"I will have my vengeance, in this lifetime or the next" - gives me chills every single time! Absolutely love this movie. So glad both of you guys get to enjoy this masterpiece!
For me, it's the whole sentence... "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. ". The tension is so good!
"What we do in life echoes in eternity." Lots of good quotes in Gladiator. One of my faves. Glad you guys enjoyed. Hans Zimmer did a great job in this one.
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" another great one. That line has so much more depth than just foreshadowing Commudus' death. MANY great lines. Incredibly well written script.
The real Commodus actually fought in the Colosseum as a gladiator while he was emperor. He was assassinated at the age of 31 by a wrestler in a bath house. He was actually named joint emperor by his father, Marcus Aurelius, before his father died and they ruled together for 4 years at which time Commodus became sole emperor at the age of 19.
And then he went crazy with power after the Senate told him they were going to run things, renaming the months of the year after his many names, having statues and busts erected of himself all over the city, and proclaiming himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules :P
I'm no expert on ancient Rome, but I wonder if Commodus was actually any crazier than most other Caesars or if he's just remembered negatively because the decline of the Roman empire began during his reign.
As an almost 2000 year old Roman combat vet, this film captures the feel of fighting the barbarians in Germania. Great memories! My tent mate, Cornelius, was a jerk though. Guy still owes me 15 aureus.
@@cobbycaputo3332, knock it off, Cornelius! I know it was you… remember that time I spotted you money because you wanted gamble at the horse races? You bet on the horse, “Slower than Adephagia’s Metabolism”, lost all the money, and never paid me back. Then your nickname became, “Dickus Cornholio”.
@@jacobwalsh1888 You're correct. And when I was younger, wondered why the word Caesar was thrown around a lot. Of course, at the time I didn't realise that was a title also 🙂
Pretty close to a perfect film indeed, Holden. This is the movie that made me want to become a screenwriter. So glad you two loved it. It's been my favorite film since I first saw it in 2002. Finally got a chance to see it in theaters a few years ago during a special release. Such an amazing experience.
Commodus was real and 10 times more insane than portrayed in the film. He was obsessed with gladiator sports and considered himself to be like hercules, if not a reincarnation of hercules. He was ultimately murdered, supposedly by a gladiator he was training with.
How can you not cry your heart out at the ending? Jesus, this movie destroyed me when I saw it as a teen. I feel Holdens joking around really pulls them out of actually investing in the movie.
The making of this movie was wild. Ridley Scott and co. were really making it all up along the way and improvising much of the production. When it was released to massive acclaim they were wildly amazed. If you watch Russell Crowe winning the Oscar, his face is just in utter shock when they call his name.
according to mr Crow they only had the beginning roughly planned, then everything was completely written as they went on filming, they had no idea what it would become or if it would be finnished at all. Russel crow and alot of others made a great apperance but imo Jaquin Phoenix get way too little cred for hes role. first time i saw the movie he accually made me hate him and beleave him in the movie. he did it perfect and nobody else could have pulled that role of without making a bit weird. he was perfect and made hes act of a lifetime in this one. you have to see Commander and Conqueror if you havent, russel crow in that too.
The transition from the last scene to the end credits is absolutely spectacular. The "now we are free" song from the credits is immaculate. Such a good tune to listen to every day.
The thing about Maximus is him being a general and potentially being an emperor until the boy comes of age is he deserves it and it’s shown throughout the movie. At first you see he wins a war, okay cool, but then you see him lose everything and become a great man all over again, in his interactions with his fellow slaves, in the way he wins the people. He’s truly a remarkable character
One part I love about this movie is exactly what Jen said. He just wanted to be with his family. My theory is that’s why before every battle he smells the dirt and rubs it in his hands to remind him what he’s fighting for. He’s fight to go back to the farm and his life where as he said “dirt is easier to wash off than blood.”
As a guy who also had his fair share of insults hurled at him when he was growing up, it’s absolutely wonderful to see such a positive relationship with you two. It sweet and supportive and just warms the heart. Great content y’all
If you’re interested in other war themed shows/movies I definitely recommend watching the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers from 2001. Hands down some of the best depictions of war I’ve ever seen in cinema. It is something that everyone should at least watch once in their lives
At 14:25 she said "I know Caesar was an actual character". Err... you mean Gaius Julius Caesar. However, this was Marcus Aurelius, born 160 years after the death of Gaius Julius Caesar in 45 BC. Gaius Julius Caesar was never a Princeps Civitatis. The first one was Gaius Octavius Augustus, his adopted son. It turns out that the cognomen Caesar became a branch of the Julii family... and after Gaius Julius Caesar, Augustus adopted the name Caesar and with time, all Roman emperors adopted it until it became a TITLE. Notice that CAESAR is pronounced just like the german word KAISER, also similar to Russian Czar... all these languages adopted the Roman word for the title of their kings.
