Ridley Scott's Persuasion that Romans are Not Invaders in Film Gladiator
Gladiator is a tale of betrayal, bravery and survival. Gladiator
(2000) is the critically acclaimed Academy Award winning Action/Drama,
which sets the audience expectations high, Ridley Scott had directed
gladiator, this being his 14th film. His most famous and successful
films include Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982). Gladiator is set
in the ancient era of the Roman Empire allowing the audience to escape
to a fantasy filled with history, culture and adventure. It
ambitiously depicts, 'the story of a farmer who became a general, a
general who became a slave, a slave who became a gladiator, the
gladiator who defied the emperor.' Russell Crowe who previously
starred in Insider (1999) stars as GeneralMaximus Decimus Meridus, a
honourable General, loyal to both his emperor and Rome. Russell Crowe
impersonates the role as Maximus perfectly, powerful yet noble.
Therefore the audience acknowledges his character and are more
compassionate towards Maximus. The Romans are the villains however
they are portrayed as heroic and legendary. Then again if the viewers
weren't aware of this they have cunningly been conned into believing
the Romans are truly heroes. Throughout the film Ridley Scott uses
narrative and quality screenplay and his unique directing techniques
to manipulate the audience into believing the Romans are the
protagonist and the Germanians antagonists. Evidently from the
beginning credits Ridley Scott is deceiving the audience into a
subjective viewpoint where the Romans are in favour. Gladiator is set
in the epoch of the Roman Empire's greatest hour. Th...
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...ever acknowledged before. During the course of this
coursework I have gained much needed skills that I can use throughout
my life to come. I have learnt to recognize and identify when I am
trying to be mislead to believing false information, this cannot only
be used in films but in adverts and programmes. I can use my newfound
skills to enter adulthood prepared. The way director's influence your
judgement is very intellectual, the use of lighting, sound,
characters, speech and special effects all combined successfully
convinces viewers what is wanted of them to believe. Film addicts and
shoppers are all example of puppets where directors and mangers pull
our strings to make us believe what is wanted to benefit them.
Therefore Ridley Scott is a master at being cunning and deceitful but
we admire and praise him for it.
The story of Gladiator takes place in Ancient Rome and contains intense action, great acting, and fantastic storytelling. Although most of this action drama is mostly fictitious, some certain events and characters appear in the history books.
Many times in life things are not as they seem. What may look simple on the surface may be more complicated deeper within. Countless authors of short stories go on a journey to intricately craft the ultimate revelation as well as the subtle clues meant for the readers as they attempt to figure out the complete “truth” of the story. The various authors of these stories often use different literary techniques to help uncover the revelation their main characters undergo. Through the process of carefully developing their unique characters and through point of view, both Edith Wharton and Ernest Hemingway ultimately convey the significant revelation in the short stories, “Roman Fever” and “Hills Like White Elephants” respectively. The use of these two literary techniques is essential because they provide the readers with the necessary clues to realize the ultimate revelations.
Thank you Viola for your detailed comments about the HUAC committee activities that created a devastating situation for the film industry. The issue with communistic events indeed interfered with the lives of many and destroyed the careers of actors, especially those who firmly refused to cooperate with that committee. The film Spartacus is one of the most successful films in the history of Universal Studios not only in terms of box office appeal, but it also received six Oscar nominations and was accredited for breaking the Hollywood blacklist. This film was based on Howard Fast's novel, which narrates the story of professionals who refused to collaborate with HUAC committee officials.
The culture of Ancient Rome had a distinct way to entertain its citizens. Besides spending times at the baths, Romans found pleasure and delight in the games held at the local coliseum. These games were among the bloodiest displays of public amusement in the history of man. Professional wrestling and boxing today, do not come close to the disgusting horrors that the people of Rome took so much pleasure in observing. Although the games were very bloody and extremely brutal, often killing many men and animals, the Romans enjoyed the scenery of life and death being very near. Watching men fight and eventually die a dreadful death, is what fascinated the Roman population in great degree as the games were one of their favorite ways to spend their leisure time. The ancient Romans had a very bloodthirsty taste for entertainment exhibited in the form of gladitorial combat.
Ridley Scott’s epic film, Gladiator, considered one of the greatest films in recent years, won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Scott’s film, tells the story of the fall and rise of the great Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, tells Maximus that he wishes that he ( ) the emperor after his death, instead of his son, Commodus. Angry, Commodus, murders his own father, thus becoming the emperor, and sentences Maximus and his family to death. Maximus escapes, but the Emperor’s men murder his family and burn his home. Slave traders, capture Maximus, and sell him into slavery. Maximus must rise to the top once more, and enact his revenge on Commodus. Through a liberal humanistic critique, the film contains an inherent meaning, shows the enhancement of life and propagation of values, and reveals that human nature never changes.
