Gladiator (1992)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

best movie i've ever seen.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Prepare to be lifted up mind, body and soul.....Outstanding script, casting, acting, beautiful dialogues, musical score by Brad Fiedel (The Terminator,and T2), brilliant boxing cinematography by Tak Fujimoto (Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia).This magnificent film has not been given its due respect. Those of you that haven't watched it, do so now. It will change your perspective of life forever. The meaning of the film title Gladiator means strong in body and mind ans it portrays its central character and hero Tommy Riley.Always fight for truth and justice, and to stick to your true friends is the theme of this film. Tommy Riley (James Marshall) and his father have just moved in an attempt to start a new life. Tommy's father has accumulated many gambling debts, but has found a new job that requires him to travel extensively, leaving his son alone at home. Tommy also has a hard time fitting in at school, having crossed some gang members led by "short cut". A loan shark, named Sharkey, sends two collectors to Tommy Riley's house where he is threatened unless his father pays off a 1250 dollar debt. He takes a job at a local diner but is jumped by the gang members outside the restaurant. Seeing how well Tommy is able to fight, a local boxing promoter by the name of Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia) offers Tommy a chance to fight in an illegal underground boxing operation. Tommy then agrees to fight one match, in exchange for 1250 dollars in order to pay off the debt. This decision to fight will change his life forever...Outstanding acting by James Marshall (as Tommy Riley), Cuba Gooding Jr. (as Abraham "Lincoln" Haines), veteran actors Brian Dennehy (as Jimmy Horn) and Robbert Loggia (as Pappy Jack) not to mention the incredible performance by Jon Seda (as Romano) and Ossie Davis (as Noah).P.S. Mr Sylvester Stallone, please see this film. The boxing matches exceed even those seen in your Rocky films.

Gladiator (1992) Columbia DTV 101m Director: Rowdy Harrington Stars: James Marshall, Cuba Gooding Jr., Robert Loggia, Brian DennehyTommy Riley is a new transfer to the slums of Chicago. Out of his element, Tommy keeps to himself but winds up caught up in the addictive world of underground fighting circuit. But the neighborhood and the elements surround him as the ring threatens to end him for good."Gladiator" is highly derivative and definitely unoriginal but this mixture of urban teen drama and "Rocky" has its own charm and I enjoy it. It may not be original but it has a little heart and is well done and acted. (3.5/5)/

Wooden-faced James Marshall stars in GLADIATOR as a deprived youth caught up in the world of underground boxing. He must make good on some debts of his father's (William Heard), the paper on which is being held by fight promoter and all-around bad guy Brian Dennehy. Marshall makes friends with fellow boxer Cuba Gooding and philosophical corner man Ossie Davis. Director Rowdy Harrington does a great job staging the boxing matches, which include knees to the head, headlocks, choking, shots to the groin and kidneys, leg sweeps, body slams and drugging opponents. Some of the matches are difficult to watch once the nasty stuff starts and the blood begins flowing freely. But that's why GLADIATOR is rated R and not PG-13. The young Cuba Gooding outacts everyone else in this early '90s boxing flick, although Dennehy is in full, frothing-at-the-mouth mode as a man interested only in making money, even at the expense of lives.

First of all, this rating is ridiculous. I remember watching Gladiator when it first came out on video and now a few times on television. No it won't win any Oscars and it's not a dramatic masterpiece but it's never boring and moves along nicely. The fight scenes are entertaining, the chemistry between Marshall and Cuba is there, and the majority of the characters are developed. The only thing that fails is the love story, but I guess every film with teens has to have one. As far as people complaining about Marshall's wooden performance, I personally liked it. Not everyone is a charismatic, everyone is drawn to me type of person. He played it low-key, brooding, quiet, somewhat anti-social and it worked. If a film like this was made today, it would be a dumbed-down PG-13 version critics would probably love because it tells the story of a kid overcoming the obstacles. Rent it if you're an action fan, you won't be disappointed.