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 RUclips all on its own. Haunting. Beautiful. Serene. Sad.)
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions. 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." A truly legendary line!
Oh you are both in for a treat!!!! “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.”
Richard Harris was a proper Hollywood bad boy, famously getting into bar fights just for fun etc. The man he played might be one of the most influential men who ever lived. Marcus Aurelius the Philosopher King. His son Commodus did take over as Emperor after his death, although history is muddled and this movie is 99% fiction.
Sven Ole Thorse, Tigris, accompanied by four 500-pound Bengal tigers, goes up against leading man Russell Crowe in a climactic fight to the death inside the Colosseum as thousands of spectators roar their approval. While filming that scene, Thorsen became so focused on his choreographed moves with Crowe that he didn’t notice one of the tigers. “The producer came up to me afterward and he’s pale,” Thorsen recalled. “He asks, ‘Are you OK?’ Then he says, ‘Let me show you the video.’ And, we see where the tiger hits my knee, hits my hip and claws my shoulder.” Thorsen said only the 50 pounds of gladiator gear he was wearing for the scene prevented serious injury. “They got really nervous and maybe were afraid I was going to sue them,” Thorsen said with a smile, “but I just said, ‘Montecristo No. 2' [referring to his favorite Cuban cigar]. Ten minutes later, they gave me a box of Montecristo No. 2s.”
I'm 6ft 2, 300 lbs former rugby player and I am not ashamed to admit that this is the only film that has brought me to tears at end. Perfect story, acting and to top it off one of the greatest soundtracks (in my opinion) ever written.
I've watched this movie many times and seen quite a few reactions as well, but I can't seem to grow sick of it. Russell Crowe is absolute gold in this one, and so are the Elysium, Honor Him, and Now We Are Free tracks. A real treasure for the ages, glad you guys enjoyed it :) Edit: Another thing I really love is the idea that Maximus is a great leader because he doesn't care about being loved, which is why Marcus Aurelius wants him to be his successor in the first place. Stripping him of his title and freedom does nothing, because men respect him as an individual striving for his goal. On the flip side, Commodus wishes to be seen as a great leader, which, despite being his primary focus, ironically makes him a terrible one.
One of my favorite films of all time. "Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance." What a line, character, story and film. Glad you two enjoyed it.
Ridley Scott really knows how to do historical fiction movies when it comes to production value. Not all of them resonate with me storywise, but they are all pretty enjoyable. The costumes and sets are really good. Two other Ridley Scott historical fiction movies I would recommend are Kingdom of Heaven and The Last Duel.
Jor-El, The Queen of Themyscira, and The Joker walk into a bar... One of those gems you click "Like" on principle alone. That was a wonderful watch with you two!
Check out “Master and Commander, Far Side of the World” you will like it, promise. Its Russell and the actor who plays Marvels Vision , Paul Bettany! Not a hint of marvel or superheros here… but a really, really GOOD historical fiction movie.
I'm a mix of Irish and English heritage, according to Ancestry. I have the same eye thing. When my oldest, Griffin, was born the nurses thought he was an Asian baby. If I say something is really eye opening, well it is! My other two children got their mothers wide eyes. Also, this is up there for one of my favorite movies of all time. Saw it May 5th, 2000 with my mom. I still have the ticket stub.
Well I'm Asian and was also born Asian, and the docs assumed I was Asian. Except in my case, they were correct. That is something we have in common I suppose. As well as all human beings in general being the victims of assumption.
Other cultures must have "squinty"/hooded/deepset eyes, as I also would be asked if I had Asian heritage because of my eyes. But DNA test said no, sadly! I'm just a Caucasian with a little Jewish! 😁
I know I’m seeing this late but I truly hope you’ll see this there’s a few things about this movie that I absolutely love and find interesting. The lines between Maximus and Quintus “People should know when they’re conquered” “Would you Quintus? Would I?” Is what the movie is all about. Maximus fighting back after being “conquered” You touched on Proximo dying but the original ending was supposed to be him burying his rudius the wooden sword symbolizing Maximus freedom. And when he died they zoomed in on his scene from before Maximus fought the undefeated champion before Maximus went out to the battle.
If you are a man than Gladiator has to be in your top 5 movies of all time, because it teaches you how to be a man when you have everything, and it teaches you how to be a man man when you lose everything.
Avatar LFG!!! Can't wait. Please give the characters time to grow on you. First episodes will feel kiddy but it gets way more "juicy" by the middle of 1st season and just ramps it up non stop from there.
