Whimsory's facial expressions are so lively vivid and have so much range I can't understand why she's not an actress or at least have more followers than this and it's just natural it isn't forced at all. You know how you meet them people that no matter what they're talking about their face seems to never change well she's the exact opposite lol
@@Bazzkorg Controversial opinion but I believe that had River not died in 1993 Joaquin would eventually have overshadowed him anyway, River was an incredible young actor but Joaquin is on another level.
He was incredible, no doubt. And I thought Oliver Reed was equally amazing. Man, he brought so much energy to his role. What a great curtain bow on his life and career!
The production stands the test of time, you can see it in 30 years and it continues to look just as good in all the details, even in the special effects.
Great choice Whimsory!!! "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife...and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
Not really. It was always said that his alcoholism and his off screen antics always got in the way of his superb acting skills. He just always blew his opportunities to shine. He's always been regarded as being a huge talent.
@@SlugCult718 He clearly didn't always blow his opportunities to shine. And though the reality of the way he died was probably quite haunting close up, it does sound pretty cool on paper compared to "died in sleep of old age". Crazy guy but the best kind of crazy
You might have already realised, but when it said they were in "Zucchabar, Roman Province" this was actually in North Africa, not Rome itself. The Roman Empire was massive - Maximus was born in the Roman Empire but in Spain, not Italy or the city of Rome itself. Romans from Italy and Rome had an elitist attitude for much of their history if I recall correctly, and the idea of Rome was idolised across the Empire when it was often fairly troubled.
For those who aren't familiar: The fields of wheat throughout the film aren't just symbolic of him going home to his farm. Its MAIN purpose is to symbolize Elysium. The Greek/Roman Underworld/afterlife is split up into multiple aspects: - Tartarus - The equivalent of Hell. A deeper realm of darkness and fire, as far underneath the realm of Hades as the realm of Hades is below the sky. It is the prison of the Titans and Giants, and the place of torment for the wicked and the enemies of the gods. Tartarus itself is a Primordial God, (like Gaea (Earth), Erebus (Darkness), Nyx (Night), Khaos (Chaos/The Void/The Abyss/The Emptiness), Chronos (Time), The Fates, etc). - The Asphodel Meadows - The sort of neutral/good afterlife. The "neutral" inhabitants drink from the River Lethe (Forgetfulness) before entering, and are thus stripped of their memories and identities. Part of it is meadows of of Asphodel flowers. And part of it may be a wasteland of ash. - The Elysian Fields, The Plains Of Elysium/The Isles of the Blessed - The equivalent of Heaven or Valhalla. The afterlife of heroes, the children of the gods, and the best people. A utopian paradise where everything is easy. Fields of wheat and whatever else you need. Interestingly, Greco-Roman mythology evolved how things worked over time, and eventually the generally righteous were allowed to move from the the Asphodel Meadows to Elysium, IF they passed the judgement of the three Judges Of The Dead - the wise King Rhadamanthus, the good King Minos, and the just King Aeacus (all three were demigods - children of Zeus). As Maximus tells his troops at the beginning "If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!" The song that plays at the end as Maximus is dying and mourned is called "Elysium". (EXTREMELY worth listening to on UA-cam all on its own. Haunting. Beautiful. Serene. Sad.)
@@VictorLugosi As a lifelong mythology geek I think this was a very succinct explanation of Hades and its divisions, and it should be fairly obvious to students of Greco-Roman mythology what the wheat field is meant to be (and someone who's not one can easily figure out the gist of it, point to the director I suppose). What issue do you find with it?
Gladiator hasn't aged a day. Still a perfect film. 2000, 2001 and 2002 were phenomenal years for Russel Crowe. He was nominated for Best Actor for 3 consecutive years. Also I'll say Joaquin Phoenix's performance was just as memorable as Crowe's, if not more. Also, I am a new subscriber! :)
It was also Oliver Reed's last movie before his death, he was a phenomenal actor throughout the 70's and 80's but did not get many good roles in the 90's so it is fitting that his last movie was an epic.
@@krashd Ha, not even ^before^ his death - he had a heart attack down the pub during filming (supposedly while bench-pressinga beer barrel or something), which is why his character sort of tails off... even his last appearance on screen is taken from a different scene and digitally given a shave. He was, as you say, a superb actor, even in less superb films, and I can think of at least two major characters that he brought to life in such a way that its difficult to imagine them played by anybody else - Athos in The Three Musketeers and Bill Sykes in Oliver...
@@krashd So good. I loved all the pep talks he gave his gladiators. Never sugar-coated the situation, but still inspired them by challenging them to be honourable in death. Much like Maximus' own style of leadership.
An excellent film and great reaction! The Colosseum was an amazing structure, they could actually flood the main arena and have boats sail on it to do naval battles, it was incredible engineering.
What most folks watching this film don't realize is that when Maximus rides back to his home, he rides from Germany, all the way across France, and to Spain
My dad and I would go to the movies often and this was one of his top 3 movies. We saw it together in the theater when it came out. He's 80 now and he is suffering from early dementia but when I go to see him, I ask if we could watch a movie together. He smiles when I suggest this one. He remembers it and still enjoys the action. You've hit another home run, Whimsory. Can't wait for your next video. 😊
Sorry to hear that. My mother got Alzheimers in her early 40's and a year later she passed. Enjoy the precious times with him. Thy did find out that the way she got it was she was on the pill and it caused problems with her blood vessel in her brain which causes issues. She will be missed but Enjoy the love and time you have wth him
The movie was interesting, but it drew on so many of the extra-canonical lore that is not taught anymore, and it was integrated in a very weird way. The biggest flaw I remember is that they didn't execute his damning of humanity and his last minute change of mind where he decided to spare his grandchild. This one thing ripples across most of the problems through it.
