Directed by Sir Ridley Scott, this film was originally released in 2000 and was subsequently nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning 5 including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe’s inspiring and star-making performance (he had previously wowed audiences in L.A. Confidential and The Insider). This action-packed epic now returns to DVD with 17 additional minutes of material that has been seamlessly edited into the original theatrical cut. Personally overseen by the director himself, the Gladiator Extended Special Edition three-disc set delivers the definitive version of Ridley Scott’s most popular film since Thelma & Louise.
Gladiator started a trend in Hollywood and inspired many swordplay epics and period pictures in the years following its release. Most notably, it led to Scotts himself directing Kingdome of Heaven (2005), we well as Wolfgang Peterson’s Troy (2004), and Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004). None of these films received the same type of accolades or box-office success as Gladiator, and that could be partially due to the strength of its ensemble supporting cast (including standout performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Neilson, Richard Harris, and the great Oliver Reed’s final screen performance before his death).
If you are a fan of action films, particularly epic films with great battle scenes and lots of swordplay, then you should definitely put this at the top of your list of must-own films.
Special Features:
- Introduction by Ridley Scott (Extended Edition)
- Audio Commentary by director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe (Extended Edition)
- Audio Commentary by director Ridley Scott, editor Pietro Scalia and cinematographer John Mathieson (Theatrical Edition)
- Introduction by Ridley Scott (Extended Edition)
- Audio Commentary by director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe (Extended Edition)
- Audio Commentary by director Ridley Scott, editor Pietro Scalia and cinematographer John Mathieson (Theatrical Edition)
- The Scrolls of Knowledge
- Deleted Scenes Index with Optional Commentary by Ridley Scott
- Visions from Elysium: Topic Portal
- Strength and Honor: Creating the World of Gladiator
- Image & Design: Storyboard Demonstration, Storyboard Archive, Costume Design Gallery, Photo Galleries
- Abandoned Sequences & Deleted Scenes
- The Aurelian Archives – My Gladiator Journal by Spencer Treat C