ATLA is still my all-time favorite tv show, and I’m 28. I’ve rewatched it probably 15 times now, plus I watch reactors watch it, so if you include those, I’ve seen it probably 30 times haha
The interesting thing is Marcus Aurelius was known as the last good Roman Emperor. His self-reflective diary type book called Meditations is fantastic. He was a very interesting person and him becoming Emperor was just one part. And then his son Commodus was a giant evil pos lmao interesting how that happens
The first time I've ever noticed this but at the start when the headless Roman guy comes back to the Roman lines and Maximus is going past the troops "blood and honour" etc, the background chant by the Barbarians is actually the Zulu chant from the 1964 movie "Zulu"
Fun fact the thumbs up or thumbs down from the emperor was a real thing. However it was reversed, thumbs down ment to live. production determined this may be too confusing to audiences and reversed it!
Some cool facts for you guys: Oliver Reed passed away in a bar in Valetta, Malta, where the film was made, sadly mid production as Holden stated. What you may not know is that the owners of the bar renamed the place "Oliver's" in his memory. Its still there today. And the real Emperor Commodus DID fight in the gladiatorial contests. The games were always rigged. He however didn't die in the arena. He is often thought of as the most depraved of the Caesars, due to his levels of personal debauchery. Great reaction as always guys! Keep up the awesome work 😁
hey guys loved your reaction... if it is possible please react to "RRR" movie ...its amazing movie ..in twitter movies it became quite famous and applaud by many big movie people...👍👍
The opening battle was filmed near where I live (Bourne Woods) in Surrey (UK). The area was sanctioned for deforestation, so Ridley Scott offered them the equipment to burn it down when they finished filming.
@@declass9481 Exactly. I'm sorry but any time I hear the reactors say that they are watching a particular movie because it got the most votes on Patreon, I tend to get pretty suspicious. Plus, with some people who you can tell that they are really big movie buffs, knowing tons of quotes and odd movie facts, you begin to think there is no way in hell they haven't seen this massive blockbuster of a movie.
"Caesar was a factual character" LOL. "Ceasar" was the name given to all emperors in Rome. Like a title. That's the origin of the name "czar", as in the emperor of Russia, for instance. I'm sorry, don't they teach History in America?
Also, check out these two deleted scenes from the movie. Gladiator Deleted Scene - A Father's Legacy & Gladiator Deleted Scene - What Is Your Name? I understand why they were cut due to length but so well done.
This is one of my favorite films and i love seeing people watching it for the first time as an "older movie" instead of it just being lost to time. Seeing this video's title alone made my day and I'm super excited to watch!
Have any of you guys seen Blood Diamond? Djimon Hounsou who plays Juba is in that one, and he absolutely kills it with his performance. If one of you hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it for you guys to watch.
Some of the dialog in the movie is taken from Marcus Aurelius' actual journals, which are some of the greatest Stoic philosophy work in human history. Such as "what we do now echo's in eternity" as well as " The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way, becomes the way"
I love that the 'big gladiator' was German, the movie starts with a battle in Germania but they become friends and allies through mutual respect and he even dies in order to give Maximus a chance to complete his mission.
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" another great one. That line has so much more depth than just foreshadowing Commudus' death. MANY great lines. Incredibly well written script.
This movie is perfect if you want to get into Stoicism, at the beginning when Maximus admires a little bird for a while and then returns to the battle is the perfect example of how it was showed. If you read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius you will watch this movie with a different perspective. Maximus is an invented character and was showed as Marcus Aurelius succesor because he embodied his philosophy. If somebody gets interested into stoicism, please also read A Man's search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, the way he thinks about his wife while he was in a concentration camp reminded me of Maximus and Juba and how they thought about their families in the worst situation possible. I think Gladiator is more than a movie, it is a life lesson.
Wait! You’re watching Avatar!!!! I’m so excited! This is all my dreams come true. It took be about a third way through S1 to get into it, but by the end it might just be my favorite tv show of all time. Not to give you high expectations or anything…
God I love the ending. Most movies either have characters just DIE. But it showed more a realistic type: Maximus was fading in and out. And the contrast of where he'll be after death, against his hanging on to say his last words is just always so chilling.
I saw this movie in the theater with my best friend and my girlfriend. I turned to them when it was over and said: "This movie will win the Oscar for best picture." I was glad to have called it. One of my favorite movies of all time. This and Braveheart are true 'Man Movies."
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" that line really has some bite to it in that moment! No matter how many times I watch this movie it always gets me emotional.
I too went through people calling me Chinese because of my eyes. But I am Korean. Lol. Thanks for the great reactions. I started watching Daredevil because of y’all’s reaction to it. I look forward to future reactions. And btw, I love Boston. She’s so cute and has loving gazes.
