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This is a review from the Norwegian newspaper "Bergens Tidende".

Blood and Circus

Bloody, but impressive entertainment

Panem et circenses, bread and circus, was what the old, Roman emperors used to satisfy the mob and to keep them calm. The need for bread isn't that big anymore in today's well-fed, western society. But the need for entertainment of a continuously stronger kind, seems increasing. That's why Hollywood bids us blood and circus, safely knowing that they will hit a big audience.

Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Black Rain, Thelma & Louise and more) goes back to the first of the Roman empire's so-called soldier emperors, the weak, character-less, despotic Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who reigned in 1800 A.D after his father, Marcus Aurelius, died. Around this character he creates a story about lies and betrayal, which has certain roots in reality, but which in general keeps kind of loose bonds to the facts. The main character of the movie is Maximus (Russell Crowe), the general whom Marcus Aurelius according to the screenplay writers wanted to make his successor after a lot of victorious battles - instead of Commodus.

Commodus strangles his father, takes over the empire, sends Maximus away to be killed and murders his wife and kid in a bestial way. But like a Rambo, Maximus defeats his guards and escapes - just to be taken prisoner by a slave trader from the Zucchabar province. Soon he does well as a gladiator, and he is brought to Rome and the Colosseum as the big attraction there. In the ring he defeats opponents who are bigger, stronger and more numerous than himself, in the best realistic tradition. His goal is to defeat Commodus...

The movie has become a bloody thing, but a visually impressive show as well. The battle between the Roman army and the Germanian barbarians which starts the movie, is told with enormous dynamics and flexibility and an irresistable power. Later, more pompous scenes follow, where the eternal city and the Colosseum is realistically recreated thanks to advanced computer technology, and huge crowds are manipulated simply by pressing the right keys.

The mighty gladiator fights would have seemed even more realistic if the hero had been a tad less invincible. The movie is at its most realistic and naturalistic when blood flows and heads roll. The people behind this production seems to be, spiritually speaking, at the same level as the Germanian barbarians Maximus defeats in the opening scene. It's unbelievable that we, fourty years ago, settled for Ben Hur!

Reviewed by JAN H. LANDRO
translated by Kim E.

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