C – Google

Seldom do movies rivet the senses so completely, transporting you back to a brutal world that longs for deliverance, bringing you with fast-beating heart along to a rousing conclusion that stirs the soul. The two Gladiator movies are epics, from opening graphics to music choices, from cast to cinematography, from dialogue to costume to ultimate vision. They will stand the test of time and Ridley Scott is a genius. I thought my heart would burst, and tears were shed. Many memorable lines will echo on, especially the last, which is one for all seasons.

There is a raw sense of inevitable tragedy, flawed beauty and helplessness in this short, somewhat dreamy novel. A passionate tale of misery that turns the tables on a classic. Money is the evil necessity that sustains the fading lifestyle of an immoral past, and the protagonist is caught in a fatal struggle of identity and belonging, desperate for love, but destined for betrayal. At times the narrative is obscure and mysterious, hinting at secrets that can never be told. Strange misconceptions and inexplicable communication barriers propel the sorry tale to its predestined conclusion, but I couldn't help wishing for a miraculous rescue, allowing for some happiness at last. I wasn’t expecting to feel such revulsion for the husband, and his sanity remains unclear.