Why do so many people dislike Gladiator? - Page 4

Terrell · 02-20-2002, 12:03 AM

I wasn't talking about LOTR specifically Bill. I was only talking about how people criticize them for films they didn't want to win, and praise them and build their favorite films up with the Academy awards them. Either you don't think the Oscars means much, or you do and just don't want to admit it when films that you didn't want to win end up doing so.

Not talking about anyone in particular, just people in general. I think the Academy Award at least has a bit of significance. But sometimes while watching them, I catch myself saying "this is BS" when my favorite film doesn't win. Then I have to correct myself.

All I can say is I love Gladiator, and I thought it was the best picture last year. Only Traffic came close to me. I wouldn't have been terribly disappointed with a Traffic win. CTHD wasn't bad, but nowhere near my Top 5.

And Bill, most of my favorite films haven't won either. The original Star Wars films are my favorites. All 3 are in a tie for my #1. All 3 Indiana Jones films and Gladiator are tied for #2.

Oh hell, I know it's silly. But I can't choose between the original 3 Star Wars film, and can't choose between Gladiator and Indiana Jones Trilogy. I really can't choose period. However, only Gladiator has won. And that doesn't bother me if none of my other favorites ever win. They're still my favorites.

Bill J · 02-20-2002, 12:22 AM

So you got 7 films as your top 2? I find that very interesting. I have similar problems like when I make a top ten list or something similar. It's easy for me to list 10, 20, 50, 100 or whatever great films, but it's VERY difficult to rank them. I think I got my top five down, but it gets hard for anything beyond that.

MatthewVielkind · 02-20-2002, 12:33 AM

Gladiator is a terrible movie simply because it's nearly an exact clone of movies like Ben-Hur and Sparticus. The special effects draw people away from following the plot and people don't relize that the plot is very shallow. That's what I think about Gladiator.

Bill J · 02-20-2002, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Gladiator is a terrible movie simply because it's nearly an exact clone of movies like Ben-Hur and Sparticus. The special effects draw people away from following the plot and people don't relize that the plot is very shallow. That's what I think about Gladiator.

That's a good way to sum it up. I agree with you 100%.

Terrell · 02-20-2002, 12:38 AM

I can't pick Bill. It's just too damn hard. If I was pressed to choose my favorite Star Wars film, it would be as follows.

1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars
3. Return of the Jedi

But all 3 are so good that I can't pick. The same with Indiana Jones and Gladiator.

Matthew, I completely disagree with everything you said. But to each his own. Sorry, I just can't seem to stay away Robert. I know, I'm a liar.

Bill J · 02-20-2002, 12:42 AM

I guess Gladiator is one of the those films you think is either horrible or tied for second on your top ten list.

Terrell · 02-20-2002, 12:47 AM

Tied with all three Indiana Jones films no less. Let me rephrase. I could pick my favorite 10 or 20 films if I had to do. But I don't do it because I don't like doing it. It's pointless to me because I love so many films and I don't want to have to choose between them. But if I had to pick, here you go.

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
5. Gladiator

Okay, I can't go any further. That was hard enough as is.

Tom Ryan · 02-20-2002, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Tied with all three Indiana Jones films no less. Let me rephrase. I could pick my favorite 10 or 20 films if I had to do. But I don't do it because I don't like doing it. It's pointless to me because I love so many films and I don't want to have to choose between them. But if I had to pick, here you go.

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
5. Gladiator

Well at least you don't put TPM above any of the original trilogy! I know a guy who liked TPM better than ANH, which to me (ANH is my #1 favorite film), is blasphemous.

I kind of have a top 5 going..........it's becoming more solid as I go, but I don't include more than one film from a given series (I'd have a hard time fitting ESB into its proper place in the mix):

1. Star Wars (1977)
2. Fight Club (1999)
3. The Godfather (1972)
4. The Matrix (1999)
5. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

#5 is really hard for me, because I love SO many Spielberg films so much........should I pick Jaws, or CE3K, or Raiders, or Schindler's List, or Saving Private Ryan......but right now I'm defaulting to Raiders even though I've seen Jaws more.

-Tom

Terrell · 02-20-2002, 01:57 AM

Hmm, I loved TPM, despite the flaws. But it's not as good as the originals. You're right, that's blasphemous. Hmm, Raiders could be interchanged with Return of the Jedi on my list, possibly.

Scott Weinberg · 02-20-2002, 03:00 AM

Well, for once

I'm siding with Terrell. I loved Gladiator when I first saw it and I still do. I just re-read my old review and though I do go a bit overboard with my praise (I was a young critic back then), I'd still call Gladiator a 4.5 star movie.

Go on. Berate me!

TheoGB · 02-20-2002, 03:52 AM

You see the problem is that I've just been asleep and you guys go and have a discussion without me.

Quote:

Secondly, The Matrix actually did win Oscars. It won four Oscars (technical categories), second only to American Beauty that year.

I can't work out if you think you're making a point or you're just being facetious.

I don't consider the technical oscars as 'counting'. I mean, since Jurassic Park, there have been no films that have impressed me very much in visual effects. Matrix had it's bullet time stuff but I'd already seen it used in that Gap advert about a billion times and also in a BBC TV ad.

I don't think people really note the technical ones - I was talking about the main ones like Best Picture and Best Director, etc. as these are the ones that get people all steamed up, as we see here.

I only have 2 favourite movies. There are tonnes I enjoy but I can't number them. Those two are:

1= The Empire Strikes Back
1= Fight Club

Terrell · 02-20-2002, 04:15 AM

Well Scott, in looking at your reviews of films, I tend to agree with you a lot. So at least our taste in films seem to be the same, at least a lot of the time.