Gladiator | Turning Spectacle into a Meaningful Story

Hard to believe Gladiator is 18 years old! It still holds up as one of my favorites and I think it’s largely due to its meaningful use of spectacle; what are your favorite films that make meaningful use of spectacle? Let me know below!

..and Derek Jacobi is a so perfect representative of the classic ROMA

Great analysis n essay

Love the MF DOOM thumbnail

One of my favorite movies from one of my favorite directors. If you've never seen this, watch the Extended Cut. Jesus the Extended Cut is so good. The best version of the movie.

Love this film. Now I know why.

Uploaded years ago but I recently saw this and can’t help but to draw parallels to Zelensky in Ukraine and how he and the Ukrainians have completely turned Putin’s terror spectacle on its head and captured the admiration of the world.

You can turn the music up and voices down to where they're almost unheard and you lose absolutely nothing with this film. The soundtrack has got to be one of the best ever made.

'democracy back to rome'... Ponele

This movie will get a remake filled with quick edits, shaky camera, slo mo, cgi and rave music.

I find myself, once again, thinking of what David Fincher says. One of the greatest directors of suspense and dark thrillers, he says we are all, “perverts,” and, “voyeurs.” We look in on the most intimate private moments of people’s lives, making love, even using the bathroom, and of course, their final moments in their spectacular deaths. Sights that we are usually not privy to but obviously curious about. That’s why Saving Private Ryan is so good, because it gives us a sensation of being there, without risk. I love spectacle like that, Spielberg’s dinosaurs, and tense cop thrillers like Serpico, transport us into the spectacle. Dog Day Afternoon gives us a spectacle that examines spectacle. It makes a spectacle of spectacle, as does Gladiator, examining it, whilst letting us enjoy it.

the best film of all time

One of the few movies thst can make shed a tear EVERY time,

Great video.

The cold blue lighting of Commodus vs the warm red lighting of Maximus, at least to me, provides a subtle natural ease with Maximus, yet guarded interest in Commodus. Am I seeing that which is not truly there? Just a thought that has stayed with me from the first time I saw this beautiful film.

Marcus Auriellius was never bringing democracy back to Rome . Comedus did not murder his father. He was a co emperor for a dozen years with his father . Films like this do major damage to realty… but it is entertaining. We’re we not ENTERTAINED? !!!!

Yo...is that mf dooms mask??

Near perfect film!!

Maximus could not escape his destiny. He should bring democracy back to Rome.

I just found this channel...and I must say...I am deeply moved and enthralled by your in depth study of not only film making, but also murky abyss that is human philosophy. I must say you do an excellent job!! Great video to be so entertaining as well as ever so informative. My hat's off to you, sir!

great essay, thank you, so glad I found it after rewatching Gladiator

Too many movies rely on spectacle than narrative. It's the reverse that makes movies and stories great.

If it's not good, don't do it. If it's not true don't say it.

I might be in the minority. Spielberg made many great advances in cinema but the Spielberg face, just didn't work, ruined many scenes.

Whenever the self talk that I'll never be a good author creeps in I watch these videos to regain encouragement, help with "how"s, & brainstorming plot hole fixes. Plus they're just cool 🙂

one of the best movies ive ever seen

One of the best analysis of one of the greatest motion picture of all time.

Hey, I’m a fan of Gladiator and Ridley Scott films in general but I like Michael Bay movies too!!! Just throwing that out there.

Now that I think about it, spectacle is quite like sex. Whether in movies or real life itself, it is very often used as an end-in-itself, where the narrative or emotional development halts for a moment, to let us partake in the sensation alone. Rarely is it used responsibly, virtuously, to highlight the truly important dimensions of a relationship, as you put it. Great video!

What we do in life...echoes in eternity

Your videos have reinvigorated my desire to become a film critic as your deconstruction of movies is so thoughtful.

I am still at a loss as to why on so many occasions the studios and executives won't let Ridley Scott make the movie he wants to make. He's made some great films: Black Hawk Down, Alien, Blade Runner, and of course Gladiator. I would argue that Gladiator was so good and so successful that Scott should have been given complete control over all of his movies thereafter. But we saw the studio interfere with Kingdom of Heaven and make him cut half the damn movie (which lead to a mediocre theatrical release though the Director's Cut is exceptional). ANd then with All the Money in the World the studio said you have to use Kevin Spacey instead of Christopher Plummer to play J Paul Getty only to turn around a month before the film's release and tell him he has to reshoot the whole movie with.....Christopher Plummer as J Paul Getty like he originally wanted.

Subtitulen al español 😭😭

That quote by Richard Rushton calls out the current theme over substance argument. The art must be done well or it is just spectacle and nothing more.

Brilliant!!!!!

Chicken pox causes you to have this crazy nerve pain all over when it comes back, Had that, its not an std its airborn?

CDC and police should have records of any sexual assault and infection. to stop spread, unless thats not the plan see hpv causes infertility lots got it, have to pay for that test. I think I did

Ok not dry, and not sure about disease, robot no questions

Robots get viruses but not aids, how much is child support. astronaught sperm sales up in that dry diseased vagina?

Bet sex bot tech is banging on the like 100k drop

I want to join the tyo bird shed debat team

Im doing a spectacle version of waiting for the CIa to do this video right, I know I dont have a team on this

I could use spectacle to clean up the government and economy, differently

X L ENT
I am never disappointed in your content!
Thank you.

my favorite movie, really has always had an effect on me and the only movie I can re-watch. Never fully understood why, but it hits me deep.

Very nicee! Can you do something on Minority report?

This is a movie that I kept watching over and over and over again on the DVD. Never tired of it, there was something timeless to it and now I understand why.