I don't think "relax dude" is a great comment when you are watching a guy who is probably fighting for the first time piss himself before walking out there. How relaxed would you be in that situation? 🤷♂️
one thing i love the most is that the black guy, his friend from the beginning, was set free in the end and found his family. At least one was able to get his life back
To answer your question, Commodus (played by Joaquín Phoenix in this movie) was an actual person. He reigned as emperor of Rome from 177 CE until his death in 192 CE. Near as I can tell, the only real people that were portrayed in Gladiator were Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen).
so many emotions every time. I was lucky enough to get to watch this in theaters and it shook me as a kid. the sign of a good villain is the ability to make you hate them on more than one level. there was no level of redemption for him. I don't count this as a revenge story but one of retribution for the abuse of power and wrongs being righted.
This is Ridley Scott’s best movie since Alien plus Joaquin Phoenix’s greatest performance until Joker! Gladiator is one of the best movies of the past 20+ years. 🎬🎥🏆
Fun fact! This was one of the last movies of its era to actually have lots of extras and a big battlefield scene that wasn't CGI.. They hardly EVER do this anymore.... especially cause of Covid
I’m so glad you both finally watched this film. I completely agree with Holden, they don’t make movies like that anymore; so much storytelling and action. It’s a fabulous film and Russell Crowe makes me feel the complete emotional spectrum! Holden says “shield wall”, have y’all finally watched The Last Kingdom??
This movie ending WAS a happy ending. The only reasonable happy ending for Maximus would be getting his vengeance and reuniting with his family in the afterlife.
"I will have my vengeance, in this lifetime or the next" - gives me chills every single time! Absolutely love this movie. So glad both of you guys get to enjoy this masterpiece!
For me, it's the whole sentence... "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. ". The tension is so good!
@@AbusiveInfected 22 years later and I still get chills every time.
@@AbusiveInfected same I was gonna say it's nothing without the leading introduction
@@AbusiveInfected The fact that I still know the line and haven't seen this in awhile tells you how good it is.
I will see you again, but not yet…..not yet
"What we do in life echoes in eternity." Lots of good quotes in Gladiator. One of my faves. Glad you guys enjoyed. Hans Zimmer did a great job in this one.
Don't forget Lisa Gerrard, whose singing in the soundtrack influenced a thousand movies after this...
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" another great one. That line has so much more depth than just foreshadowing Commudus' death. MANY great lines. Incredibly well written script.
Also, the “AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!” line wasn’t originally suppose to be yelled. JP just did it. Turned out so eerie. So good .
JP should've won Best Supporting Actor.
The real Commodus actually fought in the Colosseum as a gladiator while he was emperor. He was assassinated at the age of 31 by a wrestler in a bath house. He was actually named joint emperor by his father, Marcus Aurelius, before his father died and they ruled together for 4 years at which time Commodus became sole emperor at the age of 19.
And then he went crazy with power after the Senate told him they were going to run things, renaming the months of the year after his many names, having statues and busts erected of himself all over the city, and proclaiming himself to be the reincarnation of Hercules :P
@@lordmortarius538 indeed.
I'm no expert on ancient Rome, but I wonder if Commodus was actually any crazier than most other Caesars or if he's just remembered negatively because the decline of the Roman empire began during his reign.
@@michaelw8262 nah he was pretty shit
He did fight but the contests were rigged
As an almost 2000 year old Roman combat vet, this film captures the feel of fighting the barbarians in Germania. Great memories! My tent mate, Cornelius, was a jerk though. Guy still owes me 15 aureus.
I do not! that was Marcus! He always blew his pay on woman and wine. Owed all of us in the conturbernium.
@@cobbycaputo3332, knock it off, Cornelius! I know it was you… remember that time I spotted you money because you wanted gamble at the horse races? You bet on the horse, “Slower than Adephagia’s Metabolism”, lost all the money, and never paid me back. Then your nickname became, “Dickus Cornholio”.
That's one of the Longinus debts I've heard tell of.
I say we throw his sandals in the swamp!
Ok George Patton.
This movie was my mom's absolute favorite. It's one of those timeless films you can watch again and again.
I am beginning to question your wife’s taste in movies after she said that she thought it was “pretty good”.
Not everyone has the depth understanding
That "I am Maximus Decimus Meridius" speech is one of the most spine-tingling in cinema. Gets me every single time 🙂
It's also utterly wrong. Maximus isn't a name, it's a title, and as such should be last.
@@jacobwalsh1888 You're correct. And when I was younger, wondered why the word Caesar was thrown around a lot. Of course, at the time I didn't realise that was a title also 🙂
Pretty close to a perfect film indeed, Holden. This is the movie that made me want to become a screenwriter. So glad you two loved it. It's been my favorite film since I first saw it in 2002. Finally got a chance to see it in theaters a few years ago during a special release. Such an amazing experience.
