The movie Gladiator was released in 2000, directed by Ridley Scott and starred Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius. Maximus was a 2nd century Roman soldier, later enslaved and finally taking revenge on Emperor Commodus in the Flavian Amphitheater as a gladiator. Although made over 18 years ago and full of historical inaccuracies, the film still remains very watchable and entertaining, while bringing to life a very real historical setting and vividly reconstructing Roman culture at its peak. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayGladiator is a historical blockbuster offering both a soldier's and a gladiator's perspective on politics, war, Roman culture and especially amphitheater entertainment. The film follows the life of Maximus, a general much appreciated by both his troops and the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At first, the viewer is exposed to the brutality and well-organized tactics of Roman warfare. In recognition of his honor, bravery, and loyalty in the wars against the barbarian tribes of Germania, Marcus declared Maximus his heir. Marcus' son Commodus, who wants to become emperor himself, orders Maximus' death. The political intrigues of Roman times, with their dangerous consequences, are experienced first-hand by the hero of the film. Although Maximus manages to escape, he ends up enslaved and forced to train as a gladiator. Maximus travels to Rome to participate in the gladiator games sponsored by the new emperor Commodus. It is at the Colosseum that Maximus can finally take revenge on Commodus for the murder of his wife and child. The viewer is immersed in the gladiatorial atmosphere of the Colosseum with all its splendor, bloodshed, brutality and horror. It is this exposure of the viewer to the Roman world of intrigue, war, culture, psychology and epic gladiatorial games that best illustrates the strength of the film. No documentary could ever capture the setting as well as a multi-million dollar Hollywood film, it would simply lack the budget. Gladiator proved to be an impressive achievement in its recreation of the golden age of the Roman Empire. With five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe, the film is a testament to its entertainment value and undoubtedly remains a must-see for history buffs. However, the film is not an accurate representation of historical facts and therein lies its weakness. Although some characters, such as Marcus Aurelius, his son Commodus, and his daughter Lucilla, are real, the film's main character, Maximus, is not, although he is likely based on famous historical commanders. It certainly cannot be considered a tool for learning about historical events either, as the chronology and accuracy are imperfect. For example, Commodus ruled for 12 years, but in the movie it appears as a matter of months and Marcus most certainly wanted Commodus as his successor and in reality they were co-rulers for several years. Nonetheless, even despite the inaccuracies, the film still manages to emerge and engage the viewer in a very real and relevant historical setting. The historical reliability of the film is questionable, but as Ridley Scott stated, he was not trying to make a documentary. As previously stated, Marcus Aurelius would never have appointed a general to succeed him. He always intended for Commodus to be his heir, although some historical writings point to the fact that Marcus might have had.