Ridley Scott has given us a lot of great movies, like Blade Runner and Alien, but Gladiator is probably his biggest mainstream hit and for good reason. The story of Maximus is a human, entertaining one, the depiction of Rome is the best we've yet seen (thanks to some digital imagery)and as a result, as viewers we really do feel transported to that time and place. I think some of the history is flat out wrong, like the ending which suggests that Rome will become a Republic again (yeah, right!), but hey, you can't have everything. I will say this, for all it's glories maybe the movie is a tad overlong, but that's hardly to be mentioned when compared to the magnificence of the opening battle sequence and the tension of the rounds in the colosseum with the gladiators fighting for life and death. I hear there's going to be a sequel, but it will have to take place in Tartarus...