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.
When my father was at the Ecole Militaire, he learned almost every line of this movie by heart. He showed it to me when I was around 12, and to this day I still think it might just be the greatest movie ever made. We just quote it back and forth to each other, especially "Strength & Honour" and "AM I NOT MERCIFUL!!!".
Regarding The Quick and The Dead, I agree completely. It was my favorite Russel Crowe and Gene Hackman movie. "I said are you still fast?" "Faster than you". 😁
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.
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.
@@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!
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."
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.
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.
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?
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.)
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
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.
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
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!
The Phoenixes were such an off family. Shame about River Phoenix, gone too soon due to an underage addiction. He was great in Mosquito Coast and playing young Indiana Jones
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.
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! :-)
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.😂
I will simply point while this is a good movie. It's very ahistorical. There's not much of anything based in real history in this movie, like Braveheart. Small example Marc Aurèle didn't want to restore the Republic and had no issue giving Commodus the reign. Commodus died drowned in his bath by a gladiator and Maximus is entirely fictional. Edit: You did do some research i see, good on you hehe
Nice to see someone else who knows their history. As unhistorical as this film is I still adore it. Braveheart... Not really as it misrepresents so much about Scottish history
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.
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.
Two things: 1 - 0:35 yes the book was absolutely better lol 2 - Joaquin Phoenix may be a bit weird but he's one of the best actors alive. Every role he plays he actually becomes that person. The "busy little bee" bit is awesome.
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."
Ridley Scott loves a historical epic (see also Kingdom of Heaven director's cut or roadshow edition) and Russell Crowe (2010 Robin Hood). Joaquin is at his mewling pathetic foulest as Commodus. A+ villain performance.
A friend of mine once said "you know the movie had a good Villain, if you still hate them after the film is over." Joaquin Phoenix exemplified that statement. He played the role so expertly, and the role was written so well that, to me, I still hated him even after his death in the film, and I still believe he was one of the best movie villains of all time.
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 🇺🇾♥️
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.
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.
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.
I love this movie. The only thing I would disagree with you is saying it was ahead of it's time. We don't get movies like this anymore, this was the time of great movies. I miss movies like this. I would recommend the Last Samurai and The Patriot which came out the same year and Braveheart which came out years before this. Love your reactions, definitely can't wait to see more.
Yes, this. These movies were not ahead of their time, they were of the time. In fact Gladiator is a call back to movies like Spartacus and Ben Hur which were made in the 50's/60's. I think modern audiences don't understand that everything made in the current era is just a copy of older, better movies.
I saw this in the theatre with my wife when she was almost full term with our daughter. The stirring music made her very active in her mum's womb. She has ADHD and we always joke that this movie was to blame LOL 😅
Two main rules when shooting reactions !!! The first is to watch only those movies that I haven't watched before. And the second - for each reaction you need a new cap !!!!)
Unfortunately it doesn’t have a high enough score to make the top 250 list she’s going by. On the other hand Airplane doesn’t either so if enough people request it, maybe it will happen. Definitely my favourite Russell Crowe movie.
If you ever watch "The Nice Guys" starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe has a fight scen in with Keith David in which he uses the same puch combo he used on Joaquin Phoenix in "Gladiator" as an homage to Crowe's Oscar winning role. "Nice Guys" contains a bunch of little things like that.
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!
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! 👍
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.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!? ARE YOU NOT... ENTERTAINED!? Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture. Before Russell Crowe was cast as Maximus, Hugh Jackman, Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Tom Sizemore were considered for the role. Interestingly enough, Crowe was considered to play Wolverine in the live action X MEN movie before Hugh Jackman was cast. Oliver Reed, who played Proximo, died of a heart attack on May 2, 1999. The film was dedicated in his memory. Thw opening battle scene was filmed in Surrey England, the gladiator training school was filmed in Morocco and the scenes involving Ancient Rome were filmed in Malta for 19 weeks. Crowe sustained several injuries during filming and almost died as a direct result. During the scene where Maximus fights Tigris Of Gaul, the tiger almost killed him. It was a close call for Crowe.
a historical notes: This movie underplays how horrible Commodus actually was; when this movie takes place, the Gladiator games had been stopped for many many years (for being too barbaric), and Commodus brought them back. In the tier list of most depraved roman emperors, he's vying for a top spot.
The scar you're talking about, that Tommy Flanagan's Character has, is not a cosmetic scar, Tommy actually has that scar. He got it from being attacked outside a nightclub he had been a DJ at.
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
You should watch the next Ridley Scott movie: Black Hawk Down. It is a real event, and probably the most realistic war movie ever made. The conflict in that movie is still relevant to this day, however it is an extreme gut punch.
