GLADIATOR (2000) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | MOVIE REACTION

[@Mubiki]

The men who were going to execute him were not his men. They were not part of the Roman Legion. Those men were Praetorians, which is essentially the personal guard/army of the Emperor. They generally stay in the capital and would have had no allegiance to Maximus. It also adds context to the scene where his sword gets stuck from the frost. He was kind of mocking him because Praetorians are not involved in actual military campaigns. They always stay at home in the general safety and comfort of Rome, so the nuances of fighting in rough conditions are completely foreign to them.

[@mcfcguvnors]

M8 she called him " Seizure " you could make up any old guff really

[@blueeyedcowboy8291]

Great comment. I knew they were Praetorians, but had not thought of that. That's one of my favorite lines of the movie.

[@pepperVenge]

Mostly true. The Praetorian were the most elite legionnaires in all of the Roman army. Prior to the reign of the first emperor, the Praetorian were the most experienced legionnaires and were frequently used in the most deadly and heaviest combat. Once Rome was ruled by an emperor, the praetorians were elevated to the status of personal guard. This meant that they got to live a life of almost total luxury. It's also what helped secure the Roman imperial system and why it never reverted back to a republic, because if there was no more Emperor then there would be no more need for the praetorian guard, who would then have to go back to the fields and they didn't like that idea. But after 200 years of serving as the emperor's personal guard, they did get a little soft, but that doesn't mean they were inexperienced. The only soldiers who became Praetorian were the most distinguished, loyal, and successful veterans of the legionnaires.

[@potterj09]

@@blueeyedcowboy8291 I went to school with this kid from Pretoria, South Africa. This movie came out in my senior year but on the rugby field I yelled the line at him once or twice haha

[@tdvan89]

Quintus, however, was indeed one of Maximus' men. Obviously, Commodus offered him a position in the Praetorian Guard if he would assist in the arrest and execution of Maximus. I'd like to think Quintus took this offer because he was sick of endless war, and would prefer the relatively cushy job of a royal bodyguard. He wouldn't have known that Maximus was the presumptive heir to the throne, so from his perspective, Maximus' decision to spurn Commodus would be blatant disrespect and treason...a crime punishable by death. He would see his duty to oversee the execution of Maximus as a regrettable but necessary action taken in light of his old friend's foolish decision. By the end of the film, we can see that Quintus is clearly sick of all the shit Commodus has been pulling (refer to the deleted scene where he objects when Commodus orders the execution of loyal soldiers who were supposedly responsible for allowing Maximus to escape). After seeing the despicable actions Commodus took in the final fight, I guess he'd finally had enough. The fact that the rest of the Praetorians obeyed their new upstart commander over their emperor in that pivotal moment (not to mention how Gracchus was confident that he could get most of the Senate to commit open insurrection, and the crowd seemed pretty cool with seeing their emperor murdered in front of them) was a testament to just how many people shared that sentiment.

[@Kratosx23]

Joaquin Phoenix was so good as Commodus that Jack Gleeson said that he based the way he portrayed Joffrey in Game of Thrones after him.

[@matthewdunham1689]

Wise young actor ❤

[@marieantoinette1360]

Wow yeah I can see that now I know it, thanks.

[@paulcollinsyoga]

That explains a lot!! Joffrey was despicable, which is all credit to Gleeson. That's a really good pair of despicable movie/TV characters - Commodus and Joffrey.

[@plops993]

You can see the resemblance in their expressions. Very clever of Jack

[@fubar1217]

We went to Italy the end of last year and when touring the Colosseum, our tour guide heard me whisper "Are you not entertained?" to my girlfriend....lol. She went on to tell us that Russell Crowe is practically royalty in Rome because of this movie. She also went to see his band play when they were in Rome and at the end, the crowd started chanting "Maximus.....Maximus.....Maximus...."

[@JessicaAriadne]

I watched an interview with Russel Crowe where he mentioned being in Rome and there was a commotion and huge crowd and suddenly there was security everywhere. Crowe asked, "What is happening?" One of the security people replied, "You happened."

[@VikingGruntpa]

This makes me happy to know this.

[@rodsnrounds]

Heck yeah.. Good stuff!

[@vkdeen7570]

what we do in life echoes in eternity!!

[@kevinwestrom4775]

That's an awesome bit of story in itself.

[@chrisyonts9652]

Wait until Biggus Dickus hears about this.

[@LordVolkov]

What will Incontinentia Buttocks say?!

[@Hoeech]

He has a wife, you know..... 😅

[@solomonkane6442]

I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. Anybody else feel like a little… giggle… when I mention my fwiend… Biggus… Dickus

[@RickYoungBlood666]

Love it PFJ forever

[@solomonkane6442]

@@chrisyonts9652 I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. Anybody else feel like a little… giggle… when I mention my fwiend… Biggus… Dickus 😁

[@jessedellross3245]

Phoenix gave the performance of a lifetime in this movie. Everyone did but MAN he did a fantastic job making us hate him. Great movie that holds up all these years later

[@MrFirsito]

he shouldve won the oscar here, incredible performance

[@lokithecat7225]

He was better in Joker. Glad neither of his movies were remade, they would have been Woke Garbage.

