A sword and sandals epic, reminiscent of the late 1950's and early 1960's, thoroughly updated with great visuals and computer effects. A guy's movie that women will like too.

Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a Roman general, loved by his men, and the current emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). As the movie starts, Maximus' legion is about to do battle with barbarians from Germania.

The ferocious nearly 10 minute combat sequence, replete with impalings, beheadings, flying fireballs, and thousands of arrows will satisfy the blood lust of most violence fans. Needless to say, Maximus wins the day, but his problems are just beginning.

The emperor's son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) has made the journey to the front to visit and now congratulate his father on the victory. It's no secret that Marcus Aurelius prefers Maximus to his son, and he informs Commodus that he intends to name Maximus the next emperor. Maximus, having never been to Rome, and anxious to return home to Spain, and not at all experienced in imperial politics, would rather not take the new job.

As it turns out, he won't have to, since Commodus kills Marcus Aurelius, but gets away with it since he was expected to die soon anyway. What's more, when Commodus asks for Maximus' loyalty, the general gives a Clintonesque answer that Commodus interprets as a "No."

Maximus is arrested the next morning and taken to be executed. He manages to turn tables on the hit squad and makes his way back to his farm, only to find his wife and son crucified. He collapses from grief, and from injuries sustained earlier. Soon after, he is captured and eventually sold to Proximo (Oliver Reed in his last role), a Gladiator promoter.

The scene shifts to Rome, where Commodus has proclaimed a 150 day festival of games, to boost his popularity. One of the events is a sort of re-creation of the second war of Carthage, featuring soldiers on chariots attacking a band of gladiators. It is expected to be an easy slaughter, but Maximus and his band are able to defeat the charioteers by utilizing his military skills.

This victory leads to a confrontation with the emperor, who now learns that Maximus is still alive. The plot thickens as Commodus wants Maximus dead, but his sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) conspire to get rid of Commodus and restore the republic. Naturally, there is a showdown in the Colosseum between Maximus and Commodus.

The film draws some plot line and characters from The Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964). In the older pic, Christopher Plummer was a super evil Commodus, and much more was made of the love interest between the general (Stephen Boyd) and the princess (Sophia Loren).

As far as historical accuracy, Commodus was named co-ruler and heir long before the death of Marcus Aurelius. True enough, in 182, his sister Lucilla did conspire with a group of senators to assassinate him, but the plot failed. Going mad, he did fancy himself a gladiator, and on December 31, 192, his advisers had him strangled by a champion wrestler. Still, his death couldn't make up for 25 years of misrule, and a civil war soon followed.

My advice is to forget the history and the comparisons to the earlier movie. Just enjoy yourself!