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!
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.
A little known fact is that the make up department had to spend 4 hours a day painting the stunt Lions to look like Tigers ;) ... in the end I think they just used Tiger onesies. I hope "Master & Commander" is on your list, that is another great history based Russel Crowe movie. I highly recommend it if it isn't on the list. Great reaction, I really enjoyed watching you watch this film and hearing your thoughts.
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!
Dang I'm surprised she's seen The Quick and the Dead, most people haven't seen that but it's one of my favorite movies as well. Also for the sake of my self-esteem and sanity I hope I never hear anyone say "way back in 2000" ever again.
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!
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.
Heya Whimsory 👋, annoying old man here to pop some balloons🎈. Gladiator is beautiful, lavish and is a compelling tale. Gladiator also captures accurately the look of life in the 2nd century AD Roman Empire. The battle at the beginning accurately shows how its Legions (army) fought to conquer the ancient Western world. History-wise, the whole Maximus thing never happened. There was an Emperor Commodus with a longish (for Rome LOL) reign (180AD-192AD), but he got along with his father Marcus Aurellius. There was no Maximus , Commodus was assassinated, and most importantly NO RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC. That was there for the feels.
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...
Easily one of my top 5 movies of all time. Joaquin Phoenix is great as Commodus. He does an amazing job making you hate him. Probably the best villian role ever. Hans Zimmer's score is just the perfect cherry on top of an amazingly written and directed movie. If you haven't heard, they are currently in production on a Gladiator 2. It's supposed to take place about 20-30 years later when the young boy, Lucius, is now Ceasar. I honestly don't know what to thinks about it. This one was such an amazing movie I would love to see another just as good if not better but have more of a feeling that it's not going to live up to this one, just simply because of how good this one was, and then tarnish this one just by association. There's always hope though
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.
Hi ya 👋. So I know your going by the list but a few years after this the director,Ridley Scott(Alien) returned to sci-fi with a brilliant film called Prometheus. Just an fyi. Bye ya 😉
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
19:12 Yes he was telling him to dispatch his opponents slower…put on a good show. Essentially give the crowd the idea that his victory isn’t a foregone conclusion. Back in the mid to late 1980’s and early 1990’s, boxer Mike Tyson ran into a similar problem. He knocked his opponents out too quickly in the early rounds. He kept doing this to the point the demand for his fights on cable started to decline. Tyson also had to slow down his tempo and put on a better show.
Great pick this time! What a beautiful, tragic and yes Epic movie! We need more movies like this now! Great vid Whimsory! 😊 Please consider Contact (1997) or Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
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.
I just discovered your channel and love your final comments... I'd like to see you watching Shawshank Redemption, and Inception... Thanks you very much!!
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!
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!
If you enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix's performance, always find the baddie is your favourite character in movies and like character pieces then I reckon you'll enjoy Joaquin Phoenix's Joker.
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.
"Death smiles at us all, and all a man can do is smile back!". What a beautiful line.
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.
At the time, I was blown away by the sight of the Coliseum come to life all shiny and beautiful.
When my father was at the Ecole Militaire, he learned almost every line of this movie by heart. He showed it to me when I was around 12, and to this day I still think it might just be the greatest movie ever made. We just quote it back and forth to each other, especially "Strength & Honour" and "AM I NOT MERCIFUL!!!".
The description that Maximus gave of his home, was Russell Crowe describing the farm he lived on back in New Zealand.
Regarding The Quick and The Dead, I agree completely. It was my favorite Russel Crowe and Gene Hackman movie. "I said are you still fast?" "Faster than you". 😁
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".
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.
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.
"He was a soldier of Rome. Honor him."
Great line!
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."
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.
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.
Sunday's are dull on YT. Thank goodness Whimsory put one out AND it's one of my favorites! Thank you!
yes it is.
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?
"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
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
You should do Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World next. Another great Russel Crowe movie!
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.
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
At least 60 hours on a bicycle according to google maps
"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
If you like more Russell Crowe, I recommend “Master and Commander”.
They didn't add scars to Cicero's face. Tommy Flanagan, the actor playing Cicero, was attacked in real life and had his face slashed. ☹️
True. He had those scars in Peaky Blinders.
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!
If you ever want to see Joaquin Phoenix's first movie (at the age of 12) you should watch Space Camp (1986), but then he was known as Leaf Phoenix.
The Phoenixes were such an off family. Shame about River Phoenix, gone too soon due to an underage addiction. He was great in Mosquito Coast and playing young Indiana Jones
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.
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!!