[@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.

[@Tyrconnell]

The stool he was sitting on when he collapsed is also preserved in the bar. Apparently if you drink everything Reed drank that night you get it for free. Seems unlikely anyone has claimed that prize.

[@MLFv2]

I never knew. Rip to a tormented soul.

[@SurvivorBri]

​@@Tyrconnellwhy would anyone even want to attempt that lol.

[@floriangrogoll5206]

The sentences that Oliver Reed speaks are so epic. Oliver was a real highlight of this film.

[@floriangrogoll5206]

if enough men have die, you will become your freedom..... the way he sayed that......

[@BoboftheOldeWays]

I had the opportunity to briefly meet & chat with Joaquin Phoenix (who plays Emperor Commodus) a few years ago at a charity event I was working. "I *hated* you in Gladiator!" I told him. He paused for a moment, then smiled, and said "thank you very much." We both laughed, as we understood each other perfectly.

[@ceretomer5987]

If an actor can make you hate or love him, then he's a great actor.

[@MermaidMusings7]

Awesome.

[@KamramBehzad]

Legend. That's when you know an actor has done his job.

[@immortaljanus]

The woman that played Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) catches a lot of street flak. 🤣

[@DamonNomad82]

That's awesome! Commodus was my second favorite role I've seen Joaquin Phoenix play, after Lucius in "The Village".

[@hoboofserenity]

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the last of the "Five good emperors", which was a time of great prosperity for Rome. He was also a stoic philosopher, and his personal writings to himself ("Meditations") are a fantastic read. They offer insight into the mindset and wisdom that made him not only a great Emperor, but a good man.

[@brianmulholland1474]

I read "Meditations" for the first time just recently, and yes, it's QUITE a good read. It's amazing how insightful and astute some of the ancients were. We like to think of ourselves as so much more individually and socially evolved today, yet I feel we've lost much of their genuine wisdom.

[@chessenthusiast]

Well, except for his campaign of genocide against the Marcomanni. I think attempted genocide precludes being described as a “good” person.

[@unclejoker9975]

I can't believe that this movie is a quarter of a century old.

[@estephens13]

Why'd you have to go and say that... lol

[@danholmesfilm]

~sigh~

[@jwnomad]

I can't believe that the Roman republic would be over twenty five centuries old.

[@factman-w8m]

Thanks. Yo're making me feel like an old fa*t!

[@charminbaer2323]

The best movie ever is 53 yrs old, so this is not that old. :p

[@JeffOfTheMountains]

"AM I NOT MERCIFUL!?!?!?!" was ad-libbed by Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen's reaction to it is genuine. She had no idea it was coming.

[@GlennShook]

I heard it was more like which is better loud and soft cause both so great. So they kept both

[@golkeganac4339]

Actually that was the line in the script, but they had filmed a dozen takes of him saying it very quietly and he decided to try one screaming without warning her.

[@THG-3141]

He was actually given the option of doing either a soft or loud version. He opted to do both. It wasn't simply ad-libbed. It just wasn't expected for both options to be used

[@andrewrankin1921]

In Roman history, political power struggles often led to the killing of wives and children to eliminate potential heirs and rivals, as seen in cases like the proscriptions of Sulla, the assassination of Caligula's family, and Nero's poisoning of Britannicus. Such acts were ruthless measures to secure dominance and prevent future challenges to authority.

[@ScarriorIII]

There was no greater purpose in Roman culture than legacy.

[@DirtnapJack]

I can’t say for certain but indoubt this wnded with the Romans. Probably happened in England at some point

[@saviourself687]

@@DirtnapJack It happened long before Rome and long after. If you left people alive, it not only allowed the possibility for a challenge to the blood right of the throne, but killing most of a family is a really good motivation to seek revenge (as we saw with Maximus).

[@balsyprick6764]

Happened everywhere long before Rome. Blood feuds were normal in Europe before the justice system was introduced. One way to avoid this is of course to end the entire bloodline.

[@stuartdaly7407]

The worst one I read about was what happened to Sejanus and his children

[@WillsonT011]

I love the way Maximus Talks about his wife and son so lovingly only for the sequel to throw that away😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@fabian4ever69]

Russell earned his Best Actor Oscar 👏

[@axebeard6085]

43:28 They don't explain this scene, but THIS is the power of stoicism. Stoicism isn't about supressing your emotions. It is about stepping outside of your emotions and analyzing them, looking for logical errors in your thinking. Once you have cleared out the garbage, you are better able to choose the best course of action. You can see the anger on Maximus' face, but then he steps outside of that anger, and rationally chooses a statement that will likely instill fear in the emperor: "The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end."