@@GhostWatcher2024 Yup, the end of the ice age, some say. The Biblical flooding most likely was the flooding of a river in the area that is currently known as Iraq. A guy there was saving lots of people with his boat. The flooding was so severe that people thought the entire world was flooded. There were some more details known of this event but I forgot. I believe AronRa has more information about it on his channel. (He has LOTS of videos about the flood, and I think this specific story was mentioned in the "Mythology" video about the flood.)
Oliver Reed who played Proximo, died from a heart attack during filming. He was a very famous actor in the 70's and 80's who became a bit of a cult icon known for his drinking. He was challenged to a drinking contest and arm wrestle by a group of sailors when they were filming in Malta, he drank 8 pints of lager, a dozen shots of rum, half a bottle of whisky, and a couple of shots of Cognac in a single sitting whilst beating a load of young, fit sailors at arm wrestling. His bill for the night cost nearly $600. He was 61. Very sad.
One of many reasons why Ridley is one of my 5 favorite directors. His movies be it Blade runner, Alien, this or The Martian all look amazing in EVERY shot
The old Emperor at the start was is Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the last of the 5 great Romans Emperors. He wrote some books we call "Mediations" personal dairies of self improvement and moral action, they are a real testament to the man who, as the Emperor of the largest empire in the world, spent his much free time trying to be a more just, fair and wise man and ruler. Russel Crows character is in many way a personification of the lessons in "mediations" and some of his lines are quotes from the book.
It doesnt much get commented on but the presence of Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus is kind of a British in-joke, as he was (and still is) famous for his portrayal of the Roman Emperor Claudius in a 1970s TV series. Claudius came to power after the death of a tyrannical young Emperor and (in fiction, at least) he wanted to make Rome a Republic again - so Gracchus is rather carrying his torch, ideologically speaking, a fact that Ridley Scott would absolutely have recognised when Jacobi was cast...
16:04 The utter disgust and loathing on your face and in your voice. It caught me so hard. I had a really good laugh at that. He did a good job playing a real creep. What a great movie this was. Great reaction! can't wait to see what you watch next!
Hey Whimsory, loving your content so much, nobody works as hard as you do with the post movie editing, research and commentary. You deserve every good thing you get through UA-cam. I have to question your best movies of all time source though. It must be suspect if Tombstone, The Last Samurai, Dances With Wolves or Blood in Blood Out aren't on it. 🤔 But please keep these coming! 🙏😎❤️
"Caesar" was a Roman family during the Republic. Gaius Julius Caesar was one of the best military commanders ever. After he conquered Gaul (basically France), he returned to Rome and great acclaim. He was eventually named Dictator of Rome. Powerful people didn't like his power and assassinated him. His nephew, who was his adopted son and heir, became Caesar Augustus, the first "Caesar", which came to mean Emperor (the Russian Czar, the German Kaiser). This was the end of the Republic, and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Some were "good" Caesars (Hadrian, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius, etc), and some were not (Nero, Caligula, and Commodus, etc.). Rome ruled most of Europe, and the Mediterranean, for a thousand years.
Man, two weeks in a row you hit one of my top 5 movies of all time. Gladiator is just an 11/10 in every aspect. Writing, acting, action scenes, music, etc. Just a master class in movie making.
It's so unusual to have a truly weak villain at the centre of a movie, and a weak man in a position of ultimate power is a scary thing indeed. In many ways the story of the scared, inadequate, pathetic Commodus is significantly more interesting than that of the square-jawed, honourable Maximus. I always get the feeling that men watching this movie aspire to be Maximus, and relate to Commodus.
Lately, I'm no longer that interested in watching many reaction videos, but you're one of the few UA-cam reactors that I still really, really look forward to seeing. Keep up the good work!
I know I've said it before, but I'm still impressed with your editing and natural instincts for being able to pin point the necessary story beats and include them in really time efficient ways. I really liked what you did with the sequence with Cicero (Maximus's servant) when he's leaving the coliseum and Cicero is in the crowd trying to get his attention to tell him his men are there for him. I thought your editing choice there was essentially pristine. You give us the initial shot of him yelling to Maximus from the crowd which establishes whats going on in the scene and then cut straight to him placing the bag in Maximus's hand and relaying the message, which gives us the story beat and purpose of the scene. Might seem simple and obvious describing it here, but there's so many hired editors I see on youtube who wouldn't handle that scene with the same precision. So again, I know I've said this before on other videos of yours, but indulge me a bit while I heap some praise onto your instincts again. I really do get a kick out of it.
You gotta understand that this is the height of the Roman empire. The height of hedonism, part of the reason Rome fell. The scar on that actors face is real. Since you like character development so much watch Joker, it is all about character development.
That scene when Maximus just tells Commodus the truth right in the fucking face always gets me. And even better is what comes next. Commodus really, really wants for Maximus to die. But the crowd is against killing Maximus. And Commodus is too scared to order his death. A small boy in trunks - that's what Commodus is. Not a leader. Not even a true man. Because being a man is not about age. It's about being able to bear responsibility and staying true to one's word.
Hanz Zimmer's FTW. He is one of those guys who had seemingly reached the pinnacle of his craft 20 years ago for this film. Then he did it again & again & again. time & again he composes beautiful & breathtaking scores, such a great talent!
They also burned down the forest for the movie in the beginning battle. It was scheduled to be cut down, but Ridley Scott offered to burn it for the movie.
Other than the "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius" speech, I would have to say my favourite line would be "The time for honouring yourself will soon be at an end, Highness." because of all the different things going on - there's a bit of a threat of course, but he also shows a lot of disrespect to Commodus because 1) Commodus said he was having the games to honour his father and 2) Maximus addresses him as "Highness" rather than "Emperor."