Do you screenwrite for a living?
gladiator is one of the movies that gets me every single time at the end. its the most emotional thing i have ever seen! fantastic movie
bcoz..of ending music... it makes it awsome
Same here
Did you watch last samurai? I find it similar to gladiator concerning the emotional part
Ahem, did Jen just say "I HEARD that Shrek is funny"? I think that confirms that the Shrek series should be next 🤔
Commodus was real and 10 times more insane than portrayed in the film. He was obsessed with gladiator sports and considered himself to be like hercules, if not a reincarnation of hercules. He was ultimately murdered, supposedly by a gladiator he was training with.
Emperor killed by a slave. How embarrassing...
The ending always gets some tears from me. The music and the visuals of him going to be with his family is just amazing.
How can you not cry your heart out at the ending? Jesus, this movie destroyed me when I saw it as a teen. I feel Holdens joking around really pulls them out of actually investing in the movie.
I saw this in the theatre, the first night, and the entire audience was riveted beyond belief.
Wow you're lucky man. I wish I was old enough to watch it in 2000
The making of this movie was wild. Ridley Scott and co. were really making it all up along the way and improvising much of the production. When it was released to massive acclaim they were wildly amazed. If you watch Russell Crowe winning the Oscar, his face is just in utter shock when they call his name.
Apparently Russel did not like the "Are you not entertained?!" line but Ridley insisted.
according to mr Crow they only had the beginning roughly planned, then everything was completely written as they went on filming, they had no idea what it would become or if it would be finnished at all.
Russel crow and alot of others made a great apperance but imo Jaquin Phoenix get way too little cred for hes role. first time i saw the movie he accually made me hate him and beleave him in the movie. he did it perfect and nobody else could have pulled that role of without making a bit weird. he was perfect and made hes act of a lifetime in this one.
you have to see Commander and Conqueror if you havent, russel crow in that too.
Agree. Joaquin’s role here is on the short list of all-time great movie villains.
The transition from the last scene to the end credits is absolutely spectacular. The "now we are free" song from the credits is immaculate. Such a good tune to listen to every day.
If you love Russell Crowe then Master and Commander is a must watch. (Gladiator plus Pirates of the Caribbean)
Throw "the other guys" with Ryan gosling on there to, show his range
A Beautiful Mind is his best acting role imo.
+100 this.
@@randommmm7493 I think you mean "The Nice Guys"
"Have i missed it? Have i missed the battle?? You have missed the war!" This gets me all the time. Real-world application to anything.
The thing about Maximus is him being a general and potentially being an emperor until the boy comes of age is he deserves it and it’s shown throughout the movie. At first you see he wins a war, okay cool, but then you see him lose everything and become a great man all over again, in his interactions with his fellow slaves, in the way he wins the people. He’s truly a remarkable character
One part I love about this movie is exactly what Jen said. He just wanted to be with his family. My theory is that’s why before every battle he smells the dirt and rubs it in his hands to remind him what he’s fighting for. He’s fight to go back to the farm and his life where as he said “dirt is easier to wash off than blood.”
As a guy who also had his fair share of insults hurled at him when he was growing up, it’s absolutely wonderful to see such a positive relationship with you two. It sweet and supportive and just warms the heart. Great content y’all
If someone gives you shit, give them shit right back and see how weak they are compared to what you take from others.
Ahh yes. Gladiator. A real classic. 20 years from now and it will still be awesome 👍
Omg how did you not cry when he reunited with his family. I remember crying like a baby at that scene
If you’re interested in other war themed shows/movies I definitely recommend watching the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers from 2001. Hands down some of the best depictions of war I’ve ever seen in cinema. It is something that everyone should at least watch once in their lives
Or HBO's Rome would be amazing.
At 14:25 she said "I know Caesar was an actual character".
Err... you mean Gaius Julius Caesar.
However, this was Marcus Aurelius, born 160 years after the death of Gaius Julius Caesar in 45 BC.
Gaius Julius Caesar was never a Princeps Civitatis. The first one was Gaius Octavius Augustus, his adopted son.
It turns out that the cognomen Caesar became a branch of the Julii family... and after Gaius Julius Caesar, Augustus adopted the name Caesar and with time, all Roman emperors adopted it until it became a TITLE.
Notice that CAESAR is pronounced just like the german word KAISER, also similar to Russian Czar... all these languages adopted the Roman word for the title of their kings.
Absolutely an all time classic movie. So many memorable scenes and quotes. Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix were incredible.
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 RUclips all on its own. Haunting. Beautiful. Serene. Sad.)
It's crazy that both of yall have never seen this before, but I'm glad you both enjoyed an absolutely classic movie.
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions. 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."
A truly legendary line!
