Gladiator

Gladiator is a movie set during the Roman Empire starring Russell Crowe.  It is a beautiful epic that tells a fantastic story and leads the view through an amazing journey through the brutality of Ancient Rome.  What I love about Gladiator is how beautiful each scene looks and how grand each scene is.  The opening scene of Gladiator shows the Roman army about to take on barbarians.  The scene is beautiful, there is a light snow as the army ready for battle.  Russell Crowe leads them in the charge and sure enough the romans over power the Barbarians.

Part of the reason I am such a fan of gladiator is that I am a big fan of Roman history and I love watching epics, so this suits me quite perfectly.  After this battle the emperor comes to visit and tells him (Russell Crowe) that he is to become emperor after him instead of his son (Joaquin Phoenix).  Well his son finds out about this and after his father's death he attempts to kill Russell Crowe.  Though Russell Crowe escapes and this is where the story really starts.  He becomes a slave and then he is forced to fight as a Gladiator.  These scenes look stunning and the arena is amazing.  Every arena battle is amazing and very well done.  One of his early gladiator fights leads Russell Crowe to say the now famous line "Are you not entertained"

Gladiator is a must watch for anyone and especially anyone who likes Russell Crowe or Ridley Scott.  You will be taken on a fantastic journey that will have you wanting to find out what happens next at every moment.  Luckily for me I have the extended edition so I can watch it over and over.  If you want a glimpse here it is.