[@tomasbiela5860]

There was no need to do Gladiator II, the ending was a fitting ending for I

[@Desmond9100]

But what if Gladiator 2 was good? Did we really need Terminator 2 or Aliens or Godfather part 2 ?

[@caseymoe816]

Nothing can top Gladiator, but the sequel is worth a watch. I mean, it’s got Pedro Pascal & Denzel for crying out loud. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

[@saulmadrileno8529]

Agree!!

[@tomasbiela5860]

​@@Desmond9100 I personally don't like it and didn't feel it was warranted

[@Desmond9100]

@tomasbiela5860 Cool. I have not seen it. I like Gladiator 1 but I don´t love it.

[@scottread]

You can tell that Cassie REALLY enjoyed that encore viewing! It is a wonderful film.

[@Shawnzy_Gabonzy]

I always enjoy seeing Tommy Flanagan, the actor with the facial scars. He was virtually unknown when he had a part in Bravehart, and his career grew with parts in Face/Off, The Game, and of course Gladiator.

[@derps0n839]

Sons of Anarchy

[@MeDaisyDog-n7f]

Smokin' Aces

[@jameson32]

Dude literally got a Glasgow smile, while in Glasgow.

[@rollotomassi6232]

Pinky Blinders

[@mamandes]

I recently watched a reaction to Sin City, and I totally forgot that he had a featured role in one part of it.

[@YouveBeenMiddled]

I can't believe _neither_ of them recognized Dumbledore...

[@Hoeech]

I was just about to scan through the comments to see if anyone made this comment yet

[@BobCrabtree-ev4rz]

I'm going to hope YOU recognize Richard Harris for more than Harry Potter..sorry about the capital letters,I wasn't raising my voice..I just don't know how to do that slanty writing thing.

[@Twiceborn_by_grace]

Because he wasn’t wearing his half moon glasses or talking “calmly”

[@calebk8202]

She also mentioned watching Harry Potter at 7:30am before the start and still didn’t recognized the late great Richard Harris.

[@Twiceborn_by_grace]

@ I thought for sure she’d recognize him then.

[@Kirisute69Gomen]

Yeah the maggots in his wound was for cleaning. Maggots only eat dead flesh. That practice for cleaning wounds is still used to this day. I've seen it done with horses and other farm animals.

[@aaronburdon221]

I believe it started being used medically during the Napoleonic wars though. It mightve been used before that, but it because widespread there.

[@vkdeen7570]

​@aaronburdon221 it was used well before that. the Arabs had been using it for centuries before. in some countries it's still used. their precision for cleaning necrotic flesh is unmatched. leeches are also used to clean blood.

[@onyxdemonic2566]

This is my all-time favorite film. I enjoyed it so much when I saw it in the theater, when it was over I used the restroom got more snacks and a drink refill, bought another ticket and walked back in to see it again. Only time I have ever even thought of doing that with a movie.

[@ronlackey2689]

Suuuure you bought another ticket ;-)

[@PharaohsCurseUponYou]

@@ronlackey2689 Why is that so hard to believe?? Ive done it many times ^^' When a movie is that good its not that insane lol

[@tfpp1]

Haha, my friend and I did this, only once for both of us. The movie we did this with…Inception.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

@@PharaohsCurseUponYou The person is insinuating that he went back in WITHOUT buying a ticket. Basically not trusting someone would be honest enough to buy one lol.

[@iluvyummywaffles]

Yes, this is such a great movie. So disappointed with the new one. Tried to watch it this weekend and turned it off after 35 minutes.

[@SteveSchweichler]

The men that were going to kill Maximus at the beginning were praetorian guards loyal to the emperor. They weren't Maximus's soldiers

[@k5sss]

Not his, but loyal to the *Empire*. Several bad Emperors were killed by Praetorians, or at least they allowed someone else to do it-like at the end of this movie.

[@weldonwin]

@@k5sss Not just bad ones, the Praetorians were infamously corrupt. They would assassinate Emperors and then auction the throne, then kill the new Emperor too just to get another pay out from the next one.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

"Loyal Praetorian guards" 😅 lol It was most often the emperor's Praetorian Guards that assassinated them! The Praetorian Guard was responsible for the overthrow, abandonment, or murder of 15 out of the first 48 emperors who governed Rome between 27 bc and 305 ad. Roman emperors murdered by their Praetorian Guard - Aurelian Balbinus Caligula His death was the most brutal. A fitting death because of his brutal, cruel and psychopathic acts. Praetorian Prefect Cassius Chaerea stabbed him from behind. Caracalla Commodus because he was extremely insane. There is a theory that all of these insane emperors were not inherently insane but made insane by consuming wine and food from extremely expensive leaded glass causing them to have plumbism aka "lead poisoning". Once, after he lost an expensive fleet and cargo to a storm at sea, he ordered his army to wade into the Mediterranean Sea and slash it with their swords so he could obtain revenge upon Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. Elagabalus Galba Gordian III Nero The Senate condemned Nero to die a slave’s death: on a cross and under the whip. The Praetorian Guard abandoned him to that fate but rather than die such an ignominious death, Nero stabbed himself. Numerian Pertinax Philip II Probus Pupienus Tiberius (disputed)

[@dragonchaserkev]

I used to see a lot of films in theatre, this and the first Spiderman were the only two that had a standing ovation at the end, quite a thing for a film.