Films have always been used to bring out various cultural artifacts and traditions. Through film, it would be easier for one to point out the culture in which one or the main character belongs to. The Iliad and Troy remains to be amongst the most renowned literal and film pieces that have been read, viewed and appreciated throughout history. Just as is the film Troy, which is based on the epic, The Iliad, Gladiator is a 2000 British–American epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott. The Gladiator features the character of Crowe, a fictional character, who is very loyal to Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. Crowe is betrayed when Commodus, a very ambitious son to the then the emperor Marcus Aurelius takes over power after killing his father.
see such a custom as cruel, it was in fact made less so than it
Gladiatorial events were a token of the Roman civilization. A brutal form of sacrifice adapted from the earlier civilization of Etruscans, who believed when a person dies, his spirit relies on a blood sacrifice to survive in the afterlife. The first event to take place in Rome was in 264 BC, when Decimus Brutus held a sacrifice to honor his dead father (Roman Gladiator). Soon after these events became an undeniable part of the Romans lives, used for political power and general entertainment.
The Romans learned an immense amount deal from the Ancient Greeks. They first had come in touch with the Greeks in about 500 BC, part of Greece. Greece had become a part of the Roman Empire and by 27 B.C., the Romans were in not only in dominated the Greek speaking areas(Medicine In Ancient Rome) around the Mediterranean approximately . The Romans used the ideas of the Greeks but didn’t simply imitate them. Greek ideas they found unimportant as they ignored and it had seemed that the Romans were sharp on things that would lead to the improvement of the quality of life of the people in their huge empire and other areas such as hygiene. As the Roman Empire expanded through conquering Greece, many Greek doctors traveled to Italy and Rome. Many prisoners of war and could be were purchased by wealthy Romans to work in a household.
The terms ‘civilized’ and ‘barbaric’, while being paradoxes in themselves, seem to go hand in hand and inseparable in all aspects of society, both in the current ‘developed’ world and its contemporary distant past. While one may easily laugh at the idiotic, yet violent simpleton of a caveman offspring in comedy cartoons, and similarly decline all backward practices of distant tribes of a faraway land, it cannot be denied that even the most advanced of our kind seem to embrace similar barbaric methods and means of entertainment in our everyday world. From violent movies filled with murders and gruesome scenes to bloody organized sports, the modern world still seeks entertainment in the form of violence and cruelty, not very different from that enjoyed by the ‘glorious’ world of Ancient Rome. Back then, people from all classes and age would look forward to weekend games. They would gather to see fighters, called gladiators, fight each other to the death in large arenas. This is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the Roman Empire and one that has deep influence on the entire Roman society
The book The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss is an in depth look at one of Roman history’s most legendary events, the gladiator revolt led by Spartacus. Spartacus has become a legend, creating a storyline that has inspired many movies and television shows, such as Stanley Kubrick’s epic Spartacus in 1960, starring the legendary Kirk Douglas. Spartacus has inspired a perfect mix of men over time with various backgrounds and beliefs, from Stalin and Marx, to Voltaire, and even to Ronald Reagan. How though, did Spartacus create a massive revolt of slaves that would create a massive problem for the mighty Rome? Strauss attempts to create a chronology of the Spartacus War using his vast knowledge of the Italian landscape, ancient documents, and archaeological evidence, as well as provide the reader with the historical reasons that might have created a perfect combination of causes to create the Spartacus legend.
The Roman Gladius was one of the main weapons used during the early Roman empire. “Gladius is the Latin word meaning sword” (Rayment), so any kind of sword could be called a Gladius, but the Roman short sword was mostly referred to as the Roman Gladius. The main parts of a Roman Gladius (As shown in the picture to the right from Rayment) are the Pommel, Hilt Wasp waist and the 50-cm blade. The Roman Gladius was very popular because of Its double bladed edge and its point. It was very popular for light infantry because it was small and good for close quarter combat. The disadvantage in length was made up with its light and maneuverability design. The Roman Gladius was used mostly in organized formations so they didn’t suffer a lot of casualties when charging in with a short-sword. The Roman Gladius could also be used in
Throughout history, no other era was more significant than that of the Roman Empire. The power and influence of the Roman government and it=s rule over the world was accomplished by the Roman Army. The Roman army was the ultimate weapon of war because of the well trained men, their effective weapons and their brilliant battle tactics.
My first point links it to the epic status as it starts right in the
The movie, “Gladiator” is based on the life of a war hero in the Roman era. Maximus was the main character in the movie who led the northern army against the Germanic tribes near Vindobona. Maximus had to make major decisions throughout the storyline to survive and become as great as he was. He went from a war hero, to an enslaved gladiator who had to constantly fight for freedom to regain his respect. He wanted to become free again, so he put his heart into his actions. These concepts that we have learned through our organizational behavior course has shown throughout the characters. The main concepts of leadership styles, expectancy theory,team dynamics, and communication are prevalent in the movie.