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Paper 2: “Gladiator” Evaluation The film Gladiator, by Ridley Scott is a blockbuster hit for more reasons than one. However, many believe that due to clichés and a bad plot that the film should have never made it as far as it did. However, in my opinion, Gladiator was a very successful film that kept me on the edge of my seat. In the film Gladiator, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) who plays the emperor of Rome, is dying on the Germanian frontier of the Empire. Upon his death, he whishes to announce his loyal general, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) as emperor of Rome, in order to restore Rome to the republic it once was. However, Maximus wants no part of power, and prefers to return to his farm where his wife and son await him. Meanwhile, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the power-hungry heir to the throne, despises Maximus for winning the affection of his father that he himself never enjoyed. Therefore, Commodus desperately kills his father in secret and claims the throne for himself; while ordering that Maximus and his family in Spain be slain. Despite