[@PanzerKunstExponent]

The Cassie / Carly conversation re the one btwn Commodus /Lucilla was interesting when Carly said something like, "it's almost like he's trying to aak her how normal people feel feelings." Essentially, like a psychopath. The historial Roman that provided the basis for that character was probably what today we'd call a psychopath.

[@busser649]

I absolutely love whenever Carly is there for a reaction because I believe her, and this 60yr old man are the only ones left still trying to make "fetch" happen.

[@toochangz]

RIP Oliver Reed He died while playing Proximo on this film. He was a heavy drinker and died during a drinking competition ar a bar. They used a body double for some of his scenes (his deeath scene being an obvious one)

[@bobblebardsley]

And some very clever use of B-roll shots to fill in some of the close-ups he hadn't already filmed. I *think* the shot at 50:06 was originally from somewhere else in the movie, they adjusted the lighting on it and had him looking through a curtain to explain the strange shadow pattern on his face, and it comes out looking even more real because of it.

[@AndyCroft]

He out drunk the Royal Marines he had challenged to the press up competition. A character and very talented actor.

[@bananaempijama]

Read that his agent literally made him do this movie because he wasn't acting in big movies for years and was in debt.

[@RonnieLopez-vj4ou]

The movie was absolutely amazing in the theater when it came out.

[@tbirdUCW6ReAJ]

The truth

[@Bnio]

I worked at a theater at the time and this was the first film I got to screen after being promoted to projectionist. Got to watch it the night before it opened. Couldn't have asked for better.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I was fortunate enough to see this at the Drive-In, with my girlfriend.

[@HeyMatthew303]

There’s a smaller theater (think 80’s strip mall) in my town that plays movies for cheap after they’ve already been out and about to be released to DVD. Every so often they’ll re-play popular movies. Even in a theater that’s 30yrs old this movie was a masterpiece to watch.

[@DirtnapJack]

Carly mentioned Brendan Fraser in the Mummy. The man who sold Maximus to Oliver Reed in this film is Omid Djalili - Brendan Fraser’s jailer “aparently, he had a very good time.” who joined them to find the treasure.

[@cipangoreng]

And Russell Crowe ended up in the Tom Cruise Mummy movie 😂

[@leifgunnartoth8070]

@@cipangoreng I haven't seen that film yet. Only read a bit about it. But is it basically just a remake of Brendan Fraser's The Mummy?

[@shadowcat1017]

@@leifgunnartoth8070 It is not at all a remake. The only similarity in the two movies is the name, and Brendan's version is far superior. I feel pretty confident in saying that that's a universal opinion. 😆

[@aaronbourque5494]

It's historical fiction. Some characters are drawn from history (or inspired by actual historical figures) but the events depicted are almost 100% fictional. For example, the Emperors depicted died in different times than shown.

[@weldonwin]

Also Commodus died in the bath, when he was strangled by his own Gladiator trainer

[@shamgar1980]

@@aaronbourque5494 I always thought that the character of Maximus was drawn heavily from Cincinnatus. Totally different time period, but Maximus clearly had Cincinnatus attitude toward power.

[@clevelandcbi]

While his character sucked, Joaquin was so good at playing him. From his "Oh crap!!!" look at Maximus' reappearance to his "OOOOOHHH" when Maximus was fighting, he cracked me up. 😂😂😂

[@shanedaley6236]

joaquin phoenix sells the yelling scenes so well he was the right choice to pick for Johnny Cash for the same reasons as here

[@harveylee51]

@clevelandcbi I don't believe Joaquin intended his role to be funny but it was at times and so hiss -worthy as a villain the whole movie is just amazing !

[@briandavies1397]

Always loved the foreshadowing, when Quintas says, "People should know when they're conquered", and Maximus replies, "Would you, Quintas? Would I"? Lol, we now know the answer - Maximus NEVER quits. Great writing, great movie.

[@ERC641]

What we do in life echoes an eternity

[@utcnc7mm]

Strong words

[@garythegtyrell5120]

In eternity. 1 letter off so close.

[@tear728]

For we are in Elysium

[@ERC641]

😂✌️​@@garythegtyrell5120

[@ben_diedrich]

This is the way

[@johngriffiths9401]

Another great Roman/Gladiator movie is Spartacus 1960. You’ll love it.

[@AmericanAurochs]

That is an awesome movie!!! I wish more people remembered it today!