Hey Whimsory, Great reaction! FYI...you mentioned the scar on Cicero's face, it's actually a real scar, not make-up. Thomas Flanagan who plays the part has a scar on each side of his face, known as a 'Glasgow Grin' or a 'Glaswegian Smile', after being attacked with a knife by thugs in Scotland. It's entirely possible they might have defined it more for the movie. He's in another EPIC movie...Braveheart, where you'll clearly see his "battle wound". Braveheart, if on your list of 250 would be another great one to watch, if you like battles like in Gladiator. Can't wait for your next reaction. ~Dawne
It is said that he took up acting because he became depressed about his disfigurement, but someone told him they could surely use a guy with a face like that in the movies. He was also great in "Sons of Anarchy" (but maybe you shouldn't watch that show, as it is excessively brutal).
Braveheart, absolutely! And that automatically makes me think of Highlander, although that one is fictional of course. Maybe slightly outdated by now, but hey: she also loved Alien! :-)
Don't worry about showing your anger , frustration, or other emotions. Those are your REACTIONS. That's what you're here for, right? I love that you don't give commentary, covering the dialogue of the film, through the entire movie. You do a great job!
Hey! I just kinda stumbled onto your channel. I saw Predator with you and it was fun. Thanks for inviting me :) Im sure your going to watch a bunch of military themed movies. Dont watch Full Metal Jacket, at least not right away. You seem sweet and somewhat innocent. Full Metal Jacket will change you. Its just a little too real. Maybe because the Drill Instructor was a real US Marine Corps Drill Instructor. The man is a LEGEND.
Ever since I was little I was terrified by Oliver Reed for his portrayal of Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist. I absolutely loved him as Proximo. What a legendary final role.
The actor who plays Maximus' servant actually has those scars. If you see him again in other films you'll definitely recognise him. I'm glad you liked the film and if you don't write poetry already; based on your notes, I think you should start.😂
Awesome reaction, Whimsory! One of my favorite roles of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix! I highly recommend Master & Commander and especially Braveheart! For good reason! Oh and good kudos on loyal Cicero! To be fair, they did have lions in the Roman arenas!
The sand they put on the floor of the Colosseum to soak up the blood was called "harena" in Latin and is where we get the word "arena", because the stadium space and the sand became synonymous.
RIP Oliver Reed who played Proximo. Veteran actor who was sick during filming and died before filming of Gladiator was complete. Terrifying as Bill Sikes in 1968 Oliver.
He was in a movie with Amanda Donohoe where the two of them were castaways on a deserted island where they were naked throughout the film and fucked at every opportunity. 13 year old me used to love stumbling upon that movie late at night.
Just a tiny detail: Romans used the thumb up/down sign to signal the fate of gladiators, but contrary to Hollywood or UA-cam likes it meant: Thumb up=rise to the afterlife, thumb down=stay on earth. And you are right. The movie was ahead of its time but also 2000 years behind…. 😄 Thank you, was a great joy to rewatch it with you. Thx for the invitation! Mike 🇺🇾♥️
Fun Fact: each scene with a tiger ON a human the quick eyed will notice they are all stretched towards one of the human's hands, this is because that is where the Tiger-handler stuntman [the human playing Maximus in the scene] keeps the tiger treats.
Gladiator, not an expected choice, but a most welcome one. Accidentally watched this one at 8 years old, the charred remains of his family stuck with me for a long time
29:09 the point of that skit was everyone loved Maximus, and not the Emperor. they knew there was going to be a battle between them, and they were showing which side they were on. this is an amazing film. the actor who portrayed the slave owner and became a 2nd father to Maximus passed away 3/4 of the way through the film, they digitally edited him into the last part of the film, from unused footage. another great reaction! 👍
In the scene with the boy just before the arena Maximus tells Lucius that his horses’ names were Argento and Scatto. That's Silver and Trigger, horses ridden by two famous 50s cowboy heroes - The Lone Ranger (Hi Ho Silver Away!) & Roy Rogers (see Die Hard). A joke by Russell Crowe.
11:33 - "what are you doing with that horse" - horses can only run so far with a rider before becoming exhausted. Bringing another horse allows him to travel faster.
Actually, the scars on Cicero are REAL. The actor (Tommy Flannagan) was attacked outside a nightclub where he was working as a DJ (YEARS ago). He was slashed with a knife.
And as satisfying seeing Commodus die at the end is, in reality the death of Commodus kicked off the Year of Five Emperors. It was a year of chaos, civil war, and assassinations.
Your reactions are very honest and fun. I like watching your channel because it reminds me of what it felt like to watch these films for the first time (even though I was like, 'yeah, gladiators, violence - awesome!'). Keep up the good work!
Went to Rome a couple years ago and saw the Colosseum for the first time. Pretty impressive and surreal to stand in front of it and go inside, knowing what went down within those walls 1,800 years ago…at least from a 21st century westerner’s pov. I thought of this movie the whole time.
Your videos are great! I appreciate all you put into them. And oh man, your reaction at 20:29 - instead of just saying what you see, you have this wonderful reaction like a silent film star which made me laugh out loud. Just shows why you're the best in the game!
Totally explains it. Im happy that you homeschooled. Parents were very smart. Very good demeanor that you have. That's where the explains it comment comw from anyway, grateful that you do reaction videos keep it up you do very well at it
My Grandmothers favorite movie until her death two years ago was this movie. There is a running joke in our family if anyone says “What should we watch?” “Gladiator it is!”
Young lady, that was an excellent reaction - thoughtful, intelligent, clear, and concise. Well done! You make a great case for home schooling. Have you ever heard of Ben-Hur from the 50's? Many similarities, and equally moving.
