This is a study of the 1999 box-office hit, Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe. In this article, I will be looking at camera shots, soundtrack, special effects and other things, that enhance the viewing of the film, and increase its quality.
Dave Cavill
Media Study - Gladiator
This is a study of the 1999 box-office hit, Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe. In this article, I will be looking at camera shots, soundtrack, special effects and other things, that enhance the viewing of the film, and increase its quality. We watched the first forty minutes of the film, and were asked to analyse its media attributes.
The film is set in the Caesar period, at the end of the reign of Marco Aurelius. The main opening scene is set in Germania, and it is the beginning of a battle, but the end of a war, between the Roman legion and some barbarians.
The very first scene is not a reality shot, it's a "dream" shot. The scene itself is at Maximus' home, in his cornfield, walking along, while brushing his hand through the wheat. This scene shows that while Maximus is a great general and a noble leader, he really would like to go home, to see his wife and child. The camera angle used in the scene shows the view from Maximus' legs.
Having shown this dream, the film quickly proceeds to the next scene, which starts off showing Maximus looking at a robin. This is good for the scene; it could be filmed showing Maximus' last look at peace before he goes into battle. The shot is filmed through Maximus' eyes, then zooming out to show that it is Maximus looking at the robin. After this scene, Maximus is shown talking to Quintus about the battle ahead. Quintus asks Maximus about the range, because he is concerned that they are not close enough, but Maximus replies, "the range is good." This shows Maximus' confidence, and this obviously shows he is experienced in battle and an influential leader. Maximus then mounts his horse, and turns to Quintus and says, "on my signal; unleash hell." Again, in this phrase Maximus shows confidence and I don't think he knows completely what the infantries' plan is, but he just wants them to distract the barbarians and create an immovable object.
Having spoken to Quintus, Maximus rides his horse over to the cavalry. I noticed that on the way to the cavalry all of the infantry Maximus passes rises, probably in honour and to show their respect for him. The camera follows Maximus on his horse, while showing all of the soldiers in the background. Then, when Maximus reaches the rest of his cavalry, the camera angle changes, to the view of an onlooker, looking at all of the cavalry surrounding Maximus. Then, the angle again changes to being closer to Maximus, and shows him talking to the men ...
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Having spoken to Quintus, Maximus rides his horse over to the cavalry. I noticed that on the way to the cavalry all of the infantry Maximus passes rises, probably in honour and to show their respect for him. The camera follows Maximus on his horse, while showing all of the soldiers in the background. Then, when Maximus reaches the rest of his cavalry, the camera angle changes, to the view of an onlooker, looking at all of the cavalry surrounding Maximus. Then, the angle again changes to being closer to Maximus, and shows him talking to the men about how if they fall down and wake up in green grass, they are already dead, in the kingdom of Elysium.
This is significant because he is giving his men confidence, and he is making them feel better because they may be in the face of death. This also shows the influence Maximus himself has over them, not just because of his authority, but because of his friendship to them. What he says to them is both quite positive, but then also very negative, in saying that they might die, but then saying that if they do they will be in the eternal paradise, Elysium.
Having said this, the next shot the camera gives is one of an archer, who is going to give the signal to the other soldiers. It then shows Maximus, nodding his head to the archer, obviously telling him to fire the signal, which is a burning arrow. The camera then zooms in on the arrow, and as the archer fires it up into the sky, the camera follows it until it reaches the tree line, and then cuts to a wide view showing all of the army in formation ready to battle, perhaps the view from the top of the mountain, and the arrow comes out of the woods, and into the sky. As commanded, when the signal is seen, Quintus instructs the army forward, and "unleashes hell".