[@thefilmeffect6089]

“They didn’t have flat tops in Ancient Rome!”

[@clevelandcbi]

Like Speed and Jurassic Park, I CAN'T BELIEVE it's been decades since this came out. I was 19 on a date with my GF. Our son graduates college next year. 😂😂😂

[@selardohr7697]

Right? I don't remember getting this old!!

[@scottp.5055]

I was 23, where did the time go?🙄

[@ghostofyourmom]

Why did you get your gf pregnant at 19?? Soooo trashy. Contraception. Look it up.

[@jamesrobertson2361]

I was born in Stuttgart, Germany in an American military base located in the oldest part of the city called Badd Cannstatt. It was originally a horse farm and fort established in 97AD by the Romans. When I watch this movie it reminds me of how old Europe compared to the U.S.

[@tdvan89]

Fun facts... An ancient method of cleaning open wounds was to apply maggots. They only eat dead flesh, so if they are kept in a relatively sanitary environment (a challenge in those days, but still possible), then they could effectively debride the wound so it can properly heal. The emperor's thumb gesture was reversed in the film. It was essentially an answer to the question of whether or not the vanquished gladiator should be killed. Thumbs up means "Yes, kill him", thumbs down means "No , let him live". It was rumored that Commodus was not the actual biological son of Marcus Aurelius. His mother was thought to have had an affair with a gladiator. This give a bit of context for the scenes where Lucilla mentions that rich women pay to have sex with famous gladiators, as well as when Marcus Aurelius mentions that Maximus is the son he should have had, implying that he knew the truth. The real Commodus actually did fight in the Coliseum, several times. He was also deeply unpopular, and there was indeed a plot to assassinate him. But he wasn't killed in the arena. One of his servants strangled him in the bathtub after the poison given to him by the assassins didn't work. After the conversation between Marcus Aurelius and Lucilla, Maximus is seen walking among the troops. At one point, he raises his arm to pet a horse, and there is a brief moment where you can see a person in blue jeans in the background. This was a filming crew member who didn't get out of the camera shot in time, and evidently it wasn't caught in post-production. The same thing happened in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Oliver Reed, the actor who portrayed Proximo, died at some point during filming, so the very last scenes we see him (when he releases Maximus from his cell and when he is executed by the Praetorians) are digitally altered to put his face on another actor. That's why the lighting around his face looks a little weird compared to the rest of the scene.

[@tempsitch5632]

The “thumb up/down” thing is completely made up by Hollywood. It was not a thing. One of the reasons the historical consultant on the movie quit.

[@DamonNomad82]

Thank you! The thumb thing has been one of my pet peeves ever since I found out the truth about it many years ago. The filmmakers of "Gladiator" were actually aware of the correct meanings of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down", but deliberately used the incorrect meaning because they didn't want to confuse the audience. The first movie I saw Oliver Reed in, was (coincidentally) called "Oliver!", thought Oliver Reed was much too old to play Oliver in it and played Bill Sykes instead...

[@RandomNonsense1985]

That means that Mel Brooks also had Dom Deluise use the wrong thumb gesture in History of The World.

[@mmhdata]

20:05 The maggots in the wound were put there deliberately. It sounds counterintuitive, but maggots will actually clean the wound by eating the dead and infected tissue. It was a common practice for centuries.

[@brettfromla4055]

Marcus Aurelius was one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire. His personal memoirs became the basis of Stoic philosophy known as Meditations. He had 13 children, but only 4 survived to manhood, one of which was Commodus. Commodus didn’t kill his father, but he was one of the worst ceasars of the empire.

[@erikholmes644]

If you got more enthusiasm from this, I recommend watching "Spartacus" (1960) in the future as well. Almost as good as "Gladiator".

[@stephenhurley739]

Spartacus is a classic, that and "some like it hot" showcase how great Tony Curtis was

[@stephenstewart2280]

Thank goodness they left this classic alone and never made a pointless cash-in sequel.

[@bararobberbaron859]

Let me join you in this alternate timeline!

[@vudujl83]

My name is Popcorneus Cassius Carlius…commander of the podcast of the north…general of the buttered patreon…loyal to the true cinematic experience…and I will watch my movies, in this life or the next! 😉

[@domitronrex]

🤣

[@iacon466]

Well done! Hahahaha

[@gabagool_and_psychiatry4856]

movie fans : "live live live live" WB copyright cucks: *thumbs up*

[@moonchild9237]

Spaaa-niard, Spaaa-niard, Spaaa-niard !!! 🇪🇦 (today's Carlos Alcaraz) 😂

[@mcfcguvnors]

wow i learned a lot today " Juilius Seizure " was a nasty man

[@Grimsoar]

The music is amazing. Like another character that's always on screen.

[@EdwardMYang]

The second movie doesn’t come close to the magic of the first. Gladiator was perfect. No wasted dialogue. Fantastic acting. Beautiful score by the legendary Hans Zimmer. This soundtrack is one I used to listen to on CD over and over. A true masterpiece.