No need to excuse your reactions. Those times where brutal. ...and total respect for choosing NOT to watch things you don't like. Love your reactions, please never stop doing this!
This was my first time watching one of your reaction videos, it was a treat watching you react to one my favorite movies. I hope you consider getting out of your comfort zone and continue to react to movie genres you usually won’t watch, like war movies, they give a picture of human nature that should be seen. Again I really enjoyed your reaction, hope your channel grows!!
One of the things people aren't aware of. Gladiatorial fights are highly romanticized in history. Many times the fights were stopped before Gladiators would die. This was due to how expensive a fighter was too replace.
Thank you for this reaction video. As you noted, Joaquin Phoenix's performance in the film is a top tier work of art! This film remains at the summit of my favorite motion pictures of my current life. Thank you also for not editing the important content that other UA-cam reaction hosts do!
Speaking of Joaquin Phoenix, I was 15 the first time I saw him in a movie; it was the 1986 film Space Camp. He was just a boy. He has come a long way since then.
Awesome video! You facial expressions and spontaneous sounds and comments are cool, hilarious and adorable! I'm very much looking forward to your future stuff.
Great reaction like always. Love your facial expressions and your little quips. It’s always fun to see reactors when they realize that they are brother and sister. That is some things that are overlooked about Royal families and how they keep their bloodlines pure.
Humans never changed ... back then people cheered at Gladiators fighting each other (not necessarily killing each other ... because that would require a stupid amount of Gladiators for just one show) ... and nowadays we still cheer at sports teams "fighting" in an arena. The methods change, but we are still REACTING EMOTIONALLY to the "show" of people fighting.
I know you said you've never watched Game of Thrones but probably the most hated character in that show (Joffrey, if you've ever heard it mentioned) was portrayed with a lot of inspiration from Phoenix's Commodus. The legacy of this great portrayal of a villain lived on!
I have no idea how Joaquin Phoenix managed to make himself so unlikeable. Your reaction shows it brilliantly: even before he starts murdering people and creeping on his sister you get an uncomfortable vibe from him. It must be a subtle smirk or something and the privileged arrogance which he displays. Another fantastic on-screen villain, Joffrey in Game of Thrones, reportedly studied Joaquin Phoenix in this movie particularly to work out how to play his character and it really shows: people get an uncomfortable feeling from that portrayal too and grow to absolutely despise him.
The thumb thing at 24:00 was a real thing, if a gladiator had bettered another and got them on the ground the emperor would show a thumb up or thumb down to instruct the successful gladiator to either finish his opponent or spare them. It was also used in general just as it was in the movie to show whether the emperor was going to allow someone to live or not - at 24:00 Comodus would likely have ordered his elite guard to kill Maximus there and then but the crowd started cheering for Maximus and Comodus (who was desperate to be loved) did not want to upset his people.
Whimsory's facial expressions are so lively vivid and have so much range I can't understand why she's not an actress or at least have more followers than this and it's just natural it isn't forced at all. You know how you meet them people that no matter what they're talking about their face seems to never change well she's the exact opposite lol
"Death smiles at us all, and all a man can do is smile back!". What a beautiful line.
Joaquin Phoenix absolutely crushed this role. He was so unlikeable and played Commodus so well. Just a fantastic movie all around. Great reaction!
This is my favorite role of Joaquin Phoenix, even if he crushes every role I love him as Commodus!
@@Bazzkorg Controversial opinion but I believe that had River not died in 1993 Joaquin would eventually have overshadowed him anyway, River was an incredible young actor but Joaquin is on another level.
He played it so well, I almost didnt like Joaquin Phoenix himself after this movie 😅
He was incredible, no doubt. And I thought Oliver Reed was equally amazing. Man, he brought so much energy to his role. What a great curtain bow on his life and career!
And if anyone feels like a fun 20 minutes then google the real Commodus.
Way more bonkers and crazy than the movie version.
Over 20 years later this movie is still incredible! That ending always gets me to tear up 😢
Ridley recently announced plans to make a sequel, or prequel, or just another Gladiator movie set in the same universe.
The production stands the test of time, you can see it in 30 years and it continues to look just as good in all the details, even in the special effects.
@@krashd Gerard Butler or Chris Hemsworth would be good candidates for the sequel.
For me it’s the “who will help me carry him?” Line…the whole scene of course is moving, but it’s THAT LINE which caused the tears the well up…
@@trayolphia5756 For me it's "Go to them".
Great choice Whimsory!!!
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife...and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
"He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him."
Great line!
The Whimsory dance at the beginning with the drums was too funny @4:59-5:04
R.I.P. Oliver Reed. An underrated actor of his time.
Not really. It was always said that his alcoholism and his off screen antics always got in the way of his superb acting skills. He just always blew his opportunities to shine. He's always been regarded as being a huge talent.
Another comment with underrated in it. How original 🙄
@@SlugCult718 He clearly didn't always blow his opportunities to shine. And though the reality of the way he died was probably quite haunting close up, it does sound pretty cool on paper compared to "died in sleep of old age". Crazy guy but the best kind of crazy
You might have already realised, but when it said they were in "Zucchabar, Roman Province" this was actually in North Africa, not Rome itself. The Roman Empire was massive - Maximus was born in the Roman Empire but in Spain, not Italy or the city of Rome itself. Romans from Italy and Rome had an elitist attitude for much of their history if I recall correctly, and the idea of Rome was idolised across the Empire when it was often fairly troubled.
For those who aren't familiar: The fields of wheat throughout the film aren't just symbolic of him going home to his farm.
Its MAIN purpose is to symbolize Elysium.
The Greek/Roman Underworld/afterlife is split up into multiple aspects:
- Tartarus - The equivalent of Hell.
