Description
Book SynopsisGladiator was one of the great commercial successes of the early twenty-first century, a fascinating example of how an old genre can be resuscitated for a new generation. The film's story is not complex yet the ways in which it is told says much about mainstream narrative techniques. And beneath its action-packed scenes and richly detailed sets,
Gladiator carries specific values and messages which deserve close scrutiny. In Studying Gladiator, Sandy Irvine considers:
Film language – how
Gladiator overcomes incredulity with compelling use of sound, costume and mise-en-scène; The industrial context –
Gladiator as a product of a partnership between an infant studio (DreamWorks) and a transnational corporation (Universal); Genre and Narrative – what do we mean by an 'epic', and can we describe
Gladiator as such? Audience – how did the makers of
Gladiator 'win the crowd' and appeal to today's block-buster audience? Film-makers – what did Ridley Scott personally bring to
Gladiator, and can he be considered an auteur? Representation and Ideology – can we relate historical representations to contemporary society?
Trade Reviewwell researched and clearly presented this guide will be really helpful. I think it is unlikely that you will study the film long enough to exhaust all the material here. * In the Picture *
