Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix are absolutely phenomenal in this, they both brought so much heart and emotion to their roles!

"Everyone likes him and no one likes me!" Your Commodus impression was very funny Jen!

The scene where Russell Crowe's describing his home, he's actually describing where he lives in real life, that's why you can see so much emotion. Brilliant!

Ridley Scott delivered an amazing film. Hans Zimmer delivered an amazing soundtrack. All the actors delivered amazing performances.

Joaquin Phoenix does a disgustingly amazing job as Commodus. Russel Crowe does a vicious heartfelt job as Maximus. This movie is genuinely a tour de force of acting prowess.

Jen, you should definitely give 'Master and Commander' a look. Another period movie with Russell Crowe that was sadly overlooked when it first came out.

I love the way you are concerned about any animals in movies, especially doggies. It shows what a beautiful soul you have.

Derek Jacobi (Gracchus) became famous playing the title role in “I, Claudius,” which dramatized the first Roman Emperors.

Russell had already done the multi-Oscar winning LA Confidential, my favorite movie. Highly recommend it.

The movie was released almost a quarter century ago. I will never forget the words, "What we do in life, echoes an eternity.."

"Joey, do you like movies about Gladiators?"

Russel Crowe is also amazing in L.A Confidential which is one of my all time favorites and it's incredibly acted out and written

I would say this is loosely based upon history, with real characters and an accurate portrayal of Roman life and of the city, but with many liberties taken as to real historical events (and people). Great performances here. And yes, Ridley Scott also did Alien - he has amazing range.

For another Ridley Scott historical epic - The Kingdom of Heaven (please only watch the director's cut or roadshow edition!) For another Ridley & Russell collab - 2010's Robin Hood

"Stab 'em! Stab 'em! Stab 'em in the face!" Jen is my spirit animal.

"He was like thirsty for blood there." mere moments later..." Stab him, Stab him, Stab him in the face." rofl

Great movie. Crowe deserved his accolades because he’s never been better in a role. “Are you not entertained?”

Just watched the History Channel’s series on the Colosseum, and if you thought Commodus in the film was evil, the REAL one was even moreso.

Seen maybe 20 or 30 reactions to this movie, and someone finally hit it out of the park. Thank you Jen! An all-time classic revenge movie that deserved all of the awards it received. And you hit all of the right notes, great and terse commentary that lets the story breathe as we watch with you. All of the emotion and anger really put us in a 'first time watching' mode all over again. Just a perfect YT reaction!

In my opinion Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Commodus is one of the best Villainous Performances in cinema. Probably top 10 at a minimum.

Russell Crowe was in LA Confidential (1997) and The Insider (1999) before this movie. He was nominated for an Oscar for The Insider. So this was one of his first big roles, but he was already a pretty big name by the time this came out.

One of my all time favorites and one of the very few I give an A+ rating. I knew this one was going to get you. It gets just about everyone. Thanks for the awesome reaction and for sharing those "tough" moments with us.👏🏽👏🏽

"I will see you again. But not yet." I'm not crying you're crying. 35:11 "Ridley Scott, did he do Aliens?" Close. He did the first one. Alien. And Blade Runner. And The Martian. And my absolute favourite, that very few people have reacted to: "1492: Conquest of Paradise".

Gladiators were so popular at the time that some of them even got sponsorship deals. There was supposed to be a scene where Maximus starts hawking olive oil but producers feared audiences would find it too unrealistic.

Beautiful reaction - my heart hurt too! I love Russel Crowe in Master and Commander… another period piece based on O’Brian’s wonderful historical fiction from the Age of Sail. Keep’em coming!

hey i just realized after so many years that joaquin phoenix is american, but he's doing the accent really well here! what a pro this guy, he's on that top level

"Wow... that was wow." I agree with you. I've seen this movie a lot and I still cried at every place that you cried. Nice reaction. ❤🙏☮

Pretty much everything Comodus does is to be loved but he has no idea how to do it. It's a tragedy in the end through Phoenix ' acting you can see how tomented he is. He probably hates himself more than anyone.

If you haven't done so, your next ancient history/fiction movies should be "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur." Charlton Heston is featured as the protagonist in each movie.

I think Vituosity(with Denzel) was his 1st big movie as a star. Then LA Confidential which was an ensomble cast. Then The Insider(with Al Pacino) about the tobacco indutry. Then Gladiator made him a superstar and Oscar winner.

Stanley Kubrick's epic "Spartacus," from which "Gladiator" was partly inspired, is also worth a watch. It stars a host of Hollywood royalty like Kirk Douglas (Michael Douglas' father), Tony Curtis (Jamie Lee Curtis' father), and Sir Lawrence Olivier. You would also love Kirk Douglas in the legendary Billy Wilder's morality play called "Ace in the Hole." A brilliant classic and a wonderful example of how good Kirk was as a versatile actor.

