscar nomination'.... that "AM I NOT MERCIFUL!!??" scene is just amazing; Ridley Scott created a masterpiece with this film

[@safespaceforstupidtakes933]

DUDE WTF i never connected that was the first Professor Albus Dumbledore ...

[@jonrazo7912]

Richard Harris. Also the priest in the Count of Monte Cristo.

[@safespaceforstupidtakes933]

@@jonrazo7912 whattt no way

[@drkushajagadeesh6347]

5:50 Half of them are literally just standing there without swinging. It's just an exercise in futility 22:25 Yep, my face probably looked exactly like that while watching that scene! 😂😂 32:14 Well, from a no-nonsense, logical point of view, palms get sweaty from the stress of battle. Swords tend to slip out of sweaty hands. Rubbing dirt in your hands is equivalent to a weightlifter or a gymnast rubbing powdered chalk on their hands for better grip. This concludes my PSA on dirt rubbing 😬

[@MrMin316]

This is a masterpiece and the music is breathtaking

[@timothypanngam2249]

A beautiful film; Story, acting, cinematography, soundtrack, dialogue. It really had it all. Another great film where Russel Crowe shined was "Master and Commander the Far Side of the World" - have you seen it?

[@thecocoacouch]

I have not seen master and commander!!

[@timothypanngam2249]

@@thecocoacouch oh you are in for a treat!

[@kalh4907]

“Are you not entertained⁉️” Some great quotes & music in this now classic and epic movie. 💛 Maximus : [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next‼️”. Surprisingly Russell Crowe won the Oscar for best actor for Gladiator. Hans Zimmer score stellar as always but lost out to also stellar Tan Dun for the excellent movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. My only nitpick with Gladiator is that the Colosseum most likely was far far more packed than that! Still gets to me the deaths of his wife and son as well as the end of course. Hopefully the sequel being made is excellent too. Joaquin Phoenix acted a perfect villain! Loved Djimon Hounsou in Gladiator as Juba and glad he lived. Juba : “And now we are Free. I will see you again... but not yet... Not yet!” Thank you for your delightful reaction/review as always 😊 P.S. Kingdom of Heaven is worth a watch too about the Crusades and very loosely based on historical figures but Ridley Scott & composer Harry Gregson-Williams made the film quite beautiful and epic.

[@TerraZetzz]

What is everyone's thoughts on Quintus? Why did he go against Commodus at the end? I feel like he just wanted to be loyal to Rome even if he didn't like Commodus. When he started losing to Maximus, he switched sides.

[@dall1786]

So many people get bent out of shape that this movie won best picture but it really was the best picture of the year When you watch this movie you don't even see the actors you just see the characters are playing and that's it. Crowe and Phoenix were so good. This really was the academy awards returning the snub that crowe got years earlier for LA confidential. Another great movie.

[@malacaimarbas2048]

A lot of people have mentioned the dirt as a grip enhancer (which it certainly is) but I always interpreted it as Maximus being a farmer, before a fighter. He always wanted to return to his farm, to his own soil, black as his wife’s hair.

[@MegaMerdeux]

I don't see why it can't be both...

[@maggieshevelew7579]

Thanks for your reaction to such a great film! It’s certainly one of my favorites. Back then, Russell Crowe couldn’t do a bad movie. Would love to see you do more of them. L.A. Confidential, Cinderella Man, Master and Commander, A Beautiful Mind, 3:10 To Yuma…. all of them are simply brilliant films.

[@jillfromatlanta427]

Also The Insider and The Next Three Days.

[@burrichgrrl57]

I love The Sum of Us. An oldie but goody.

[@roguechevelle]

The acting and speeches are so well done in this. Juaquin did an amazing job cuz I absolutely loathed him lol. I do understand the sympathy toward Commodus it's hard not to when your an empathic person and he has so much emotion in his conversation. And I get how Marcus could've been a more present father, that him recoiling from his son's sadistic nature whether unconsciously or not could've made him more dangerous later. But I will say Marcus knowing he isn't a moral man and expects to be given rule I would've never told him behind closed doors alone. He really could've had a better plan set in place for who would rule but then again we wouldn't have a movie if he'd be more logical lol.

[@ulquiorracifer5493]

9:24 He said he isn't a good person, yes. He also said his son's faults are his own failure as a father. I wouldn't exactly say he's a bad father.