[@Rock2005Star]

True story: A few years after this movie came out, Johnny Cash was approached by a studio about making a movie about his life. Around that time, Cash had just seen Gladiator and said that he wanted Joaquin Phoenix to play the role. It was specifically the line about how the men he sent to kill Maximus's family ravaged his wife "over and over again" that solidified his choice. That is how Phoenix got cast into Walk the Line, which is another classic.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

"Why can't Rome just be happy with what they have?" Yeah, no, that was a defensive war. Deep in Roman territory.

[@gabagool_and_psychiatry4856]

"where are my legions varus!!!"

[@Hope...M]

Why can't any empire in recorded history be content with what they have? It's not just Rome because it started before Rome or Greece

[@crankfastle8138]

It's based on a brain rot concept that what they take is still an improvement on the lives they've ruined. "You're now part of the empire. Minus all your shiny shit of course."

[@mcfcguvnors]

Common knowledge that "SEIZURE" ( lol ) was never happy

[@Bnio]

It was supposed to be near Vindabona, modern-day Vienna, which was right on the edge of the frontier for Rome. But, C&C have a point about being content with what the Empire already has. The Crisis of the Third Century (which begins about a generation after this movie takes place) came about for a lot of complicated reasons, but a big one was that Rome had stretched itself so far it became hard to manage as one big unit.

[@skipper409]

Richard Harris (the emperor) is the father of Jared Harris (who played the main character in ‘Chernobyl’)

[@StoneColdBeard]

I named my dog Maximus because of this movie. It’s my favorite film of all time.

[@charlize1253]

My sister has two cats named Maximus and Marcus Aurelius

[@troublesomebirdsong]

Commodus: "You do have a name?" Cassie: "Say 'I don't speak ... English'." I mean, he doesn't. None of them do.

[@mcfcguvnors]

seizure :D

[@Nloveru]

Recent studies have concluded that the vast majority of gladiator fights were actually not to the death. It happened, but most were either till one surrendered (by raising a finger in the air) or, which is a new discovery, even staged. Like professional wrestling.

[@johnkimble4119]

Recent studies are bs

[@modarkthemauler]

The gladiator fights also had ads and sponsors like professional wrestling.

[@vivek27789]

"Recent Studies"🙄

[@archibaldcreep1]

That is just one of many theories about gladiators, there's really no proof besides one famous gladiator who either faked his death or faked his death because everyone faked their death because the games were scripted. Looking at history through our modern eyes, it's hard to understand the love of death games, but death was common, so to the horrors of everyday life.

[@TheAlmaward]

Marcus Aurelius and Commodus did exist, but Maximus is entirely fictional, as is this story. In reality, Marcus died in what is now Venice, Italy, of a "plague" (probably smallpox). Marcus and Commodus shared the throne for the last 15 years prior to Marcus' death, so the succession was in no danger. Commodus did sometimes fight in the arena, but he was murdered by strangulation in a public bathhouse.

[@Derolon]

But, Commodus was for real a bit strange. The sources tells, that he might have served during a banquet shit instead of food for his guests. He indeed fought in the arena as a gladiator and he proclaimed he was the successor of Hercules. But, as a grain of salt to the sources. All of them were from his enemies so the weirdness may have been exaggerated.

[@DamonNomad82]

By a professional wrestler (Roman, not modern) named "Narcissus"...

[@billthomas478]

Cassie should show Carly "Kingdom of Heaven"

[@aaronburdon221]

The extended edition specifically. Theatrical edition sucks.

[@eatsmylifeYT]

Matinee - from French matinée, literally ‘morning (as a period of activity)’, from matin ‘morning’: performances were formerly also in the morning.

[@shinmopi]

This movie is a masterpiece ! The actors are amazing, the music is so good. That last song "now we are free" is so iconic. Loved it. Loved you reaction to it.

[@aaronburdon221]

The opening scene to this movie is my favorite part because its moderately historically accurate to how a roman battlefield would take place. There were a couple small stupid things that were just hollywood (heavy cavalry charge on rough ground through woods is wildly dangerous and unfeasible, and also fire arrows were primarily only used when pitch was laid or dry grass was being crossed). Other than that, moderately accurate.

[@george8873]

Just noticed Carly is wearing a very shiny ring on her left index finger now, lol. Looked back and she was wearing it in the Crocodile Dundee 2 video, but not the Officer and the Gentleman. That leads me to believe the happy moment was recent. Congratulations are in order Carly!