A deeper realm of darkness and fire, as far underneath the realm of Hades as the realm of Hades is below the sky.
It is the prison of the Titans and Giants, and the place of torment for the wicked and the enemies of the gods.
Tartarus itself is a Primordial God, (like Gaea (Earth), Erebus (Darkness), Nyx (Night), Khaos (Chaos/The Void/The Abyss/The Emptiness), Chronos (Time), The Fates, etc).
- The Asphodel Meadows - The sort of neutral/good afterlife.
The "neutral" inhabitants drink from the River Lethe (Forgetfulness) before entering, and are thus stripped of their memories and identities.
Part of it is meadows of of Asphodel flowers.
And part of it may be a wasteland of ash.
- The Elysian Fields, The Plains Of Elysium/The Isles of the Blessed - The equivalent of Heaven or Valhalla.
The afterlife of heroes, the children of the gods, and the best people.
A utopian paradise where everything is easy.
Fields of wheat and whatever else you need.
Interestingly, Greco-Roman mythology evolved how things worked over time, and eventually the generally righteous were allowed to move from the the Asphodel Meadows to Elysium, IF they passed the judgement of the three Judges Of The Dead - the wise King Rhadamanthus, the good King Minos, and the just King Aeacus (all three were demigods - children of Zeus).
As Maximus tells his troops at the beginning
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
The song that plays at the end as Maximus is dying and mourned is called "Elysium".
(EXTREMELY worth listening to on UA-cam all on its own. Haunting. Beautiful. Serene. Sad.)
Thanks for this informative educational comment. 👍
Actually this isn’t accurate.. stay off google and stop listening to affirmative action professors lol
@@VictorLugosi It's 100% right.
But thanks for embarrassing yourself in public like this. It's very brave of you.
@@VictorLugosi"Affirmative action professors" - say you're a conservative moron without saying you're a conservative moron
@@VictorLugosi
As a lifelong mythology geek I think this was a very succinct explanation of Hades and its divisions, and it should be fairly obvious to students of Greco-Roman mythology what the wheat field is meant to be (and someone who's not one can easily figure out the gist of it, point to the director I suppose).
What issue do you find with it?
Gladiator hasn't aged a day. Still a perfect film. 2000, 2001 and 2002 were phenomenal years for Russel Crowe. He was nominated for Best Actor for 3 consecutive years. Also I'll say Joaquin Phoenix's performance was just as memorable as Crowe's, if not more.
Also, I am a new subscriber! :)
Till he went nutty buddy and started throwing phones at people.
It was also Oliver Reed's last movie before his death, he was a phenomenal actor throughout the 70's and 80's but did not get many good roles in the 90's so it is fitting that his last movie was an epic.
@@krashd Ha, not even ^before^ his death - he had a heart attack down the pub during filming (supposedly while bench-pressinga beer barrel or something), which is why his character sort of tails off... even his last appearance on screen is taken from a different scene and digitally given a shave. He was, as you say, a superb actor, even in less superb films, and I can think of at least two major characters that he brought to life in such a way that its difficult to imagine them played by anybody else - Athos in The Three Musketeers and Bill Sykes in Oliver...
@@krashd So good. I loved all the pep talks he gave his gladiators. Never sugar-coated the situation, but still inspired them by challenging them to be honourable in death. Much like Maximus' own style of leadership.
An excellent film and great reaction!
The Colosseum was an amazing structure, they could actually flood the main arena and have boats sail on it to do naval battles, it was incredible engineering.
Sunday's are dull on YT. Thank goodness Whimsory put one out AND it's one of my favorites! Thank you!
yes it is.
What most folks watching this film don't realize is that when Maximus rides back to his home, he rides from Germany, all the way across France, and to Spain
How didn't those horses drop dead
My dad and I would go to the movies often and this was one of his top 3 movies. We saw it together in the theater when it came out. He's 80 now and he is suffering from early dementia but when I go to see him, I ask if we could watch a movie together. He smiles when I suggest this one. He remembers it and still enjoys the action. You've hit another home run, Whimsory. Can't wait for your next video. 😊
With a dad in very similar situation, I wholeheartedly appreciate this comment.
Sounds like he raised a good son...wish him all the best
Sorry to hear that. My mother got Alzheimers in her early 40's and a year later she passed. Enjoy the precious times with him. Thy did find out that the way she got it was she was on the pill and it caused problems with her blood vessel in her brain which causes issues. She will be missed but Enjoy the love and time you have wth him
"and Noah with again... the book was better!" I laughed so hard at that! absolutely loved it!
😂
Awful little mythical tale which actually only goes for a couple of pages in the bible... But still actually better than the movie!
😂👍
The movie was interesting, but it drew on so many of the extra-canonical lore that is not taught anymore, and it was integrated in a very weird way. The biggest flaw I remember is that they didn't execute his damning of humanity and his last minute change of mind where he decided to spare his grandchild. This one thing ripples across most of the problems through it.
@@GhostWatcher2024 Yup, the end of the ice age, some say.
The Biblical flooding most likely was the flooding of a river in the area that is currently known as Iraq. A guy there was saving lots of people with his boat. The flooding was so severe that people thought the entire world was flooded. There were some more details known of this event but I forgot. I believe AronRa has more information about it on his channel. (He has LOTS of videos about the flood, and I think this specific story was mentioned in the "Mythology" video about the flood.)
@@chriskelly3481 a story about mass murder
Oliver Reed who played Proximo, died from a heart attack during filming.
He was a very famous actor in the 70's and 80's who became a bit of a cult icon known for his drinking.
He was challenged to a drinking contest and arm wrestle by a group of sailors when they were filming in Malta, he drank 8 pints of lager, a dozen shots of rum, half a bottle of whisky, and a couple of shots of Cognac in a single sitting whilst beating a load of young, fit sailors at arm wrestling.