[@thecocoacouch]

Interesting take

[@bgt54rfvcde32wsxzaq1]

Graping his wife and torturing his son would be standard procedure in Rome

[@kathyk5319]

Hard for me to understand how you didn't see Commodus as the villain from the beginning.

[@andreas956]

He does seems to relate more naturally to the attributes of Commodus rather than Marcus Aurelius.

[@natasyas3444]

I watched this movie for the first time when we had a movie night on campus in my uni and it blew my mind. It made me cry and even just watching clips of it here. Love the emotional roller coaster Oscar😂 And I love how you sympathizes with each character, dare I say you’re an empath?😊 I like the way you said that Maximus got what he wanted in the end, so technically it is a happy ending, but it’s so sad?😭

[@wendydarling5790]

Have you seen LA Confidential? Good Russell Crowe film.

[@BrandoBaggins73]

This is by far one of my favorite movies ever and I LOVE that you’re watching it!!!!!!

[@natmanprime4295]

great film, great reaction! i get tears by the end, every single time! "who will help me carry him" is usually the one, although this time it was maximus face as he was dying, it was like a baby smiling...anyway as a connosieur of watching gladiator reactions, the unique thing that you brought was theway you showed the sequence of deaths 30:40 - 31:15 "i hope he doesnt die" and then straightaway its like "dead, dead, dead...nooo!" you actually made it comical! ive never seen it that way before, so well done for that

[@heathergeer]

Thanks for this awesome reaction! This is THE movie that made me realize Russell Crowe was something special.

[@thecocoacouch]

Thank you so much!! 🙏 yeah he was brilliant in this.

[@sbrlwgb2739]

Wanting to be loved an respected an actually being loved and respected are too different things 💪

[@burrichgrrl57]

Just a couple of thoughts. I always loved the dialog between Maximus and Proximo when they discussed fighting in the Colosseum. They are having two conversations at once and it's brilliant, imo. Also, Commodus fancied himself a great swordsman but he trained against people who would not, probably for fear of their life, ever actually do any damage to him physically or emotionally, whereas Maximus had spent his life fighting in wars against people who wanted to kill him. And he was an exceptionally skilled warrior. Commodus didn't have a chance once Maximus got a hold of him. The last thing I wanted to mention is that Commodus shouldn't really have had the belief that his father would automatically name him as his successor. Previous Emperors had been warriors that were adopted into the family, so to speak. I think Commodus was the first actual son to be named heir.

[@adiarainfoster]

I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding. You thought when you saw Commodus leaning over the child that the child was his son. The child is his sister's son, not his. He has no children, thank goodness. :)

[@Randerson2409]

The thing about Commodus' fighitng is that it's all just technical knowledge without real experience. Hence why he was so thoroughly trounced by even a wounded and exhausted Maximus. Commodus never fought in battle or war, so a lot of the nuances of it were completely alien to him. Maximus, however, spent years fighting on the front lines to stay alive.

[@dariyarudakova7093]

Ruling Rome is not a gift or a bag of money to be inherited simply out of love for a son. The son showed his inadequacy as a future ruler. And the Emperor, despite all his love, could not give him Rome (a huge empire that he built all his life and responsibility for thousands, if not millions, of people).

[@lizaliza8367]

oh i remember having watched it! i think i was at college and everyone loved this film so fucking much we still talk about it!

[@Kwistoweeish]

I saw this film (when I was way too young) right after it came out, and I loathed Joaquin Phoenix for years afterward, because of how powerful his performance in this film was.

[@DakotaDogProductionsAk83]

For sure top 10❤😢😊 fantastic reaction. Phoenix is a legend 🙏 it’s a brilliant tragedy but also a heroic journey of justice! 🎉 your honesty is so refreshing, thank you ❤

[@paulcurran4786]

Glaydiator is a quality movie, deserves all the praise it gets, i've yet to find someone who doesn't like it.....Gladiator wasn't bad either 😋

[@TheSmhu]

Think you for a great reaction 😊 "Gladiator" is definitely on my top 10. You should checkout "the last samurai", my favourite movie through times, I think you would really like it. Love from Norway ❤

[@crispy_338]

God its such a good movie. One of my top 10 definitely. It was actually my first rated R movie i ever saw in the theaters at 4 years old lmao

[@pendorran]

Some of the great stars of their generation in this film. Richard Harris, Oliver Reed, David Hemmings, Derek Jacobi.