[@PhysicalMediaPreventsWea-bx1zm]

It also means millions of Popper's hearts have been broken 😢

[@shanedaley6236]

​@@PhysicalMediaPreventsWea-bx1zmand a equally number of bursting with happiness

[@jaymac7203]

The acting performances are incredible in this movie. Ridley Scot just has a way of inspiring the best out of the actors 👏

This has some of the GREATEST LINES EVER SAID IN A FILM!!! "WHAT YOU DO TODAY, WILL ECHO IN ETERNITY!!!"... IS ONE OF THE BADDEST ASS LINES I'VE EVER HEARD IN ANY MOVIE... LIKE EVER!!!

[@PeglegSailor]

“On my signal, unleash hell.”

[@dbstooge]

In reality Commodus was strangled by one of servants while he took his bath. A famous statue in the Capitoline Museum shows him dressed as Hercules. The actor that portrayed Gracchus,Derek Jacobi, is famously known for playing the emperor Claudius in the 1976 series "I , Claudius"

[@gerstelb]

Was going to mention Sir Derek Jacobi and “I, Claudius” here. That had a few actors I think they’d recognize, including John Hurt, Patrick Stewart (with hair), and John Rhys-Davies.

[@bugvswindshield]

Wow I can't believe this was not reviewed yet. One of the best movies ever made!

[@Divamarja_CA]

I think this was a re-reaction from Cassie and first time reaction for Carly.

[@johnny9000]

When i remember my father’s passing with a quote on Facebook i always end it with: “we will meet again father, but not yet, not yet.”

[@billthomas478]

BTW, Carly might be interested in knowing that Commodus was so bad that they only depicted him at about 1/8 the level of evil that he was

[@Trance18]

Because of this movie almost every Man dreams of going to Tuscany, Italy and get the feel of that wheat field while listening to Hans Zimmer's " Now we are free " . As a Moroccan I was glad a lot of scenes where filmed in my country and got to see the locations as well and it's a different feeling with this movie that will never be replicated .

[@whisperienced]

55:36 that poor woman. Dude is literally dying.

[@martinlatour9311]

Women ☕

[@berryb745]

When he yelled AM I NOT MERCIFUL was off the cuff and really frightened her which was her true reaction to the scene.

[@qtheband751]

Cassie, the actor playing Quintus is Tomas Arana. You also know him as Portman from The Bodyguard. He’s the one hired to kill Rachel Marron.

[@StimParavane]

Carly looks great with a ponytail.

[@nataliep6385]

The best sociopath I have ever seen on film, is Phoenix in this movie, and Jake Gyllenhaal in "Nightcrawler"

[@tylerjames646]

an all time favourite of mine. masterpiece. side note, it's cute when Cassie gets to be the movie vet and tell Carly about the actors (even when she can't recall any of their other movies off the top of her head lol).

[@DougHanson2769]

The music/score makes this movie

[@stressballer]

1:00 - Remembering him in a colosseum - I mean, it is THE Colosseum. :D

[@bombmk2590]

Do. Not. Waste. Any. Minute. Of. Your. Life. On. Gladiator II It is THAT bad. And tarnishes the memory of the first one. This is one of those instances where you should just let others learn the lesson.

[@petert834]

Two takeaways: 1. Gladiator is one of the best movies of all time. The kind of film that shows Russell Crowe was not just a great actor, but a movie star. 2.Carly pronounces it "ghif" not "jif". She is correct.

[@davidbateleur8357]

Fortunately they never did a sequel to this... REALLY they never made Gladiator 2!

[@kolajoabiola2790]

Maximus unmasks himself to the Emperor and gives his iconic speech. Cassie: "Say it louder for the people in the back!" I just love how so invested Cassie is 😂😂. Proud Nigerian subscriber here.

[@ircjesselee]

4:42 I say a version of that in my head when I'm pissed at strangers in public 🤣

[@71Splinter]

El Zita voht eh hoohdah!

[@swbigfan1]

One of the truly great soundtracks of all time, especially "Now We Are Free".

[@TenCapQuesada]

The absolute best. It won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.

[@AmericaFirst-1]

More Joaquin Phoenix please. "Walk the Line" is fantastic.

[@crankfastle8138]

Ehhhh. His career is littered with trash. He has a few select films worth watching to be honest and I wouldn't include the joker. Imo.

[@RealScottPowers]

And especially Space Camp

[@framergod69]

@@RealScottPowers super 8 with Nicholas Cage

[@johnstewart2473]

He makes a good villain, but he hasn't made any movie that I liked him in

[@RealScottPowers]

@@framergod69 He was in that? I blocked everything in that movie from my mind forever.

[@alexhaas9653]

Amazing movie. Great cast all around. And Phoenix plays his part to perfection. Really a force here. So many great scenes between Commodus, Lucilla, Maximus and Marcus Aurelius. The ending also leaves no man untouched. Maximus wading through the field towards his home on the other side - reunited with his family.

[@zulby09]

Gladiator 2000 is a retelling of the classic historical epic film 1964’s The Fall Of The Roman Empire starring an ensemble galaxy of stars like Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd etc. Carly & Cassie, you guys should watch that movie 🎥 also and I congratulate both for having good taste in reacting to this Oscar winner

[@LastlyMore]

Richard Harris is phenomenal in this. What a legend.