Crotch kicking empathy. lol
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.😂
One of the greatest movies ever made, Instant classic! Love your channel Whimsory, always a pleasure when you upload a video.
I will simply point while this is a good movie. It's very ahistorical. There's not much of anything based in real history in this movie, like Braveheart.
Small example Marc Aurèle didn't want to restore the Republic and had no issue giving Commodus the reign. Commodus died drowned in his bath by a gladiator and Maximus is entirely fictional.
Edit: You did do some research i see, good on you hehe
Nice to see someone else who knows their history. As unhistorical as this film is I still adore it. Braveheart... Not really as it misrepresents so much about Scottish history
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.
I love that you rewatch the movie before commenting, it's unique and amazing.
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.
Watch The Good The Bad and The Ugly next. Number 13. The LONG version
Two things:
1 - 0:35 yes the book was absolutely better lol
2 - Joaquin Phoenix may be a bit weird but he's one of the best actors alive. Every role he plays he actually becomes that person. The "busy little bee" bit is awesome.
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."
Ridley Scott loves a historical epic (see also Kingdom of Heaven director's cut or roadshow edition) and Russell Crowe (2010 Robin Hood).
Joaquin is at his mewling pathetic foulest as Commodus. A+ villain performance.
A friend of mine once said "you know the movie had a good Villain, if you still hate them after the film is over." Joaquin Phoenix exemplified that statement. He played the role so expertly, and the role was written so well that, to me, I still hated him even after his death in the film, and I still believe he was one of the best movie villains of all time.
No he didn't, he's playing himself, there's not much to like about the loser in the first place.
Great under appreciated actor!
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.
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.
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.
Those lists are a bit disappointing since they heavily favor new movies.
Plenty of great stuff on them, but also a lot missing.
The scene between Commodus and his sister wasn't weird---now the Emperor Caligula---he was weird.
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.
Commodus to this day is still one of the most hated characters in cinematic history. Really a testament to Phoenix's skill as an actor.
Joaquin Phoenix played this role so well. Everyone hates him to the core. So well done. 😀
I love this movie. The only thing I would disagree with you is saying it was ahead of it's time. We don't get movies like this anymore, this was the time of great movies. I miss movies like this. I would recommend the Last Samurai and The Patriot which came out the same year and Braveheart which came out years before this. Love your reactions, definitely can't wait to see more.
Yes, this. These movies were not ahead of their time, they were of the time. In fact Gladiator is a call back to movies like Spartacus and Ben Hur which were made in the 50's/60's. I think modern audiences don't understand that everything made in the current era is just a copy of older, better movies.
I'd love to see you react to "The Patriot" Mel Gibson Stars. If you haven't seen it, you'll enjoy it, I think.
I saw this in the theatre with my wife when she was almost full term with our daughter. The stirring music made her very active in her mum's womb. She has ADHD and we always joke that this movie was to blame LOL 😅
Two main rules when shooting reactions !!! The first is to watch only those movies that I haven't watched before. And the second - for each reaction you need a new cap !!!!)
Definitely follow this with the movie
Master and Commander (the far side of the world) 😉
Unfortunately it doesn’t have a high enough score to make the top 250 list she’s going by. On the other hand Airplane doesn’t either so if enough people request it, maybe it will happen. Definitely my favourite Russell Crowe movie.
Congrads, 20K subscribers. Great movies great channel you deserve it and many more. Well done.
If you ever watch "The Nice Guys" starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe has a fight scen in with Keith David in which he uses the same puch combo he used on Joaquin Phoenix in "Gladiator" as an homage to Crowe's Oscar winning role. "Nice Guys" contains a bunch of little things like that.
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!
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! 👍
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.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?
ARE YOU NOT... ENTERTAINED!?
Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture.
Before Russell Crowe was cast as Maximus, Hugh Jackman, Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Tom Sizemore were considered for the role.
Interestingly enough, Crowe was considered to play Wolverine in the live action X MEN movie before Hugh Jackman was cast.
Oliver Reed, who played Proximo, died of a heart attack on May 2, 1999. The film was dedicated in his memory.
Thw opening battle scene was filmed in Surrey England, the gladiator training school was filmed in Morocco and the scenes involving Ancient Rome were filmed in Malta for 19 weeks.
Crowe sustained several injuries during filming and almost died as a direct result.
During the scene where Maximus fights Tigris Of Gaul, the tiger almost killed him.
It was a close call for Crowe.
Oliver Reed was very good in this movie. Such a shame.
"Are you not entertained?!" is second only to Troy's "Is there no one else?!"
