Paramount releases Gladiator in stunning 4k, which should be one of the benchmarks of releasing older films to a new format, making this a must-have for fans of the film.
“Featuring both the theatrical and extended editions, GLADIATOR is the stunning historical epic that follows Maximus Decimus Meridius, the brave general who was forced into slavery, emerged as a gladiator, and defied an empire. Winner of five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor, GLADIATOR is a magnificent combination of vivid action and extraordinary storytelling. Masterfully directed by Ridley Scott, and featuring a riveting performance from Russell Crowe, it is truly “a colossus of rousing action!” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).”
Reminiscent of the epic scale of Cecil B. Demille, Gladiator follows Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a general of a massive Roman army, an inspiration to his men and a loyal servant to the Caesar of Rome, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). After a major victory in the Germanic States, the war is finally coming to an end, with Maximus eagerly awaiting his return to his wife and son. Marcus Aurelius has other plans for Maximus, however, as he summons his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and daughter Lucilla (Connie Nelson), to tell them of his plans to return power to the Senate with Maximus entrusted with said power until the time is right for the people to govern themselves. Before Marcus Aurelius can let his plans be known publicly, Commodus kills him and orders the execution of Maximus and his family.
Using his cunning, Maximus escapes his execution and rides cross country as fast as his horse can carry him, finding his wife and son burned alive and crucified. In a daze of madness and grief, succumbing to a wound he suffered in his escape, Maximus collapses, ready to meet his family in the afterlife. That fate escapes him once again as he is picked up by slave traders, his wound treated, and ultimately sold as a fighter. Reluctantly becoming one of the best gladiators in recent memory, Maximus dedicates himself to winning the crowd over to gain popularity in order to compete in the Colosseum to try to get close to Commodus and avenge his family.
Arguably one of Ridley Scott’s greatest epics, Gladiator took the world by storm on its release in 2000, winning five Academy Awards. Although Russell Crowe had some fine work in smaller roles before this, Gladiator really put him on the map for his abilities to star as a leading man. He gives a commanding performance, something that should be required for someone playing a general of Rome and later a slave who defies an emperor. The rest of the supporting cast is excellent as well, rounding out the film with some great performances. Ever since I saw the film in theatres, I never really liked Joaquin Phoenix, but I think that’s largely in part to his great performance as Commodus. He’s beyond the definition of creepy; he’s insane, tyrannical, filled with a blood-lust with an insatiable need for people to love him, most of all his sister. He makes for a great antagonist, a conflicted character who believes what he’s doing is for the good of Rome.
The visual effects, which the film won an Academy Award for, are remarkable and still hold up almost twenty years later. The believability of these effects are what make the film so grandiose; seeing Rome in its entirety, the sheer scope and size of the Colosseum, the epic battles, all of it. The practical effects are equally as impressive, a lot of the blood and guts of the film that are done with camera tricks, quick editing, all look very good, as does the real world location sets.
Despite the grand scale of the film and all its praise, there are still story issues I never was able to overcome, even after all this time. How does Maximus ride from the front lines all the way to his home so quickly? His hair growth appears to convey a sense of time passing, but doesn’t do it very well, seeming as though he rode non-stop without stopping for food or water for him or his horses. Another thing I never was never able to wrap my mind around completely was how he became a slave. He was simply picked up from the ground and put into chains. I’m sure that’s all it took sometimes, and who is going to believe him if he claimed he was a Roman general anyway? Although those reasons may seem logical in historical context, I just don’t see it making much sense in a film setting. In Ben-Hur for example, it’s Charlton Heston’s friend who betrays him and orders him into slavery to die. For such a big change that effects the entire course of the character, leaving it to sheer chance that he becomes a slave seems like a missed opportunity. Another downfall of the film is the lack of secondary character development. There is basically none. The Extended Edition makes up for this in some ways, giving a little backstory on some of the other slaves, the members of the senate, etc. but the added scenes were so throwaway that the cuts are not missed at all, proving that not much thought was given to these characters at all.
Although Gladiator does have its shortcomings, as do most films, the entertainment of the film vastly outweighs the cons of the storytelling. It may not be a historically accurate representation of the time period, but it’s an inspirational tale that will be relevant in any time.
Video
Gladiator is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1. This new 4k transfer is simply stunning, with Paramount doing an absolutely phenomenal job. The film undergoes quite the shift in tone throughout the first and subsequent acts, with the first having a much bluer tone, then the bright orange/yellow tone in the latter. The HDR with its brilliant brights and deep darks works fantastically on this film, highlighting this shift in tone beautifully. Also stunning is the Dolby Vision, providing dynamic metadata that changes the brightness depending on the shot, instead of a static level that HDR provides. If you have the ability to watch Dolby Vision, this is a film that demonstrates the difference between the two very well.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS:X. Back when it was released on DVD for the first time, I used this film to show off my 5.1 surround sound, especially the opening battle sequence. After listening to this again on an upgraded mix with a much improved system, I can confidently say this will also be my go-to film to flex the muscles of my set-up. Levels are done very well, with each speaker getting a thorough workout while never compromising the center channel. One of my other favorite things about the audio is the score. Composed by Hans Zimmer, the original score only improves each scene, giving them an inspirational note.
Special Features
The extras are carried over from the original blu-ray release, so there isn’t anything new to check out besides the 4k transfer. The set does contain both the theatrical and extended versions, on both 4k and blu-ray. You’re also going to see:
- Introduction by Ridley Scott (Extended Edition)
- Commentary by director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe (Extended Edition)
- Commentary by director Ridley Scott, editor Pietro Scalia and cinematographer John Mathieson (Theatrical Edition)
- The Scrolls of Knowledge
- Deleted Scenes Index with Optional Commentary by Ridley Scott
- Visions from Elysium: Topic Portal
- Strength and Honor: Creating the World of Gladiator
- Image & Design: Storyboard Demonstration, Storyboard Archive, Costume Design Gallery, Photo Galleries
- Abandoned Sequences & Deleted Scenes
- The Aurelian Archives – My Gladiator Journal by Spencer Treat Clark
Gladiator redefines the historical epic, providing a thrilling ride of entertainment and inspiration of a slave rising up against the greatest power of Rome. The 4k transfer on this release is stellar, and given the beautiful shifting tones of the film, is a perfect showcase on the beauty of 4k.