[@schnubbel76]

11:12 you realize that he is basically riding from germany to spain? On a horse? We dont know where exactly he started and where in spain his destination is, but let's assume just for fun it is Berlin to Madrid. Roughly 2.500 kilometers. A horse can reach 40-60 km/h in galop mode at max, but can never hold that speed for long. Realistic is probably 30-35 km/h on average. So that would be around 3 full days of travelling WITHOUT any break! How in the world is he or the horse supposed to make it without camping?

[@stepbino2321]

You should read Yesterday's Warrior by S.A. Ison, 4 Marines go back to Rome, 2000 years ago and fight as gladiators :)

[@sophiepalmer-doran344]

historic notes Marcus Aurelius Antoninus 26 April 121 - 17 March 180 was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers known, but later, as the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calm, and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161. Marcus Aurelius was born during the reign of Hadrian to the emperor's nephew, the praetor Marcus Annius Verus, and the heiress Domitia Calvilla. His father died when he was three, and he was raised by his mother and his paternal grandfather. After Hadrian's adoptive son, Aelius Caesar, died in 138, the emperor adopted Marcus's uncle Antoninus Pius as his new heir. In turn, Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius, the son of Aelius. Hadrian died that year, and Antoninus became emperor. Now heir to the throne, Marcus studied Greek and Latin under tutors such as Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He married Antoninus' daughter Faustina in 145. After Antoninus died in 161, Marcus Aurelius acceded to the throne alongside his adoptive brother, who reigned under the name Lucius Verus. Under his rule the Roman Empire witnessed heavy military conflict. In the East, the Romans fought successfully with a revitalized Parthian Empire and the rebel Kingdom of Armenia. Marcus defeated the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatian Iazyges in the Marcomannic Wars; however, these and other Germanic peoples began to represent a troubling reality for the Empire. He modified the silver purity of the Roman currency, the denarius. The persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire appears to have increased during his reign, but his involvement in this is unlikely since there is no record of early Christians in the 2nd century calling him a persecutor, and Tertullian even called Marcus a "protector of Christians".The Antonine Plague broke out in 165 or 166 and devastated the population of the Roman Empire, causing the deaths of five to ten million people. Lucius Verus may have died from the plague in 169.Unlike some of his predecessors, Marcus chose not to adopt an heir. His children included Lucilla, who married Lucius, and Commodus, whose succession after Marcus has been a subject of debate among both contemporary and modern historians. The Column and Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius still stand in Rome, where they were erected in celebration of his military victories. Meditations, the writings of "the philosopher" - as contemporary biographers called Marcus - are a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. These writings have been praised by fellow writers, philosophers, monarchs, and politicians centuries after his death. Commodus 31 August 161 - 31 December 192 was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. He served jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until the latter's death in 180, and thereafter he reigned alone until his assassination. His reign is commonly thought as marking the end of a golden age of peace and prosperity in the history of the Roman Empire the Pax Romana. Commodus accompanied his father during the Marcomannic Wars in 172 and on a tour of the Eastern provinces in 176. The following year he became the youngest emperor and consul up to that point, at the age of 16. During his solo reign, the Roman Empire enjoyed reduced military conflict compared with the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Intrigues and conspiracies abounded, leading Commodus to revert to an increasingly dictatorial style of leadership, culminating in his creating a deific personality cult, including his performing as a gladiator in the Colosseum. Throughout his reign, Commodus entrusted the management of affairs to his palace chamberlain and praetorian prefects, namely Saoterus, Perennis and Cleander. Commodus' assassination in 192, by a wrestler in the bath who held him underwater, marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. He was succeeded by Pertinax, the first emperor in the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors.

[@Bill_pierre]

Some more epic Top-10 potential films for you to check out: • Rob Roy (1995) • Legends of the Fall (1995) • Firefly (tv series, 14 episodes, 2002) • Serenity (follow-up film to Firefly) • The Patriot (Mel Gibson)

[@paulinoaz]

Great review of a truly epic movie with huge emotional swings from start to finish. Your reaction seems very authentic and great insight all around.