Oh you are both in for a treat!!!! “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.”
Richard Harris was a proper Hollywood bad boy, famously getting into bar fights just for fun etc.
The man he played might be one of the most influential men who ever lived. Marcus Aurelius the Philosopher King.
His son Commodus did take over as Emperor after his death, although history is muddled and this movie is 99% fiction.
Sven Ole Thorse, Tigris, accompanied by four 500-pound Bengal tigers, goes up against leading man Russell Crowe in a climactic fight to the death inside the Colosseum as thousands of spectators roar their approval.
While filming that scene, Thorsen became so focused on his choreographed moves with Crowe that he didn’t notice one of the tigers.
“The producer came up to me afterward and he’s pale,” Thorsen recalled. “He asks, ‘Are you OK?’ Then he says, ‘Let me show you the video.’ And, we see where the tiger hits my knee, hits my hip and claws my shoulder.” Thorsen said only the 50 pounds of gladiator gear he was wearing for the scene prevented serious injury.
“They got really nervous and maybe were afraid I was going to sue them,” Thorsen said with a smile, “but I just said, ‘Montecristo No. 2' [referring to his favorite Cuban cigar]. Ten minutes later, they gave me a box of Montecristo No. 2s.”
I'm 6ft 2, 300 lbs former rugby player and I am not ashamed to admit that this is the only film that has brought me to tears at end. Perfect story, acting and to top it off one of the greatest soundtracks (in my opinion) ever written.
I've watched this movie many times and seen quite a few reactions as well, but I can't seem to grow sick of it. Russell Crowe is absolute gold in this one, and so are the Elysium, Honor Him, and Now We Are Free tracks. A real treasure for the ages, glad you guys enjoyed it :)
Edit: Another thing I really love is the idea that Maximus is a great leader because he doesn't care about being loved, which is why Marcus Aurelius wants him to be his successor in the first place. Stripping him of his title and freedom does nothing, because men respect him as an individual striving for his goal. On the flip side, Commodus wishes to be seen as a great leader, which, despite being his primary focus, ironically makes him a terrible one.
One of my favorite films of all time. "Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance." What a line, character, story and film. Glad you two enjoyed it.
Ridley Scott really knows how to do historical fiction movies when it comes to production value. Not all of them resonate with me storywise, but they are all pretty enjoyable. The costumes and sets are really good. Two other Ridley Scott historical fiction movies I would recommend are Kingdom of Heaven and The Last Duel.
I like how Holden points out the actors in other movies and im here like " oh He/She was in that movie". He's pretty good at recognizing them.
Great reaction as always. 'A beautiful mind' is another Russell crowe classic. It also stars Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany.
That movie is one of my favorite of Crowe's roles.
Jor-El, The Queen of Themyscira, and The Joker walk into a bar...
One of those gems you click "Like" on principle alone.
That was a wonderful watch with you two!
I saw this in theaters and just love this movie. The acting and the actors were all awesome. Great review.
Im convinced she just never watched a movie before meeting this guy
Superman's father,Wonder Woman's mother,Joker,Dumbledore,Old Shazam Wizard
He played Zeus in Thor: Love & Thunder, who was Wonder Woman’s father too, and yes, Hypollita was here as well.
Are you telling me actors can be in more than one thing? Insane.
She played Wonder Woman mother
Check out “Master and Commander, Far Side of the World” you will like it, promise. Its Russell and the actor who plays Marvels Vision , Paul Bettany! Not a hint of marvel or superheros here… but a really, really GOOD historical fiction movie.
This movie is so iconic for so many reasons.
The moment you realize that Superman's dad and Wonder Woman's mom had a thing for each other🤣
I'm a mix of Irish and English heritage, according to Ancestry. I have the same eye thing. When my oldest, Griffin, was born the nurses thought he was an Asian baby. If I say something is really eye opening, well it is! My other two children got their mothers wide eyes. Also, this is up there for one of my favorite movies of all time. Saw it May 5th, 2000 with my mom. I still have the ticket stub.
Well I'm Asian and was also born Asian, and the docs assumed I was Asian. Except in my case, they were correct. That is something we have in common I suppose. As well as all human beings in general being the victims of assumption.
Other cultures must have "squinty"/hooded/deepset eyes, as I also would be asked if I had Asian heritage because of my eyes. But DNA test said no, sadly! I'm just a Caucasian with a little Jewish! 😁
I know I’m seeing this late but I truly hope you’ll see this there’s a few things about this movie that I absolutely love and find interesting. The lines between Maximus and Quintus “People should know when they’re conquered” “Would you Quintus? Would I?” Is what the movie is all about. Maximus fighting back after being “conquered”
You touched on Proximo dying but the original ending was supposed to be him burying his rudius the wooden sword symbolizing Maximus freedom. And when he died they zoomed in on his scene from before Maximus fought the undefeated champion before Maximus went out to the battle.
