Gladiator (5 Stars)

My son Benjamin told me that he intends to go to see "Gladiator 2" on Monday, so he suggested that we rewatch "Gladiator" today. That was a good suggestion. It's one of my favourite films, included in my top 100 film list. Admittedly, it's in the bottom half of the list, but every film in my top 100 is a work of genius. There are even brilliant films that aren't quite in the top 100 because there isn't enough room for them. I actually have a top 200 list on my computer, but the bottom 100 are unordered. They're just a list of a hundred films that I don't want to forget because they're almost good enough to be in the top 100. Sometimes I change my mind and push a film into the top 100, but it's always with a heavy heart, because it means that another film has to be omitted.

"Gladiator 2" has been in the cinemas for ten days, but I still haven't gone to see it. I'll probably get round to it soon, but I admit that I have a certain aversion. The thought of making a sequel to an excellent film that's perfect in itself puts me off. There's no Russell Crowe, there's no Joaquin Phoenix. That's obvious, because both their characters died in the first film, but do you see what I mean? It's just an unrelated film which also takes place in an arena. If the film had been given a completely different name, it wouldn't have bothered me. Calling it "Gladiator 2" suggests that the film is something it isn't.

I've avoided reading reviews of "Gladiator 2" because I'll go and see it eventually. The only feedback I've received is the opinion of my friends who've seen it. They're unanimous. They all say, "It's good, but not as good as the original". That's what I expected. I'm sure it's a good film, though not good enough to enter my top 100. I just have to criticise my friends for calling "Gladiator" the original film. It's not the original of anything. It was a standalone film.

Success Rate:  + 2.5

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