[@TheMaskedChef7]

The way you said he was a terrible father yes i agree a lot of reviews tend to glaze around it and say he didn’t mean to be so he was just too busy ruling and conquering and I don’t think that excuses him. His son turned out this narcissistic for a good reason and yes it’s true the sister is much less narcissistic and a good mother and daughter but she still enabled alot of her brothers wrong doing for too long.

[@natmanprime4295]

i agree you gotta blame the father. marcus admits this, but i dont think he himself believes his own words when he talks about his "failure as a father". he low key still blames commodus primarily. in fact look how he sets up maximus to have his family killed. he must have known how it would pan out

[@tapoemt3995]

The kid is a pos plain and simple and Marcus saying it's his own fault is just cushioning the blow, he doesn't really mean it as he knows he wasn't the greatest Father in the World however it comes down to choices by Commodus in the end anyways.

[@radicalreactions1633]

And I don't think you even understand narcissism and most importantly PSYCHOPATHY. Commodus is a PSYCHOPATH, meaning HE WAS BORN THIS WAY and NO AMOUNT OF PARENTING WILL FIX THAT. He turned out to be a narc because he was BORN A PSYCHOPATH and they go hand-in-hand. It's not the sister's job to take care of a grown ass man BROTHER, talk about a sense of entitlement the way you describe shit, as if the GROWN ASS MAN shouldn't have to DO ANYTHING HIMSELF. Sounds like you might be a narc.

[@radicalreactions1633]

You don't know what you're talking about either. That's because Commodus was BORN THAT WAY, he IS the problem. WTF are you talking about?@@natmanprime4295

[@radicalreactions1633]

Exactly. Psychopathy he was born with, Narcissism becomes a choice.@@tapoemt3995

[@jenni5104]

I know I'm late, and other people have mentioned it, but Marcus' lack of love was because he saw how immoral Commodus was a child (he was in love with his own sister from a very young age). That's why he didn't want to give Rome to him. It wasn't Marcus' lack of love that made Commodus immoral and psychotic, he was naturally like that.

[@labrynna87]

Do you know "The Eagle"? If not, I would love to see you react to it. :) Like "Gladiator" the film is based in ancient Rome - that's why I thought about it while watching this reaction. I really like the story of "The Eagle" and I absolutely adore Jamie Bell's performance as Esca. (In general, Jamie Bell is one of my favorite actors and I think it's a shame he's no bigger name in Hollywood... but that's a topic for another day.)

[@SummerMagicwood]

You should watch the Silver Brumby it is a great movie, Russel Crow is also in that one.

[@ronaldturner3614]

It will be your number one favorite movie in 15 -20 years

[@SweeranSwift]

A masterpiece ❤️💔 Russell Crowe AT his prime.

[@altaclipper]

You have completely misread the characters of Commodus and Marcus Aurelius.

[@thecocoacouch]

Care to shed some light? Love discussions.

[@altaclipper]

@@thecocoacouch I think that other people have done that, but here goes: Commodus was a narcissist and a sociopath. His personality was fixed, I think, by genetics and the fact that he lived a life of indulgence without consequences, and no amount of hugs from his father would have altered his nature in the least. Did you know that up to one in twenty people are sociopaths? At least in North American society, and I am sensitive to them, for reasons of my own. You can’t deal with them, appease them, indulge them, or in any way allow them to get the upper hand. You absolutely cannot give them untrammelled authority over subordinates, especially large populations, because the results can be disastrous, as Marcus Aurelius knew very well. He was considered one of the Roman Empire’s greatest rulers and was also a philosopher of note. By all accounts he was a modest, reasonable man who was, unusually for the age, relatively uncorrupted by the enormous power he wielded. Was he, in the current idiom, a good father? Maybe not, because he was occupied primarily with ruling the known world, and even up to this century, world leaders were never hands-on parents in the way we think they should be today. Think of the British Royal family. You’re interpreting historical figures’ behaviours through a lense of current beliefs and expectations, some of which are damaging and downright irrelevant and a surely as time moves on, a generation or two from now, people will look back on our lives and think we were stupidly misguided and ridiculous. The only constant in history is change. None of this is a criticism of you, just an observation that you are too connected to contemporary mores to objectively look at historical acts in the context of the times in which they’re occurring and not our own. But you’re young. You’ll figure it out.

[@pendorran]

Russell Crowe's early Australian film 'The Sum of Us', co-starring legend Jack Thompson, is a beautiful father-son story. Check that out sometime.

[@burrichgrrl57]

Yes! Yes!