If you are a man than Gladiator has to be in your top 5 movies of all time, because it teaches you how to be a man when you have everything, and it teaches you how to be a man man when you lose everything.
I was googling to see if that actor was the same that played Dumbledore as I hear Holden say "That sounds like Dumbledore, yes it is Dumbledore" 😂😂
Seeing this is making me wonder if we'll ever see game of thrones reactions assuming one of you haven't seen it
Don't know how yous were so emotionless at the end must have watched it 200 times still get a lump in my throat and a tear in me eye
Avatar LFG!!! Can't wait. Please give the characters time to grow on you. First episodes will feel kiddy but it gets way more "juicy" by the middle of 1st season and just ramps it up non stop from there.
ATLA is still my all-time favorite tv show, and I’m 28. I’ve rewatched it probably 15 times now, plus I watch reactors watch it, so if you include those, I’ve seen it probably 30 times haha
One of my all time favorite movies, the pain, the horror, the drama… **chefs kiss** ,excited for the vid!
The elysium song is a made up language and sang by its creator. It's a beautiful song that fits this movie.
When she said "he was the Holden of the time"... my heart melted! ❤️
Commodus was an emperor, ruled from 177 - 192. And Yep his dad was emperor as well & called Marcus Aurelius
The interesting thing is Marcus Aurelius was known as the last good Roman Emperor. His self-reflective diary type book called Meditations is fantastic. He was a very interesting person and him becoming Emperor was just one part. And then his son Commodus was a giant evil pos lmao interesting how that happens
The first time I've ever noticed this but at the start when the headless Roman guy comes back to the Roman lines and Maximus is going past the troops "blood and honour" etc, the background chant by the Barbarians is actually the Zulu chant from the 1964 movie "Zulu"
Fun fact the thumbs up or thumbs down from the emperor was a real thing. However it was reversed, thumbs down ment to live. production determined this may be too confusing to audiences and reversed it!
ALMOST, it wasnt a thumbs down, but a closed fist with a wrap around thumb to signal not to kill the combatant.
this man really said relax dude 😂 to someone who knows he was abt to die
Total noob slave knows he's going to his death in an arena...
Guy with his ass in an armchair: relax dude!
Some cool facts for you guys: Oliver Reed passed away in a bar in Valetta, Malta, where the film was made, sadly mid production as Holden stated. What you may not know is that the owners of the bar renamed the place "Oliver's" in his memory. Its still there today.
And the real Emperor Commodus DID fight in the gladiatorial contests. The games were always rigged. He however didn't die in the arena. He is often thought of as the most depraved of the Caesars, due to his levels of personal debauchery.
Great reaction as always guys! Keep up the awesome work 😁
hey guys loved your reaction... if it is possible please react to "RRR" movie ...its amazing movie ..in twitter movies it became quite famous and applaud by many big movie people...👍👍
Why India pick Chhello Show over it then?
Pretty good movie? Seriously??
It's one of the best films ever!!
When is bumblebee coming?
I'm so excited for bumblebee, maybe it'll drop on the weekend or friday cuz bumblebee is def a weekend vibe
The opening battle was filmed near where I live (Bourne Woods) in Surrey (UK). The area was sanctioned for deforestation, so Ridley Scott offered them the equipment to burn it down when they finished filming.
SHAME ON BOTH OF YOU 2022 JUST NOW WATCHING??
You believe that? Especially at their age?
@@declass9481 Exactly. I'm sorry but any time I hear the reactors say that they are watching a particular movie because it got the most votes on Patreon, I tend to get pretty suspicious. Plus, with some people who you can tell that they are really big movie buffs, knowing tons of quotes and odd movie facts, you begin to think there is no way in hell they haven't seen this massive blockbuster of a movie.
"Caesar was a factual character" LOL. "Ceasar" was the name given to all emperors in Rome. Like a title. That's the origin of the name "czar", as in the emperor of Russia, for instance. I'm sorry, don't they teach History in America?
Also, check out these two deleted scenes from the movie. Gladiator Deleted Scene - A Father's Legacy & Gladiator Deleted Scene - What Is Your Name? I understand why they were cut due to length but so well done.
chris hemsworth and russell, after talking on the thor love and thunder set, may co-produce a gladiator follow-up with ridley scott directing
How Holden…? How… how have you not seen this masterpiece. Love the reaction!
This is one of my favorite films and i love seeing people watching it for the first time as an "older movie" instead of it just being lost to time. Seeing this video's title alone made my day and I'm super excited to watch!
