The Movie Gladiator

Today I happened to turn on the TV and as I was scrolling through the channels I came across the movie Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe. This was perfect for a multitude of reasons the first being that Gladiators is my topic of expertise for this class, the second being that this week in class we are going over movies that pertain to our topic, and the third being that this is one of my favorite movies of all time.

After knowing more about gladiators through my research about the topic the movie has a whole new meaning for me. I see more into what the gladiator is, not just a fighting man but an entertainer. There are something’s in the movie that are accurate according to my research, while others are not. The first in the arena in one of the Roman providences helps to show the actual experience a gladiator would have. In this scene the newly acquired slaves are put up against heavily armed gladiators. This was how most fights were organized so that the crowd could see a blood bath of the worthless slaves.

The first fight in the coliseum puts the barbarian hoard of Hannibal (slave gladiators) against the legions of Scipio Africanus (professional gladiators). This fight shows the differences between the professional gladiators and the men who are slaves and condemned to die. Maximus (the main character in Gladiator) and the other slave gladiators are sent into the ring to fight against the professional gladiators. The professional gladiators are given chariots and arrows and spears where the slaves are given swords and shields. The slaves are destined to lose as they are outmatched. This is how it was organized so the games could be used to showcase large battles that the Roman Empire had fought. Another important part of this scene is the crowd’s approval of the slave gladiators after their surprising victory over the professionals. The crowd’s approval and association with the gladiators is one of the truly important parts of the gladiatorial experiences.

The fight between the professional gladiator and Maximus is showing how a fight between two professional gladiators would be. Both are armed extremely well and are in a one on one fight to the death. It also shows how any fight can be rigged both the outside forces. With the lions only attacking Maximus, normally this would not be the case as the crowd would be angered by someone interfering with the fight inside the arena. The finally kill sequence of the fight is also very accurate except that Maximus doesn't follow the Emperors orders to finish off his competitor. The fact that he was going to behead the man is something that is very accurate according to a recent article I read on remains of gladiators found in England. According to The Independent, a newspaper in Great Britain, "Although some may have sustained injuries in the period immediately before death, in most cases decapitation appears to have been the act which killed them."

Cicero in this movie is one of Maximus' friends from the legion. That is something that I wouldn't have picked up on until I started learning about ancient Roman history.