[@katiepooh2137]

I saw it for the 1st time in 2018 at age 24 so with ya on the mom my said not for kids! Goes to show listen to your momma lol! First time i saw it was because i saw a clip at church believe it or not, the pastor played the clip and i said okay i need to watch this!! Lol! Now its one of my favorites!! ❤

[@TheAlmaward]

In reality, Marcus Aurelius died at age 58, of "a plague" (some say it was smallpox), in what is now Venice, Italy. Marcus' only son, Commodus, had been named co-emperor with his father 2 years prior to Marcus' death, so there was no question of Commodus' succession to the throne upon Marcus' death - he was already on it! LOL Commodus was assassinated, but it was after a total of 15 years on the throne, and he was drowned in a Roman bath, not stabbed on the Coliseum. ;) Lucius is NOT Commodus' son, but his nephew.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Oscar! ⚔ Your tears were beautiful and warranted. #TheCocoaCouch #RidleyScott #Gladiator #Gladiator2000

[@TheMaskedChef7]

Glad you finally got to experience this masterpiece Oscar ❤

[@SC-gp7kt]

Masterpiece of a movie 💜 One of my top favorites. The acting, music, costumes, dialogue, chemistry between cast, casting, cinematography, story/ plot 👏👏👏

[@CrimsonRoseDancer]

If I had to guess I would say the dirt ritual was the movies way of showing him preparing himself mentally for the battle, perhaps as a way of connecting to earth and mortality. Practically speaking he could have been “chalking” his hands as a way to maintain grip on his weapon as he would be sweating and there would be blood making holding on to the handle harder.

[@frizzman1991]

10/10 film, or at least as close as it can be (for me).

[@7celticfaerie]

Should watch Master and Commander with Russell Crowe as well

[@jasonericson]

The Quick and the Dead is a fun Russell Crowe movie.

[@heathergeer]

With Leo too!

[@burrichgrrl57]

Yes! And a fantastic cast too. It was actually the first movie I ever saw Russell Crowe in. When I saw his name in the credits smack dab in the middle of the likes of Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Leonardo DiCaprio I was like "who?" lol.

[@BintyMcFrazzles]

The scene nearish the beginning with Ricard Harris and Russell Crowe, you mention the "great dialogue", it's the outstanding classic acting from Richard Harris that made the scene (Crowe is pretty good, too). Harris could have read the telephone book aloud and it would have been exceptional. Oliver Reed is also fabulous. He had a great deal of problems with alcohol throughout his life and could be a nasty piece of work, but boy, could he act!! It's good he got possibly his best role in this before he died. You mentioned about why couldn't Maximus get home before the Roman soldiers? The command for them to go and kill his family was before the command for Maximus's death and they had to ride out to kill him. Additionally, the Roman empire was vast and it would've taken months for Maximus to get home. This film is fantastic, and easily in my top 10. The directing, production, the sound track and the cinematography is fantastic. The plethora of great actors also makes this film an absolute classic.

[@showard7153]

I don't know for sure but I think the dust or dirt would give him a better grip on the sword.

[@pendorran]

It always amazes me that a man as great and good as Marcus Aurelius produced a son so completely unworthy as Commodus.

[@Thaulin]

He had bunch of other children that died so really Commodus was the only one left. Also, most great rulers in history weren’t great parents unfortunately. They were too busy running empires

[@nobleconsejera5278]

32:13 I always thought that he did it as a sort of good-luck ritual, but maybe there's a more practical reason: the sand would stop the sweat in his hand from making him lose his sword :)

[@kharma101]

One of my favourite movies of all time, i remember crying my eyes out lol.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

He nailed it on the head, you need a right leader of a country.

[@OAlexable]

Wow his understanding of the relationship between father and son is ridiculous 😂😂😂. How is he coming up with this analysis. His father didnt want him to rule because he knew he was a sociopath and would not have made Rome into what he had invisioned..

[@thecocoacouch]

It’s a bit of nature and nurture here for sure. But the emperor could have done a little better in raising him and maybe his sociopathic behaviour could have been reduced to a degree I think that much is clear.

[@blitzgirl6522]

This is in my top 10 films of all time, tied with The Last Samurai.

[@dmayres]

I remember seeing it at the cinema when it came out, I was 15. Cried then, cry now 😄 one of Hans Zimmer's greatest scores, fantastic film, one of the last true epics.

