Scott uses an enigma code to create a sense of mystery through the no show of the man’s face, involving the spectator in trying to decipher ‘who this man is’ and ‘why is he in the opening scene’.
From this image, the scene cuts from a warm summer glow, to a bleak wintry horizon. Scott constructs this effect by showing snow on the branches of the distant trees and the slow, significant shape of snowflakes dropping from the darkened sky. But from this blackened heaven shines a ray of sun focused on a robin, producing a glimmer of hope in the eve of the battle.
Maximus follows the robin in to the distant void, concocting an over-shoulder view from Maximus’ perspective, superbly directed by Scott.
By cutting to the image of the beaten, battered but brave soldiers, Scott involves the viewer by getting them to imagine the hard and horrific life of a Roman legionary. Soon after Maximus is captured walking down the long, leaning line of servicemen. This signifies that Maximus, a great Roman general, respects his lesser commandants and treats them as his equal. This connotes a deeper meaning into the way Ridley Scott wants Russell Crowe to play the part of Maximus. Scott wants Crowe to play Maximus as a quiet but commanding and forceful general. By using this shot of the soldiers, it shows that although Maximus is quiet and speaks little, they still respect him and honour his commands
From there the shot cuts from an overview to a point of view shot displaying each soldiers expression as Maximus passes them. Every single soldier holds out his hand to shake with Maximus representing that each one hails and loves this natural-born leader. Even in the eyes of those who are gloomy and doubtful a spark of life flares up when they see the marvellous Maximus in front of them.
Scott’s splendid supervision of the gladiator-fighting scene adds extravagant effect to the already fabulous film. The monstrous amphitheatre towers over the two fighters (Maximus and Tigris) as they fight in gruesome death match. From the beginning of the scene the booming crowd cheer for the enslaved general, formulating a tense and hostile atmosphere, magnificently directed by the sublime Scott.
From the flying start, Maximus is unfairly disadvantaged because of his lack of substantial armour whereas Tigris has an elaborate facemask with an iron tear running down the side as if mocking his opponents. Every single shot is extremely well thought out put forth by Scott. For example, when the tigers are released from their cages it shows a view from behind the tiger so as if you were the tiger leaping up to attack the gladiators. Another excellent shot is when the camera uses a panorama round the stadium giving the viewer knowledge on actually how big a Roman amphitheatre was. Furthermore Scott uses many zoom shots like when he picks out Maximus’ servant in the crowd to show detailed features of the person and establish whom they are.
All these shots hook the watcher into the fast, flurrying flow of a gladiator fight. By the unrivalled use of an over shoulder camera, it transforms the witnessing of a movie in to the reality of actually being there. Other low angled shots were used to show the immense leaping of the CGI tigers from ground level.
Another more imposing high angled shot is used when Maximus launches Tigris across the dusty discoloured ground and stands towering over him. We see this from the eyes of the triumphant Maximus.
From the crafty close-up shots that Scott uses when Commodus is sat in his royal box we can tell that he is very much irritated by the fact that Maximus just ‘will not die’. By the expression on his face we can tell that he wants to finish Maximus off once and for all in the fatal finale.
Entering the bloodied turf after the fight Commodus quickly begins to insult Maximus’ dead family. Cleverly Scott directs Maximus to turn away when Commodus is speaking to him giving the effect that Maximus is very powerful and will not make eye contact with this arrogant ruler.
Another clever addition that Scott uses is when he guides Maximus to bow to Commodus before they leave the arena. This shows that Maximus has courtesy for the emperor but the fact that he does not avert his eyes when bowing shows that Maximus is challenging him.
Overall, rousing Ridley with the help from ravishing Russell has created the greatest gladiator film in the modern era. The film used a fine, fast flowing tempo to create a truthful insight in the lurid life of a Roman gladiator. Russell Crowe as a true hero in the film bewitchingly portrayed Maximus.
In my opinion, Ridley Scott is a first-class, top rate director. His movies enthral the viewer transform the comforts of the living room into the living, breathing life of an astounding movie.