Need to get Whimsory to watch Troy now if she liked Gladiator...
a historical notes: This movie underplays how horrible Commodus actually was; when this movie takes place, the Gladiator games had been stopped for many many years (for being too barbaric), and Commodus brought them back. In the tier list of most depraved roman emperors, he's vying for a top spot.
The scar you're talking about, that Tommy Flanagan's Character has, is not a cosmetic scar, Tommy actually has that scar. He got it from being attacked outside a nightclub he had been a DJ at.
Hi whimsory hope you are having an great and awesome weekend ❤
Who the heck can't spell Walking Feenicks?
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
You should watch the next Ridley Scott movie: Black Hawk Down. It is a real event, and probably the most realistic war movie ever made. The conflict in that movie is still relevant to this day, however it is an extreme gut punch.
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!
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!
Joaquin Phoenix is great, please, please watch him in Joker!! It's amazing!!!
A little known fact is that the make up department had to spend 4 hours a day painting the stunt Lions to look like Tigers ;) ... in the end I think they just used Tiger onesies.
I hope "Master & Commander" is on your list, that is another great history based Russel Crowe movie.
I highly recommend it if it isn't on the list.
Great reaction, I really enjoyed watching you watch this film and hearing your thoughts.
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!
Wow, I barley got started... 00:52: Whimsory: "Now this is *way* back in 2000..." Me: Sigh. 😐 Sometimes UA-cam makes me feel *_very_* old... 🙃
Whimsory is in the house!!!! great way to end our Sunday
I had fun because you are so much fun.
Great reaction.
Dang I'm surprised she's seen The Quick and the Dead, most people haven't seen that but it's one of my favorite movies as well. Also for the sake of my self-esteem and sanity I hope I never hear anyone say "way back in 2000" ever again.
Joaquin Phoenix was excellent in LADDER 49, with John Travolta.
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!
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.
"It's a freakin lion." 🤣
"I'm making sure my cat's not watching this." 💀
German hospitality ;-) Try "Kingdom of Heaven" also by Ridley Scott
Heya Whimsory 👋, annoying old man here to pop some balloons🎈. Gladiator is beautiful, lavish and is a compelling tale. Gladiator also captures accurately the look of life in the 2nd century AD Roman Empire. The battle at the beginning accurately shows how its Legions (army) fought to conquer the ancient Western world. History-wise, the whole Maximus thing never happened. There was an Emperor Commodus with a longish (for Rome LOL) reign (180AD-192AD), but he got along with his father Marcus Aurellius. There was no Maximus , Commodus was assassinated, and most importantly NO RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC. That was there for the feels.
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...
Easily one of my top 5 movies of all time.
Joaquin Phoenix is great as Commodus. He does an amazing job making you hate him. Probably the best villian role ever.
Hans Zimmer's score is just the perfect cherry on top of an amazingly written and directed movie.
If you haven't heard, they are currently in production on a Gladiator 2. It's supposed to take place about 20-30 years later when the young boy, Lucius, is now Ceasar.
I honestly don't know what to thinks about it. This one was such an amazing movie I would love to see another just as good if not better but have more of a feeling that it's not going to live up to this one, just simply because of how good this one was, and then tarnish this one just by association. There's always hope though
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.
Hi ya 👋. So I know your going by the list but a few years after this the director,Ridley Scott(Alien) returned to sci-fi with a brilliant film called Prometheus. Just an fyi. Bye ya 😉
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
Joaquin Phoenix was great in "Her" it's a great movie about modern society.
Music by Hans Zimmer. One of the very best composers living.
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.
19:12 Yes he was telling him to dispatch his opponents slower…put on a good show.
Essentially give the crowd the idea that his victory isn’t a foregone conclusion.
Back in the mid to late 1980’s and early 1990’s, boxer Mike Tyson ran into a similar problem. He knocked his opponents out too quickly in the early rounds. He kept doing this to the point the demand for his fights on cable started to decline. Tyson also had to slow down his tempo and put on a better show.
Watching you react to these movies is just as entertaining as watching the movies themselves! 😁
Great pick this time! What a beautiful, tragic and yes Epic movie! We need more movies like this now! Great vid Whimsory! 😊 Please consider Contact (1997) or Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Highly recommend Contact!
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.
I just discovered your channel and love your final comments... I'd like to see you watching Shawshank Redemption, and Inception... Thanks you very much!!
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!
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!
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!
Cicero actor Tommy Flanagan. That's a real scar not makeup.
If you enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix's performance, always find the baddie is your favourite character in movies and like character pieces then I reckon you'll enjoy Joaquin Phoenix's Joker.
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...
Just wanna say killer thumbnail, nicely done!