State of Play and Proof of Life are two more amazing Crowe films, to add to the others already mentioned in comments. He is a great actor.

I love it when Jen says in this and other reactions "stab him in the face". She likes her vengeance very quick, very bloody and very gruesome.

One of the best movies ever, acting is phenomenal

I went to see this in theaters when it came out , did not know what to expect but was blown away by the action and acting. Scenes where epic, just fantastic movie with great performances around. Great reaction as always Jen

Richard Harris who played the old emperor is in an excellent western mainly about native Americans- A Man Called Horse. Also the vocalist in the family death scene was done by Lisa Gerrard who was/is part of Dead Can Dance.

“Are we so different now?” Jen, you uttered the most timely and insightful question of ANY reactor to this movie whom I have seen. I have loved your reactions for a long time now, but with that line you demonstrated the depth of perception that places you in the pantheon of reactor goddesses! You know the answer to your own question about the people of your neighboring country.

Gladiators-Wrestling-Boxing-MMA-Steet Fighting-Gladiators. We've almost completed the circle.

In response to your question about how real it is, I'd say based upon real events. Maximus' character is fictional but Commodus was real, he was the son of Marcus Aurelius and did play at being a gladiator whilst Emperor (once killed 100 lions in the arena) but that's about as far as the reality goes I believe.

This one truly is a classic. Glad you enjoyed it Miss Jen!

I think Romper Stomper was Crowe's breakthrough film.

Jen: Will there be blood? Maximus: Unleash hell.

"Spartacus", there is an old movie and a modern series. They are both based on a real Gladiator who lead a slave rebellion against the Romans.

Joaquin Phoenix did a really good job in this film but also your making fun of his character for being a weenie is on point and absolutely needed lol

Thank you for a wonderful reaction. There's a reason this film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, and won 5 (Picture, Actor, Costume, Sound, Visual Effects). A great film in cinematic history.

One of my favourite movies. The music is by Hans Zimmer who did the music for Crimson Tide and Pirates of the Caribbean. Great reaction and commentary.

One of my favorite movies. Your reaction was great! Thank you!

That Commodus... he's quite a Joker...

Russell Crowe. Went from playing a mailman in the Aussie TV Show 'Neighbours' to playing a Roman General turned Gladiator. Another movie I liked him in was the western "The Quick and the Dead" (1995) co-starring alongside Sharon Stone & Gene Hackman. Another excellent reaction Jen 😍👍🏻

This movie and ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987) were the first two movies I’ve legit cried at as a teenager …

I do believe that at least two academy awards were taken by this production, one for best picture, and of course one for best actor, Russel Crowe. And yes, Hans Zimmer did the music for this motion picture. Also, the actor Oliver Reed who played Proximo died during the filming of 'Gladiator,' but his performance here was stellar. Well done Riddley Scott and Cast!

Marcus Aurelius was one of the wisest of the Stoics, and as such he was one of the wisest men to ever live. His “Meditations” is a must read for anyone, though it can be difficult to understand the way it was originally written. There are some great videos on KZfaq that interpret and break down his lessons.

At the very start of the movie Maximus overrides an order from Quintus to move their artillery back. He says the danger to their cavalry is "acceptable." This might give you the idea that Maximus is a callous commander who uses his men as pawns. He immediately turns this on its head by going off to his secret side army to lead the cavalry charge himself. He wouldn't order his men to take a risk he wouldn't take himself. That is a beautifully subtle bit of character writing to clue the audience in to what kind of man and leader the main character is.

"Are we so different now?" A truer statement has never been spoken.

This was the last movie I saw with my old man before he died and I will always love it.

Fun fact - The actor who played senator Gracus Derek Jacobi is a very well known actor in the U.K. and played the Emperor Claudius in the 1976 on the BBC series I, Claudius…

This film is always a great react. Quintus to me is a fascinating character, because he betrays Maximus at the beginning, by 'just following orders', but at the end, he is the one who really seals the emperor's fate, by telling the Praetorians to sheathe their swords and not help the emperor.

Ridley Scott has directed my top 3 historical "sword&armor" films ever: Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven director's cut (2005) and Robin Hood director´s cut (2010). Scott is just amazing. Yes, Roman medicine did use larva's to clean out dead tissue.They were also able to bind arteries before amputation, not just cauterizing the wound with burning hot iron. When Rome fell, these skills were forgotten. Amputation skill reached same level than in Roman army in World War 1 next time. Also Larvae to clean necrotic flesh is used in modern science. Its called the maggot therapy.