21:20 the quietest “Holden Thomas Hardman” …. 21:25 as soon as Holden Giggles… JENN CRACKS UP LAUGHING 😅😂😅 we all seen it coming LOL
19:36 Jen's hype for the entire "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius" scene was absolute gold.
Have any of you guys seen Blood Diamond? Djimon Hounsou who plays Juba is in that one, and he absolutely kills it with his performance. If one of you hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it for you guys to watch.
Some of the dialog in the movie is taken from Marcus Aurelius' actual journals, which are some of the greatest Stoic philosophy work in human history. Such as "what we do now echo's in eternity" as well as " The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way, becomes the way"
If you are not moved and cry at the scene of him finding his son and wife hung...Don't know what to tell you.
I love that the 'big gladiator' was German, the movie starts with a battle in Germania but they become friends and allies through mutual respect and he even dies in order to give Maximus a chance to complete his mission.
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" another great one. That line has so much more depth than just foreshadowing Commudus' death. MANY great lines. Incredibly well written script.
I watched this on opening night...and went back the next day with even more friends to see it again. One of the greatest films of all time.
This movie is perfect if you want to get into Stoicism, at the beginning when Maximus admires a little bird for a while and then returns to the battle is the perfect example of how it was showed. If you read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius you will watch this movie with a different perspective. Maximus is an invented character and was showed as Marcus Aurelius succesor because he embodied his philosophy. If somebody gets interested into stoicism, please also read A Man's search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, the way he thinks about his wife while he was in a concentration camp reminded me of Maximus and Juba and how they thought about their families in the worst situation possible. I think Gladiator is more than a movie, it is a life lesson.
Wait! You’re watching Avatar!!!! I’m so excited! This is all my dreams come true. It took be about a third way through S1 to get into it, but by the end it might just be my favorite tv show of all time. Not to give you high expectations or anything…
God I love the ending.
Most movies either have characters just DIE. But it showed more a realistic type: Maximus was fading in and out.
And the contrast of where he'll be after death, against his hanging on to say his last words is just always so chilling.
I saw this movie in the theater with my best friend and my girlfriend. I turned to them when it was over and said: "This movie will win the Oscar for best picture." I was glad to have called it. One of my favorite movies of all time. This and Braveheart are true 'Man Movies."
"The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end" that line really has some bite to it in that moment! No matter how many times I watch this movie it always gets me emotional.
My first DVD, and one of my top 5 movies of all time! What we do in life echoes in eternity!
5:12 I never knew that before. But now that I hear it, I can't unhear it. Great detail Holden.
I just love how at the end, Maximus' image of the afterlife was the road leading downhill toward his farm, with his wife and son waiting for him.
I too went through people calling me Chinese because of my eyes. But I am Korean. Lol. Thanks for the great reactions. I started watching Daredevil because of y’all’s reaction to it. I look forward to future reactions. And btw, I love Boston. She’s so cute and has loving gazes.
I don't think "relax dude" is a great comment when you are watching a guy who is probably fighting for the first time piss himself before walking out there. How relaxed would you be in that situation? 🤷♂️
one thing i love the most is that the black guy, his friend from the beginning, was set free in the end and found his family. At least one was able to get his life back
Anyone who doesn't cry at the end of this movie after watching it for the first time may be a sociopath.....hmmmmmm just saying :)
To answer your question, Commodus (played by Joaquín Phoenix in this movie) was an actual person. He reigned as emperor of Rome from 177 CE until his death in 192 CE. Near as I can tell, the only real people that were portrayed in Gladiator were Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen).
I expected tears from Jen at the end. dont know how you guys didn't tear up.
it always gets to me.
Ridley scott did a great job with this movie
so many emotions every time. I was lucky enough to get to watch this in theaters and it shook me as a kid. the sign of a good villain is the ability to make you hate them on more than one level. there was no level of redemption for him. I don't count this as a revenge story but one of retribution for the abuse of power and wrongs being righted.
20:15 His facial expression when he has to give the 👍.... PERFECTION!
This is Ridley Scott’s best movie since Alien plus Joaquin Phoenix’s greatest performance until Joker! Gladiator is one of the best movies of the past 20+ years. 🎬🎥🏆
Blade Runner: "Am I a joke to you?"
Fun fact! This was one of the last movies of its era to actually have lots of extras and a big battlefield scene that wasn't CGI.. They hardly EVER do this anymore.... especially cause of Covid
I’m so glad you both finally watched this film. I completely agree with Holden, they don’t make movies like that anymore; so much storytelling and action. It’s a fabulous film and Russell Crowe makes me feel the complete emotional spectrum! Holden says “shield wall”, have y’all finally watched The Last Kingdom??
This movie ending WAS a happy ending. The only reasonable happy ending for Maximus would be getting his vengeance and reuniting with his family in the afterlife.