[@AndyCroft]

A man called Horse👍

[@beeman1885]

Unforgiven

[@mikeRedMDK2032]

I love to hate joaquin phoenix in this role. Great performance. Also love the smug "My name is gladiator.." line from russell. I could never tire of this film.

[@mapolinski]

56:00 -- Everybody's crying about the "happy ending" while all the time I'm like "He's dead."

[@oobrocks]

One of my favorite films; just incredible on all counts 🎉❤

[@Major42]

What Cassie says here 7:12 is what many of us in Europe think about the US and Trump.

[@BrawndoDrinker]

Best Picture in 2000!

[@jayvee9456]

Such a great movie reaction. I remember watching this opening day in a packed theater. Thank you for bringing back all the feels💯

[@maybachyard]

What, y'all don't know who Joaquin Phoenix is??? Can you guys please get them to watch Ladder 49 starring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta. It's a dedication to firefighters after 9/11. It's one of the main reasons I joined the US Coast Guard to be a rescue swimmer.

[@jannathompson2262]

WALK THE LINE❤❤❤❤

[@alancoy5305]

I definitely endorse Ladder 49, a great 2004 film, so well done. I also recommend "Walk The Line" a great 2006 biopic on Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Joaquin Phoenix stars with Reese Witherspoon. A very good film.

[@ceretomer5987]

I'm willing to be that Lucious is his son. Maximus and Lucilla apparently dated and both of their songs were the same age. Also, his last words were, "Lucious is safe".

[@clevelandcbi]

Carly: *"Do you think they know Maximus is still alive???"* - Always bugged me that none of his would-be executioners returning was never brought up lol

[@SteveSchweichler]

The officers lied to Commodus when they never returned. It is brought up when he says they lied to me. Also in the longer directors cut there's a scene where he makes them kill the messenger with an arrow

[@clevelandcbi]

@SteveSchweichler THANK YOU!!!

[@Bnio]

Also, does he head-butt a sword to escape execution? The editing got a little generous at that moment.

[@jwnomad]

​@@Bnio I think he back-headbutted the executioner's coin sack

[@druss8052]

It is fictional. The Romans tried twice to defeat the Germanic tribes in battle, once at Teutoburg forest and once at the Weser gap. Both times they were mostly wiped out. Also, those tribes are often depicted as mad dog-like creatures like here, yet the Romans depended on them for things like chainmail.

[@irishinnj72]

Russell Crowe said that the tigers were real and that he was forced to do a scene with one. According to what he said in one interview, one of the tigers got VERY close to him, he literally dive rolled away as one almost pounced on him. He told director Ridley Scott "I hope you got that take, because I'm not doing that again."

[@trekkiejunk]

I know it's sad to say, but all the technology, medicine, and ease of life many people experience today wouldn't have existed without war and conquest. If people had just stayed in small villages peacefully, and never created larger communities through conquest, you couldn't have had the pool of knowledge and labor in order to advance. We would still be hunter-gatherers, living in huts in the forest. It sucks, but it's true.

[@kevinwestrom4775]

The short sword being used is known as a Gladius, hence the fighter known as a Gladiator.

[@110kdawgg]

Russel Crowe’s Robin Hood was really well done as well, but gladiator is just chefs kiss. Perfect movie.

[@aaronburdon221]

That is also a good movie.

[@craigbalzer71]

I suspect you are also a crossword puzzle nut

[@TavoDelfin]

How have you not reacted to Interstellar yet?! Literally the most mind blowing movie of the last 40 years, a masterpiece of the best movie Director of our current time, Christopher Nolan. You have to see it !!!

[@bankbarcomo806]

30:00 it blows my mind every time I watch a Gladiator reaction and people don't know that this wasn't such a forbidden act in that culture and not unheard of.

[@fixfalcon2628]

I was lucky enough to see this film in the theater on opening day in 2000. The music, the cinematography...it was unlike anything we had seen before.

[@im-gi2pg]

I wish I had chosen it at the theater but I chose Mission Impossible for a first date and it was AN OMEN about the short relationship.😂😂😂

[@DirtnapJack]

I saw it that Saturday. The coliseum scene was crazy on big screen

[@rollmops7948]

Maximus's wife in this movie, is married with Ridley Scott. She was also Saladin's sister in "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005) with Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson.

[@AllanMRR]

Ooh. Kingdom of Heaven. Another must watch for Cassie and Carly!

[@Nimbus1701]

I didn't know that. The Director's Cut of that movie is amazing.

[@hathorliderc]

This movie was so good, we based our Marching Band show off that movie

[@Trifler500]

Cassie, you asked what putting dirt on his hands does. It helps absorb sweat so they keep a better grip on the sword.

[@spartanical]

i'm surprised Carly is here for this very violent and graphic movie