"Even at the end of it, even when you've won." "Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won." - Duke of Wellington. Great minds think alike. 😉

Sorry for another comment but I love the costume design in this film because in the final fight it doesn’t follow common themes of dressing our ‘hero’ in a lighter colour or white and the ‘villain’ in a darker colour or black.

Absolutely phenomenal movie, one of the best films. Beautifully put together, the emotion the actors put into their characters, the story, the way it has you on the edge of your seat waiting for Joaguin's character to die. Glad you enjoyed it, such a legendary film!

One of my favorite movies of all time! So glad to see you liked it.

I would recommend 'Kingdom of Heaven'...the Director's Cut. It was also directed by Ridley Scott (after he made Gladiator).

Hi Jen, you're reaction to the murder of Maximus's family was the most authentic I've seen yet. Heartbreaking to watch. Two films I strongly recommend: For more Roman gladiator stuff, Spartacus from 1960, directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas. It's a classic. Also the movie Master and Commander starring Russel Crowe and Paul Bettany. Its an epic Napoleonic era sea adventure. I know you'd really enjoy them, great stories, great action, great characters, and great acting. Have a great day!

Another great reaction to an epic movie by Jen, love her balance of intellectual and emotional commitment, always a pleasure to watch, I'm leaning more and more towards her Patreon channel, keep up the good work, kind regards from Montreal!

Random fun fact: gladio is Latin for sword, so a gladiator is literally a swordsman. Another one: man hole covers in Rome say "SPQR" which stands for "Senatus PopulusQue Romanus”, which means the Senate and the People of Rome. *I was a dork who took 3 years of Latin at my Catholic high school... this movie came out my sophomore year of college.

Oliver Reed, who played Proximo was a famous actor in the 60s and 70s, and was also a notorious alcoholic. He died from a heart attack in Malta while they were filming 'Gladiator' after an all-night drinking binge, and a few of his scenes had to be finished with CGI.

Jen, you're the best. You feel emotion in these movies that I haven't felt in years. Bless you! Chuck

19:37 "They have chariots!! That's not friggin' fair!!" I love it! This one is hard to watch at times, and seeing Maximus' son run over by those horses still haunts me, but Maximus got his revenge, and he ended up showing Rome "something they've never seen before", after all. Great reaction to a great movie, Jen, as always! 😊❤

Ridley Scott directed the original _Alien_ . It was James Cameron who wrote and directed the sequel _Aliens_ . Those are a couple of top-shelf filmmakers right there.

The philosophy behind the roman games was Bread and Circuses - keep the rabble of Rome fed and entertained, and they won't threaten the political order.

Been watching you for about a year, and you have quickly become my favorite reactor. You just generally have the same tastes and sense of humor that I do, and I love seeing you see my favorite things for the first time. I grew up watching ST:TNG with my dad, and getting to watch it vicariously through you has been a bright point for me these past few months. It’s the best hard sci-fi show ever and watching you discover it is like seeing it with new eyes all over again. I just now found out you had reacted to this, my favorite film of all time, and once again I get to relive the experience. Thank you; keep discovering new art, new worlds… and keep sharing it with us please.

01:55 This is probably due to the fact that the music for Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean came from the German composer Hans Zimmer.

Saw it in the theater. Glad you have seen this classic and enjoy it. Keep up the great work!

Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut only) is another great historic epic. Master & Commander with Russell Crowe is a great historic movie as well.

I was curious if you'd pick up on one of the melodies and structure of that battle music in Gladiator was also used in a piece for Pirates since I guess Zimmer just really liked that melody and figured it fit both epic battle and epic daredevil stuns and escapes pretty well. Good memory on the ears! Plus yes, maggots will "clean" a wound. They'll eat through dead flesh easy enough but won't find it as easy to get through the living flesh. So while bacterial issues are still going to be there maggots proved a pretty useful way in the past to empty out a festering wound and get rid of everything but living, healable flesh.

From Wikipedia (the film has some fact, some fiction): 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 by Narcissus. His reign is commonly thought to mark 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. His solo reign saw less military conflict than that of Marcus Aurelius, but internal intrigues and conspiracies abounded, goading Commodus to an increasingly dictatorial style of leadership. This culminated in his creating a deific personality cult, including his performances as a gladiator in the Colosseum.

While the battle at the start tactics are totally wrong it does show great how much of a machine the Roman legion was compared to everything else around it and how far ahead they were and why they did what they did

Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? Before Russell Crowe was cast as Maximus, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Tom Sizemore and Tom Cruise were considered for the role. Hugh Jackman was even considered for the role but was an unknown actor and had been cast as Wolverine in the live action X MEN movie, which was originally given to Crowe a year ago but turned it down. Filming began in January 1999 and wrapped up in May of that year. The opening battle scene was filmed in Surrey England, the gladiator training school was filmed in Morocco and finally the scenes involving Ancient Rome were filmed in Malta for 19 weeks. Crowe sustained several injuries during filming and almost died as a result, and nearly got himself killed by the tiger while fighting Tigris Of Gaul. Oliver Reed, Proximo, died of a heart attack on May 2, 1999. The film was dedicated in his memory.