[@charlotteisch4062]

I know that movie by heart because I grew up with it but you still manage to make me cry! Your reaction was perfect! I'm so happy you've watched this movie 🤩! I don't know if you know about it but hans Zimmer is responsible for the perfect music in this movie! I cried my eyes out during his concert a few months ago when this music came on. Thank you for this amazing react, can't wait for the next one. 😊

[@thorgunnarson2812]

Hej...good reaction...thx. Now watch Robin Hood with Russel Crowe...a really good adaptation of the story.

[@so...thathappened4170]

I know I am late to the party but I just wanted to leave here that Marcus choosing Maximus to be his heir was the norm in Rome at the time. The emperors (at this point in time) chose who they thought would make a great leader and 'adopted' them as adults over their own children. Marcus was chosen as co-emperor with Lucius by the previous emperor, Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius died suddenly and mysteriously without naming an heir so his son, Commodus, became the next emperor. He was terrible. His sister trying to overthrow him with other senators and that failing with many senators dying is also historically accurate.

[@andreas956]

What a utterly bad take of the discussion between Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. It's about speaking hard truths and accountability. Something very hard to fathom for modern young people who rather twist and change truths and escape accountability.

[@savannahmartin7698]

Ii know you probably won’t see this but you would LOVE the movie Inkheart if you haven’t seen it before!!! It has a younger Brendan Fraser and the acting and story are all super interesting and it’s honestly one of my favorite movies I used to rewatch it every other week when I was a kid!

[@Cam37]

Time for a comedy... "The Birdcage" - 1996 Starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

[@laurakhancreations3845]

This is 1 of my all time favorite movies, I can watch it again and again and not be tired of it. The performances by all the characters were top notch! Proximo was killed because the real life actor died during filming- if you rewatch his death scene, you will notice they don’t show his face because it wasn’t him 😅

[@babyiloveyoutoo]

if u havent already, i would love too see your reaction on the movie trilogy TAKEN with Liam Neeson =D

[@DSUASTE69]

As far as Commodus being good with the sword that's not the case because if you pay attention earlier in the movie The whole thing was being choreographed the whole thing when he was surrounded by the men in the forest or wild or whatever that's why he didn't stand a chance against Maximus

[@happydog3422]

If you want to see Richard Harris in his prime you should watch Cromwell, about the English civil war leader and Alec Guinness as King Charles the 1st.

[@neerajnambudiri9971]

The shot where Maximus looks at the bird, watches it fly away and then returns to the battle mode, is the first shot that Russell Crowe shot in the film. There's a nice small anecdote that Crowe explains with that in an interview

[@martinmayhew145]

This is what Roman Emperors did to keep their power. They got rid of the direct threat and their family, so there can't be any heirs to the throne. The killing of his son and his mother was a traditional thing back then.

[@dannygreenland4853]

This was another great movie I've seen a few times and everytime I watch it it makes me sad, a glorious General sold into slavery becomes a Gladiator and kills a Ceaser, one of the few bad emporers of Rome Commodus was a power hungry tyrant who got what he deseved in the end.

[@annina134]

Maximus used the dirth and sand on his hands before battle, because it gives friction and dries out the sweat on your hands, so the sword doesn't slip when you fight.

[@RogCBrand]

"White Squall" is another great Ridley Scott movie, based on a true story.

[@BryGoose]

I'm excited for this one also

[@richardhansen3703]

Lucius is not to Caesar's son. I'm not sure if you realized you called him his son.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

Another great Russell Crowe movie is Cinderella Man. Check that one out, then again he made a lot of great movies.

[@martinmayhew145]

She gave him a sleeping potion to stop him from having an affair with her.

[@ZackMuffinMan]

:D

[@NecropsY1]

bad news for you proximo died, and the actor also died in real life before ending the film

[@lizmagu3189]

Seeing it in a cinema was an awesome experience. Highly suggest if it ever plays on the big screen definitely go see it. Wasn't a dry eye to be had. I still cry at the ending even after seeing it hundreds of times over the years. It's one of my all time favorites. The acting, cinematography and soundtrack makes this perfection.. I heard they're wanting to make a Gladiator 2.. 🙄 No thanks!!! FYI.. Ridley really did burn the forest in the opening scene. It was scheduled for deforestation so hence the great opening scene.