His bill for the night cost nearly $600.
He was 61. Very sad.
God bless your gentle soul, Whimsy! You are a wonderful young lady!
"It's a freakin lion." 🤣
"I'm making sure my cat's not watching this." 💀
One of many reasons why Ridley is one of my 5 favorite directors. His movies be it Blade runner, Alien, this or The Martian all look amazing in EVERY shot
Maximus’ house was an improvised line from Crowe he was talking about his real home in Australia
The old Emperor at the start was is Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the last of the 5 great Romans Emperors. He wrote some books we call "Mediations" personal dairies of self improvement and moral action, they are a real testament to the man who, as the Emperor of the largest empire in the world, spent his much free time trying to be a more just, fair and wise man and ruler. Russel Crows character is in many way a personification of the lessons in "mediations" and some of his lines are quotes from the book.
BIG SHOUT OUT to the last role of Oliver Reed ! SO Charismatic !
It doesnt much get commented on but the presence of Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus is kind of a British in-joke, as he was (and still is) famous for his portrayal of the Roman Emperor Claudius in a 1970s TV series. Claudius came to power after the death of a tyrannical young Emperor and (in fiction, at least) he wanted to make Rome a Republic again - so Gracchus is rather carrying his torch, ideologically speaking, a fact that Ridley Scott would absolutely have recognised when Jacobi was cast...
"Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. They're grrrreat!" - Tony the Lion
🤣
I caught that too. I heard her say lion and I laughed but hse corrected ot next sentence lol
16:04 The utter disgust and loathing on your face and in your voice. It caught me so hard. I had a really good laugh at that. He did a good job playing a real creep. What a great movie this was. Great reaction! can't wait to see what you watch next!
Hey Whimsory, loving your content so much, nobody works as hard as you do with the post movie editing, research and commentary. You deserve every good thing you get through UA-cam. I have to question your best movies of all time source though. It must be suspect if Tombstone, The Last Samurai, Dances With Wolves or Blood in Blood Out aren't on it. 🤔 But please keep these coming! 🙏😎❤️
"Caesar" was a Roman family during the Republic. Gaius Julius Caesar was one of the best military commanders ever. After he conquered Gaul (basically France), he returned to Rome and great acclaim. He was eventually named Dictator of Rome. Powerful people didn't like his power and assassinated him. His nephew, who was his adopted son and heir, became Caesar Augustus, the first "Caesar", which came to mean Emperor (the Russian Czar, the German Kaiser). This was the end of the Republic, and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Some were "good" Caesars (Hadrian, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius, etc), and some were not (Nero, Caligula, and Commodus, etc.). Rome ruled most of Europe, and the Mediterranean, for a thousand years.
Lol. The actor with the scar is Tommy Flanagan. That scar is real. He's also in Braveheart (1995). First film I ever saw him and his scar in.
Man, two weeks in a row you hit one of my top 5 movies of all time. Gladiator is just an 11/10 in every aspect. Writing, acting, action scenes, music, etc. Just a master class in movie making.
It's so unusual to have a truly weak villain at the centre of a movie, and a weak man in a position of ultimate power is a scary thing indeed. In many ways the story of the scared, inadequate, pathetic Commodus is significantly more interesting than that of the square-jawed, honourable Maximus. I always get the feeling that men watching this movie aspire to be Maximus, and relate to Commodus.
lol, love the part at 21 minutes in where you say "How is this fair??? Oh my gosh!"
That was the point! 😛
Lately, I'm no longer that interested in watching many reaction videos, but you're one of the few UA-cam reactors that I still really, really look forward to seeing. Keep up the good work!
Crotch kicking empathy. lol
One of the greatest movies ever made, Instant classic! Love your channel Whimsory, always a pleasure when you upload a video.
I know I've said it before, but I'm still impressed with your editing and natural instincts for being able to pin point the necessary story beats and include them in really time efficient ways. I really liked what you did with the sequence with Cicero (Maximus's servant) when he's leaving the coliseum and Cicero is in the crowd trying to get his attention to tell him his men are there for him. I thought your editing choice there was essentially pristine. You give us the initial shot of him yelling to Maximus from the crowd which establishes whats going on in the scene and then cut straight to him placing the bag in Maximus's hand and relaying the message, which gives us the story beat and purpose of the scene. Might seem simple and obvious describing it here, but there's so many hired editors I see on youtube who wouldn't handle that scene with the same precision. So again, I know I've said this before on other videos of yours, but indulge me a bit while I heap some praise onto your instincts again. I really do get a kick out of it.
You gotta understand that this is the height of the Roman empire. The height of hedonism, part of the reason Rome fell.
The scar on that actors face is real.
Since you like character development so much watch Joker, it is all about character development.
That scene when Maximus just tells Commodus the truth right in the fucking face always gets me.
And even better is what comes next. Commodus really, really wants for Maximus to die. But the crowd is against killing Maximus. And Commodus is too scared to order his death.
A small boy in trunks - that's what Commodus is. Not a leader. Not even a true man.
Because being a man is not about age. It's about being able to bear responsibility and staying true to one's word.
Hanz Zimmer's FTW. He is one of those guys who had seemingly reached the pinnacle of his craft 20 years ago for this film. Then he did it again & again & again. time & again he composes beautiful & breathtaking scores, such a great talent!
I watch a lot of movie reactions but it’s rare and refreshing to be able to stick around for the academic, well-researched commentary afterward.
I look forward to the commentary afterwards now, to the point where I just want the movie to end!
They also burned down the forest for the movie in the beginning battle. It was scheduled to be cut down, but Ridley Scott offered to burn it for the movie.
