The first camera shot that I have chosen is when there is a close up on Maximum’s hand. The director wants us to see that Maximus wants peace and wants to go home and enjoy with his family rather than fighting. The second camera shot I have chosen is when there is a close up on Maximum’s face which is looking at the robin. The robin demonstrates us Maximus’s love for nature which proves that he freedom fighter. The third scene I have selected is when Maximus is walking down his army and every one is greeting him. This demonstrates us that maximus has a high reputation and is someone who is looked up to. This also illustrates the love and affection for maximus from his soldiers and even by animals as the dog was following him when the war was about to begin. The last scene I have chosen is when there is a slow motion when the Romans had won the war. This connotes the supremacy and authority they had during these times.
The main character of this motion picture is Maximus. Throughout the film, the audience sees his loving character, his love for Rome and his fellow Gladiators, and love for his wife and kid. Secondly, Maximus is physically strong and this enables him to win every battle he fights in. The actor Russell Crowe developed a muscle physique and especially in the violent combat scenes director Ridley Scott uses close ups of his muscular body. By doing this he ensures we link Maximus with strength and agility. Because of this, he is seen as the hero. Maximus always "played the game fair". He never cheats to win. a match and his honesty is admired by the audience. Ridley Scott is able to show the audience in the cinema how to react; the more the crowd reacts to Maximus, the more we are encouraged to do the same.
There are several other men in the film who we can compare Maximus to. Firstly, there is his main rival, Emperor Commodus. He is the complete opposite of Maximus. Although he could get away with being slightly good looking, Commodus lacks personality, of which Maximus has plenty. He is a very weak character with not much build and his voice is more like that of a child than a man as opposed to Maximus' much more deep and manly voice. He is not strong and this can be shown by the fact that he is defeated by Maximus at the "grand finale" even though maximus is half-dead due to the wound inflicted on him by the emperor. The fact that Commodus literally stabs Maximus in the back shows that he is indeed a great coward and was not at all upfront. Also, when we see this, the long shot showing Maximus tied up in a pose like Christ on the cross, which cuts to a close up of the knife and then Commodus' sneaky face, do not emphasize Commodus' power and strength but on the contrary his cowardice and status as the anti-hero or antagonist. Commodus is also quite frightened to stand up to Maximus and this is why he has to stab him in the back. He once consulted his sister and this representation of Commodus a man referring to his sister, a woman, shows everyone he is a very weak person.
Secondly, at the beginning of the film, we meet the elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a man whom Maximus gives the highest respect. He is ‘Maximus’ role model and someone that he looks up to. Maximus, and the audience, love Emperor Aurelius because of his love for Rome and the love he showed to Maximus. He, like Juba, does not have all the good characteristics that
Maximus has, but we the audience can clearly see the various things that Maximus has learnt from the Emperor. The major value that is common with both Aurelius and Maximus was a love for Rome. The Emperor identified that Maximus loved Rome even more than his son, and therefore wanted to make Him his heir though this was made impossible as the Emperor was murdered by his own son ‘Commodus’
Maximus is the main character of this picture; this is because he gives his army confidence mainly by his speech. An example of a speech given by Maximus is “If you find yourself alone riding in the green fields with the sun shining on your face do not be worried for we are already in a Elysium you are already dead.” this gives the Roman Army confidence because this makes them feel brave and not frightened because they know they are fighting for the truth and integrity.
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The director, Ridley Scott, is on the side of the Romans you know this because you can't understand what the German's are saying, but also during the battle there are no close-ups of the Germans. The director is a stereotype as he proves us that the Germans are uncivilised and they were barbarians. Maximus comes across a good leader in this picture even though he dies at the end because of his love for Rome, family and most importantly freedom. The beginning and the ending were linked well together as cornfield at the beginning represented his death in the end. In the end he dies feeling that his ambitions are accomplished and he has nothing to worry about.