The next scene is obviously the battle scene. There are a variety of camera angles and techniques used here, and all are used to good effect. Also, the use of a soundtrack comes in, playing a very slow, sympathetic song. The two sets of men charge towards each other, the Roman troops obviously showing more formation and discipline, whereas the German legion of warriors charge in a random fashion. The formation in the Roman army pays off, as when the men engage in combat, it is obvious that the Roman soldiers have the upper hand from the start. The camera shot changes between different personal battles, watching them closely, and the effects used while filming make it an incredibly realistic scene. As the battle becomes more intense, it focuses on Maximus and his cavalry. As Maximus and his cavalry become more involved in the action and as more and more casualties occur, the camera technique changes, and the slow, sympathetic music begins to play. Most of the battle sounds are cut out, with the occasional sound of swords clashing or men dying, but the music enhances the effect that this scene has on the viewer. The change in sound is not the only change at this point. The film is slowed down, and every motion made by the actors in shot, is shown in a way in which you can almost feel what he is doing. It shows great detail and again, enhances the effect on the viewer. It works in harmony with the music change, as if there were fast music with slow motion filming, this would obviously not seem right, or the other way around.
The next part of this scene is where the Emperor himself, is greeting and congratulating Maximus. Also, during this scene, Marcus Aurelius' son, Commodus, arrives in a horse and carriage. As he gets out, he rushes towards his father, exclaiming, "Have I missed it? Have I missed the battle?" When his father, the emperor replies, "Not only have you missed the battle, but you have missed the war." I think Commodus planned to arrive after the battle was finished, but he tried as hard as he could to make it look like he wanted to be involved. He then asks his father to take his arm, only to be turned down, his father stating he must leave. As Marcus Aurelius tries to mount his horse, Maximus rushes over to him to help him up, and Commodus does not look pleased at all. Perhaps he feels that Maximus is intruding on the relationship between his father and himself.
Following this scene, the location and atmosphere change completely. It appears that there is an after battle party in the soldiers camp. It then shows Marcus Aurelius talking to Maximus. In this scene, the camera is constantly changing between Maximus' face and Marcus Aurelius' face, as they converse. The Emperor basically tells Maximus that he wishes he succeeded him when he dies. Maximus is shocked about this, as the emperor already had a son, yet he was still favoured. Maximus is then shown leaving the emperor's tent, and as he makes his way back to his own tent, is interfered with by Commodus' sister, who it seems he knows from a long time ago. They talk for a while, and again the camera mainly concentrates on close-up shots of the two characters faces as they converse. Having had this conversation, Maximus returns to his own tent.
The next scene is a very important one on the whole film. It is where Marcus Aurelius is talking to his son, Commodus, having called him into his tent. At first, they converse normally, as father and son would, but then the conversation turns serious. The Emperor tells his son of his decision to make Maximus his successor. Commodus, as imagined, is not very happy at all. He tries to negotiate with his father, but he gets nowhere. As the Emperor gets down on his knees to his son to beg for his forgiveness, Commodus appears to accept this, but then as he embraces his father, we see that it is not a loving embrace, but a violent one. As Commodus strangles his father with his bare hands, the camera shows three shots, one of Marcus Aurelius head held violently against his sons body, being strangled, one of Commodus' face as he kills his own father, and finally, at the end of the scene, there is a shot of a statue of the noble Marcus Aurelius.
The next scene is where Maximus receives the news, and instantly accuses Commodus, but is then arrested for treason. Quintus, Maximus' close friend, is given the job of arresting him, and no matter how Maximus complains, Quintus cannot go against the new Emperors orders.
The final scene of which I am studying is when Maximus is to be killed. As he gets on his knees, the man who is to kill him, a noble soldier's death with a sword, prepares to do his job. It is then that Maximus fights back. He manages to escape, and the camera again uses a variety of shots as he battles with his own soldiers and then rides away, riding back to his own home as fast as he can. The film also shows shots of the pictures running through his mind, his family being killed by Roman soldiers, his little son being trampled by the cavalry of horses. He arrives back to his home after at least a day of solid riding, and he is distraught. He dismounts the horse he escaped on, stumbles over towards his house, and sees a horrific sight; his wife and son, hung from the porch. The camera is positioned behind the two hanging bodies, and shows the bottom half of these, and Maximus' face, as he collapses on the floor in exhaustion and sadness.
This is only a study of the first forty minutes of Gladiator, yet there are a huge number of different camera angles and techniques. This continues throughout the film, and shows true directing quality by the films director.