Come to think of it I would suprisingly give my worst award to Marcus Aurelius because he told his plans to Comodus. The fact that he did not see any of what transpired speaks volumes. Like...dude wtf...you're not making him your heir surely you know what's going to happen if you tell him in private?

The film is not based on actual events. Marcus Aurelius's son really was Commodus, but he trusted him and made him his lieutenant for many years before he died. Commodus doesn't have a good reputation as an emperor, but some of that is a contrast to the almost saintly man he followed. Interestingly, this *is* based on another film: The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), with Alec Guiness as Marcus Aurelius and Christopher Plummer as Commodus.

Poor Jen when they revealed his wife & son. 🥺

This was really fun watching with you Jen. Thank you!

Marcus Aerelus was a great man, he's the old guy who (for some reason) this movie chose to bequethe his empire to Maximus when in reality he did to Comodus. Commodus just s had no interest in ruling and is seen as a terrible emperor for that....also this movie gives him a way better exit in life than the actual one. That being said Marcus Aereleus was post mortem one of the two or three top stoic philosphers after his journal was found...he also famously put down a rebellion and held off germanic tribes from invading Rome. I cant recommend his journal enough, it's called "Meditations" and it's just quotes and thoughts that show so much wisdom. Truly the philospher king.

It's amazing how just about every reactor to this says, as soon as Joaquin Phoenix appears on screen: "Ooohh I don't trust this guy!".

Favorite film ever ! Everything is awesome, the cast is incredible, soundtracks is perfect and Commodus is an hell of a villain, people seem to have discovered Joaquin Phoenix just with Joker , but the man has been a legend for 20 years. No the film isn't perfect, of course there are some historically inaccuracies but who cares, it's the same case of Braveheart , it has some flaws when compared to real life, but the film is so fucking cool that you just ignore that, overall is an absolutely masterpiece, with one of the most powerful endings I've seen and it deserved every single Oscar and also should've won for best Score, Hans Zimmer is a god !

The " I am Maxiumus Decimus Meridius... " monologue is one of the greatest spontaneous monologues on film of the latter half of the 20th century. One thing I've thought since I saw this in the theater... The time after Maximus tells Cipio to BRING HIS LEGION to the gates of Rome... Had that not been a trap, and Cipio killed, that could have been an ENTIRELY different movie - and I can't tell for sure if it would have been any better than we got, but, it definitely would have been an interesting one!

The little figurines were called the penates (home divinities, prayed at each home to protect family ). In French, an expression says : going back to one's penates, meaning going back home.

Hi Jen, if you are interested in the story of the Julii (Caesares) family, you should watch the 1970`s BBC Mini-Series (I Claudius) it has 12 episodes. It is narrated by the actor who played Sen. Gracchus in this film, Derek Jacobi, he also plays the title role. It has all the machiavellian intrigue of the ruling family after the death of Julius Caesar.

So many lines in this movie give me chills.. top 3 favorite movie of mine.

27:03 "sniveling little weasel". I bet in different circumstances Jen would be a pretty tough gladiator! Great reaction Jen. Take care.

Jen 🥰 yours has got to be one of the best reactions to Gladiator I have seen on KZfaq and I’ve seen them all. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

The scene where Maximus dies is so well done....it is heart wrenching!

Man, that song/theme always gets me. "Gladiator-Now We Are Free By Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard"

11:45 Yes, it does. If the wound is necrotic, maggots will only eat the dead flesh. This will speed up the healing process. This is still used in modern medicine on bad healing wounds. Although, I have no idea if this was known/practised in the classical antiquity.

As soon as I got the notification, I clicked.. This is one of my favourite films... Peak Ridley Scott

The ending is so powerful that it never loses its impact even after watching it countless times!

Nice reaction review, Jen! I saw this in a major cinema in Sydney, when the Olympics was on - I was just enthralled by 'Gladiator'. I saw it in cinemas every week for a month, and many times since via DVD. One of my all-time favourites, its one of only a few films that I consider to be perfect [like Casablanca, Psycho, The Sting, and The Godfather I & II]. It's simply epic, with great battles & fight scenes, wonderful performances by all, an excellent script and a tumultuous ending with the future & fate of Rome at stake! And there's been very few films that have left me both cheering and in tears at its end. Thanks for featuring it on your channel.

Most of this was filmed in Malta where me and the rest of the family used to holiday every year,that was a very emotional reaction Jenny.

“You don’t mess with tigers.” Solid advice, Jen.