"Poop eater, Commodus" 🤣 Great stuff, very entertaining 🤘
Thank god you were home schooled. It's so refreshing to see a mentally healthy person.
Other than the "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius" speech, I would have to say my favourite line would be "The time for honouring yourself will soon be at an end, Highness." because of all the different things going on - there's a bit of a threat of course, but he also shows a lot of disrespect to Commodus because 1) Commodus said he was having the games to honour his father and 2) Maximus addresses him as "Highness" rather than "Emperor."
Hey Whimsory, Great reaction!
FYI...you mentioned the scar on Cicero's face, it's actually a real scar, not make-up. Thomas Flanagan who plays the part has a scar on each side of his face, known as a 'Glasgow Grin' or a 'Glaswegian Smile', after being attacked with a knife by thugs in Scotland. It's entirely possible they might have defined it more for the movie. He's in another EPIC movie...Braveheart, where you'll clearly see his "battle wound". Braveheart, if on your list of 250 would be another great one to watch, if you like battles like in Gladiator.
Can't wait for your next reaction.
~Dawne
That's so fascinating! Thank you for that fact, I had no idea! 😊
*Thomas Flanagan also literally killed in the role as Brian one of the Irish mercenaries in Sin City, lol.*
It is said that he took up acting because he became depressed about his disfigurement, but someone told him they could surely use a guy with a face like that in the movies. He was also great in "Sons of Anarchy" (but maybe you shouldn't watch that show, as it is excessively brutal).
Braveheart, absolutely!
And that automatically makes me think of Highlander, although that one is fictional of course. Maybe slightly outdated by now, but hey: she also loved Alien! :-)
@@MarcelNL Are you saying Alien is outdated?? NAH...NO WAY...NEVER!!
Don't worry about showing your anger , frustration, or other emotions. Those are your REACTIONS. That's what you're here for, right? I love that you don't give commentary, covering the dialogue of the film, through the entire movie. You do a great job!
Hey! I just kinda stumbled onto your channel. I saw Predator with you and it was fun. Thanks for inviting me :) Im sure your going to watch a bunch of military themed movies. Dont watch Full Metal Jacket, at least not right away. You seem sweet and somewhat innocent. Full Metal Jacket will change you. Its just a little too real. Maybe because the Drill Instructor was a real US Marine Corps Drill Instructor. The man is a LEGEND.
Ever since I was little I was terrified by Oliver Reed for his portrayal of Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist. I absolutely loved him as Proximo. What a legendary final role.
He was my favourite in this. What a mighty thespian he was!
He did indeed die during filming and apparently one of his scenes was produced 'after his death' using CGI for his character, a big deal at the time!
I saw him first in the Three Musketeers, still love that movie.
You should do Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World next. Another great Russel Crowe movie!
The actor who plays Maximus' servant actually has those scars. If you see him again in other films you'll definitely recognise him. I'm glad you liked the film and if you don't write poetry already; based on your notes, I think you should start.😂
Awesome reaction, Whimsory! One of my favorite roles of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix!
I highly recommend Master & Commander and especially Braveheart! For good reason! Oh and good kudos on loyal Cicero! To be fair, they did have lions in the Roman arenas!
I love that you rewatch the movie before commenting, it's unique and amazing.
The sand they put on the floor of the Colosseum to soak up the blood was called "harena" in Latin and is where we get the word "arena", because the stadium space and the sand became synonymous.
Wow, I learn new things everyday!
amazing reaction, but omg the outro was so cool! i love how you express yourself and it was a very professional critic and just amazing
18:26 Maximus laughes and asks: ''You knew the Marcus Aurelius?''
This was my fav scene!
Oliver Reed was a great actor. One of his early roles was in Oliver.
RIP Oliver Reed who played Proximo. Veteran actor who was sick during filming and died before filming of Gladiator was complete. Terrifying as Bill Sikes in 1968 Oliver.
He was in a movie with Amanda Donohoe where the two of them were castaways on a deserted island where they were naked throughout the film and fucked at every opportunity. 13 year old me used to love stumbling upon that movie late at night.
He wasn't sick, he was a drunk ahole that challenged people in a pub to a drinking game and died from it.
Just a tiny detail: Romans used the thumb up/down sign to signal the fate of gladiators, but contrary to Hollywood or UA-cam likes it meant: Thumb up=rise to the afterlife, thumb down=stay on earth.
And you are right. The movie was ahead of its time but also 2000 years behind…. 😄
Thank you, was a great joy to rewatch it with you. Thx for the invitation! Mike 🇺🇾♥️
I knew someone would point this out.
Fun Fact: each scene with a tiger ON a human the quick eyed will notice they are all stretched towards one of the human's hands, this is because that is where the Tiger-handler stuntman [the human playing Maximus in the scene] keeps the tiger treats.
Congrads, 20K subscribers. Great movies great channel you deserve it and many more. Well done.
Gladiator, not an expected choice, but a most welcome one. Accidentally watched this one at 8 years old, the charred remains of his family stuck with me for a long time
29:09 the point of that skit was everyone loved Maximus, and not the Emperor. they knew there was going to be a battle between them, and they were showing which side they were on. this is an amazing film. the actor who portrayed the slave owner and became a 2nd father to Maximus passed away 3/4 of the way through the film, they digitally edited him into the last part of the film, from unused footage. another great reaction! 👍
In the scene with the boy just before the arena Maximus tells Lucius that his horses’ names were Argento and Scatto. That's Silver and Trigger, horses ridden by two famous 50s cowboy heroes - The Lone Ranger (Hi Ho Silver Away!) & Roy Rogers (see Die Hard).
A joke by Russell Crowe.
