Director Ridley Scott (Alien) tries to take us back to the days of the glorious epic with this sweeping, blood-drenched tale of honor, revenge, and politics. Russell Crowe (The Insider) plays General Maximus, a courageous warrior who, through a horrible set of circumstances, becomes a slave who's forced to compete in barbaric spectator sports just to survive.

Gladiator is beautiful to look at, the battle sequences are very dynamic and Crowe is more than your typical hero--lending dimension and humanity to Maximus that is lacking in most contemporary heroes. Joaquin Phoenix (To Die For) is also very compelling as The Roman king. He's at once insecure, sympathetic, and sinister. Veteran actor Richard Harris also turns in a powerful performance, although he is only in the film for a short time.

Gladiator is a bit disjointed and falters here and there, but it's a solid film from one of our great directors. The film's message is its strong statement about our society's lust for violence and in that sense, the film is quite interesting.

Gladiator also has moments reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan, including a visceral and ultra violent opening battle sequence that introduces us to the lead character--a stoic soldier who just wants to do his job so he can return to his family. It also reminded me a great deal of Mel Gibson's Braveheart. Although it lacks the sheer power of Saving Private Ryan and the inspiration of Braveheart, it is an entertaining film nonetheless.

Scott fails to capture the striking visual imagery of his earlier films (Alien and Blade Runner) but he has made a far superior film than the insipid G.I. Jane.

Gladiator is a huge epic in the tradition of films like Ben Hur, and although it's not quite a classic, it is an exciting time at the movies.