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SpartacusRating:
Release Date: 02 January, 2002 Retail Price: $19.98 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Complete Cast (14 total) |
Spartacus Reviews
Probably the best of the Hollywood Roman epics
I've seen this film many times over the years and it never seems to become dated. It simply is a great and moving historical epic which while it isn't totally historically accurate, is much closer to genuine history than Hollywood usually manages to do. The director is the legendary Stanley Kubrick who was not the original preference. Kubrick later disowned the film because he felt he lacked creative control but there are still plenty of Kubrick touches there.
The film is of course about the Italian slave rebellion of 73-71BC led by the gladiator Spartacus but I won't go into detail about the story as its basic elements are probably familiar to just about everyone. The production and acting in this film are almost uniformly superb. Kirk Douglas is at his best as Spartacus while Lawrence Olivier is brilliant as the Roman dictator Crassus. Jean Simmons does an excellent job as Varinia particularly in the final part of the film. Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton have a lot of fun with their respective roles of Batiatus and Gracchus but one actor I would really like to highlight is Charles McGraw as the gladiator trainer Marcellus. He simply exudes evil and plays a major part in the buildup of tension at the gladiator school prior to the revolt.
The only real battle scene is the final battle near the end and it would probably rank as one of the best Hollywood depictions of a Roman battle although it looks a little undisciplined at times. The armor is wrong for the era but no one ever seems to get this right. In general though the spectacle and authenticity of the scenery are both very convincing.
The final part of the film culminating in the escape of Varinia is very moving and this is a tribute to the great acting throughout and a well written script. I did at times have some problems with the script though and some of the lines made me cringe a bit. Finally, Alex North's music score is superb and has a real pagan sound to it.
I'm giving the film four stars instead of five because of the occasional script hiccups but it is a great movie which I continue to thoroughly recommend. I would also recommend the 2004 remake which I think is equally good and more historically accurate.
"All The Power Of Rome!" ~ At What Cost Freedom?
Who among us could ever forget one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. There on the surrounding hillside sit six thousand warriors awaiting punishment from their Roman captors. Beaten in battle, but not defeated in purpose and belief they will not submit to the will of Rome. Unwilling to obey the command of Marcus Crassus and identify there leader Spartacus they stand up one by one proclaiming their defiance with the shout, "I'M SPARTACUS!" Soon the entire hillside is shouting the refrain full well knowing that by doing so they have willingly condemned themselves to die on the cross. If that doesn't give you goose bumps nothing will.
Released in '60, `Spartacus' is arguably the greatest gladiator film of all-time. Directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and starring the iron-jawed Kirk Douglas in the role of the Thracian warrior/rebel Spartacus, this production would turn out to be one of the last epic films of its genre for decades to come.
`Spartacus' boasts a cast second to none; Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov, Herbert Lom, Tony Curtis and many more names and faces you would recognize immediately.
Grab your sword and shield and shout it with me, "I'M SPARTACUS!"
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