11:33 - "what are you doing with that horse" - horses can only run so far with a rider before becoming exhausted. Bringing another horse allows him to travel faster.
Actually, the scars on Cicero are REAL. The actor (Tommy Flannagan) was attacked outside a nightclub where he was working as a DJ (YEARS ago). He was slashed with a knife.
Whimsory is in the house!!!! great way to end our Sunday
And as satisfying seeing Commodus die at the end is, in reality the death of Commodus kicked off the Year of Five Emperors. It was a year of chaos, civil war, and assassinations.
Your reactions are very honest and fun. I like watching your channel because it reminds me of what it felt like to watch these films for the first time (even though I was like, 'yeah, gladiators, violence - awesome!'). Keep up the good work!
I love watching along with you. You take notes and think about your feedback. Great Reaction again.
Went to Rome a couple years ago and saw the Colosseum for the first time. Pretty impressive and surreal to stand in front of it and go inside, knowing what went down within those walls 1,800 years ago…at least from a 21st century westerner’s pov. I thought of this movie the whole time.
Your videos are great! I appreciate all you put into them. And oh man, your reaction at 20:29 - instead of just saying what you see, you have this wonderful reaction like a silent film star which made me laugh out loud. Just shows why you're the best in the game!
I legit laughed out loud at "What does that even mean??" This is the best way of ending a Sunday, great reaction
Totally explains it. Im happy that you homeschooled. Parents were very smart. Very good demeanor that you have. That's where the explains it comment comw from anyway, grateful that you do reaction videos keep it up you do very well at it
The actor who played the Senator was also in a BBC series called "I claudius" .
'Way back in 2000' - I feel so old; I need to sit down.
My Grandmothers favorite movie until her death two years ago was this movie. There is a running joke in our family if anyone says “What should we watch?” “Gladiator it is!”
Love your reactions!! I know your post times are longer than all the rest. Makes me enjoy them even more when they come
Young lady, that was an excellent reaction - thoughtful, intelligent, clear, and concise. Well done! You make a great case for home schooling. Have you ever heard of Ben-Hur from the 50's? Many similarities, and equally moving.
One of the greatest movies ever made. Acting, story, imagery. Wow. This one had all the elements.
Just wanna say killer thumbnail, nicely done!
No need to excuse your reactions. Those times where brutal.
...and total respect for choosing NOT to watch things you don't like.
Love your reactions, please never stop doing this!
This was my first time watching one of your reaction videos, it was a treat watching you react to one my favorite movies. I hope you consider getting out of your comfort zone and continue to react to movie genres you usually won’t watch, like war movies, they give a picture of human nature that should be seen. Again I really enjoyed your reaction, hope your channel grows!!
One of the things people aren't aware of. Gladiatorial fights are highly romanticized in history. Many times the fights were stopped before Gladiators would die. This was due to how expensive a fighter was too replace.
Thank you for this reaction video. As you noted, Joaquin Phoenix's performance in the film is a top tier work of art! This film remains at the summit of my favorite motion pictures of my current life. Thank you also for not editing the important content that other UA-cam reaction hosts do!
"way back in 2000" makes me feel so old. It's an accurate statement, but still catches me off guard
Speaking of Joaquin Phoenix, I was 15 the first time I saw him in a movie; it was the 1986 film Space Camp. He was just a boy. He has come a long way since then.
Longer outros! I love hearing you talk about the movies!
Watching you react to these movies is just as entertaining as watching the movies themselves! 😁
Love your reactions Whimsory, you're very expressive and quirky lol. Keep up the good work 😄
“His heroic nature is bright and shiny against the shadowy backdrop that is poop-eater Commodus.”
Yes, you should read your notes more often!
Awesome video! You facial expressions and spontaneous sounds and comments are cool, hilarious and adorable! I'm very much looking forward to your future stuff.
Great reaction like always. Love your facial expressions and your little quips. It’s always fun to see reactors when they realize that they are brother and sister. That is some things that are overlooked about Royal families and how they keep their bloodlines pure.
Humans never changed ... back then people cheered at Gladiators fighting each other (not necessarily killing each other ... because that would require a stupid amount of Gladiators for just one show) ... and nowadays we still cheer at sports teams "fighting" in an arena. The methods change, but we are still REACTING EMOTIONALLY to the "show" of people fighting.
The best opening in cinematic history!
2 great and similar movies: 300 and Kingdom of Heaven. Not on top 250, but still really good!
I know you said you've never watched Game of Thrones but probably the most hated character in that show (Joffrey, if you've ever heard it mentioned) was portrayed with a lot of inspiration from Phoenix's Commodus. The legacy of this great portrayal of a villain lived on!
You don't even need to talk. Your expressions speak 1000 words. 😊😅
I have no idea how Joaquin Phoenix managed to make himself so unlikeable. Your reaction shows it brilliantly: even before he starts murdering people and creeping on his sister you get an uncomfortable vibe from him. It must be a subtle smirk or something and the privileged arrogance which he displays.
Another fantastic on-screen villain, Joffrey in Game of Thrones, reportedly studied Joaquin Phoenix in this movie particularly to work out how to play his character and it really shows: people get an uncomfortable feeling from that portrayal too and grow to absolutely despise him.
I had fun because you are so much fun.
Great reaction.
The thumb thing at 24:00 was a real thing, if a gladiator had bettered another and got them on the ground the emperor would show a thumb up or thumb down to instruct the successful gladiator to either finish his opponent or spare them. It was also used in general just as it was in the movie to show whether the emperor was going to allow someone to live or not - at 24:00 Comodus would likely have ordered his elite guard to kill Maximus there and then but the crowd started cheering for Maximus and Comodus (who was desperate to be loved) did not want to upset his people.
Although there appears to be disagreement among historians as to which direction meant life and which death...