“Brothers, what we do in life… echoes in eternity” we hear in an early scene in “Gladiator” and it is that grand spectacle feel that dominates the film. Ridley Scott (“Alien”, “Blade Runner”) has directed a film that is pretty much a more violent and gritty update of Stanley Kubrick’s “Spartacus” and it is incredible.

In “Gladiator”, Maximus (Russell Crowe “Romper Stomper”, “A Beautiful Mind”) is a great Roman military leader, who is betrayed and his family murdered by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix “Signs”, “The Master”). Forced to become a gladiator, he is soon sent to Rome to do battle in the Colosseum. There he becomes an icon to the people as he frustrates the schemes of the new Emperor.

Russell Crowe is excellent as a man that swears loyalty to Rome and will even challenge its new leader to save its people from tyranny. Joaquin Phoenix is surprisingly great as Commodus, a disturbing foe. The interactions between our hero and the villain are rather wonderful to watch. There are also great performances from Richard Harris (“Unforgiven”) and Derek Jacobi (“The King’s Speech”). Crowe and Harris have some great moments near the beginning of the film. I liked the small role played by Omid Djalili, which reminded me very much of his character in “The Mummy”.

I just adore historical films on such a big scope with so many costumes and spectacular architecture. The movie looks great and the gladiatorial sequences are terrific. My favourite scene is probably the battle in the Colosseum where tigers are thrown in, just to make everything all the more challenging. “Gladiator” is a tremendous epic that seems almost biblical at times as we see one man rise up to challenge one of the most powerful civilisations of the ancient world. If have not seen “Gladiator” then you are missing out on a masterpiece.