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Euro-AICN checks in with a Special Report of a Test/Press Screening of Scott's GLADIATOR in Amsterdam.
Well, our Euro-AICN offices have filed their 1st press/test screening report with Father Geek and our Austin World Headquarters, and it is none other than Ridley Scott's long awaited epic GLADIATOR. Nice to get a continental point of view on this one...
This review just came in our E-mail, thought you would enjoy it.
When my alarmclock buzzed as early as 5.30 a.m. this morning, waking me
from yet another dream involving Salma Hayek, my weary head told me I'd
better have a damn good reason for getting up on such an unholy hour. A few
seconds later, I had the answer ready: I was invited to attend an early
(and I do mean early, it even included breakfast for Pete's sake) screening
of Ridley Scott's Gladiator in Amsterdam. And because Amsterdam and
Rotterdam (where I live) are still a couple of miles apart, I had to leave
early in order to catch the train.
Now, first for a little bit of booty-kissing. I (and many other movie geeks
who were there this morning) have to thank UIP for arranging this
screening. Not just because an advance screening of this caliber only comes
along, like, once every ten years here in Holland, but also because the
whole morning was an alltogether enjoyable experience. The breakfast-buffet
was a tremendous idea! So, before the movie started, I was able to stuff
myself full of donuts, bagles, muffins, eggs, bacon, toast and more
breakfast goodies. Great. Now, on to the arena...I mean, movie.
I remember a scene in Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus, in which Kirk Douglas
tries to befriend a fellow named Draba. After a short exchange of words,
Draba gives us this classic quote: "Gladiators don't make friends, if we
were ever matched in the arena together, I will have to kill you." Well,
not only does Russel Crowe prove him wrong on that point in Gladiator, but
-more importantly- he will 'befriend' you too. And you won't be able to do
anything about it. Trust me, you WILL be chanting "Maximus, Maximus" when
the moment is there. I haven't rooted for a screen-character that much
since I last saw James Whale's Frankenstein again.
Yes, I loved Gladiator, as did everybody else in the theatre as far as I
could tell. From the instant-classic opening battle sequence, in which the
Romans show the hordes of Germania why it's so important to guard your
flanks, to the very last second...this film just sucks you in and never
ever lets go. The cinematography is brilliant, the acting outstanding, the
battles are gory and spectacular (as they should be) and the visual
effects.....oh man, you'd almost forget that it's impossible to travel back
in time to film ancient Rome. But I think this is as close as you can get.
The attention to detail is frightening. And just because of that, Gladiator
is more of a fantastic experience than it is a mere movie. When the Romans
prepare for battle, you're there. When the gladiators ready themselves for
a fight they are likely to loose, you're there. You can feel the fear, the
anticipation, you can hear the crowds cheering...you're about to enter the
arena. And chances are you're not coming back. Have no fear though, because
one man is going to save your ass. His name is Maximus and he is not to be
messed with.
The gladiator-battles are so overwhelming, they're worth the admission
price alone. However, there's a much bigger story to be told. A story of
love, betrayal and loyalty. Scott delivers it with style and shows us just
what he's capable of as a director. If there was ever any doubt, this movie
will put him on the definitive list of all-time great directors.
As for Russel Crowe, well, in my book he is now without a doubt the coolest
actor alive today. Moriarty was right: if I didn't believe Maximus cared
for his wife and son, I couldn't care less if he succeeded as a gladiator.
But you DO care for him. You want him to take revenge and to win the
battles that he's in. Maximus is this rare movie-hero: a complete badass
with a real soul.
So, is Gladiator a great movie? Yes. Blockbuster potential? Are you
kidding? This one's gonna be huge! Oscar material? Very likely. Better than
Spartacus? I think so, yes. If the quality of this movie is anything to go
by this summer, we're in for a treat.
Glippy
Make sure to send in all your Euro-reviews, scoops, set reports, etc... directly to our Paris Offices and our editors/reporters Edgard and Darth Bond.
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This one is gonna be awesome. Even the trailer makes me just about cream my pants.
-face -
yes...very...much looking forward to.....Gladiator...love sword....fight..and...FIRST!!!! oh dammit!
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Oh man, that kind of screening so close to my home ... I've never seen that before in my life. Too bad I missed it. Still, my anticipations keep rising for this movie. It's gotta be good.
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It was very nice of UIP Netherlands to do this so-called "press screening" although none of the Dutch film critics were there. Dutch moviegoers should know that the "City Theater Amsterdam" has advanced screenings every saturday and sunday morning (usually around 10:00 AM (and it's very easy to get it..) Just make sure you check the Internet forum, where all Dutch movie geeks are on a daily basis...:
www.telebyte.nl/bioscoop -
Hi! Nice to see you on this 'forum' as well! Too bad I missed you after the film. Robbert and everyone else around me seemed to absolutely love it. What about you? Can't possibly think of anything else, hehehe. Anyway, maybe I'll see you again at another screening. Perhaps we can get Verhoeven that far to screen Hollow Man in his native Holland first! (okay, I'll keep dreaming)Greetz, Stief/Glippy/that guy you met at Princess Mononke.
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This is one of the events when friends from smaller cities in Sweden come to visit me here in Gothenburg to join in. I'll try to make this one as perfect as possible. Nice dinner first, then the movie and a good bar round afterwards. Just can't wait!! And how will the boxoffice figures turn out? This is going to be really interresting!
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Damn, I want to see this film right now! I've only seen Crowe in two films, The Quick and The Dead, and the one with Denzil Washington (which I have tried very, VERY hard to forget). He was good in Quick and Dead, which I didn't really think gave him a lot to go on, so I'm slavering in anticipation at this film. Crowe, Ridley Scott and man-eating lions; it doesn't get any better than this!
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Sort of. Apparently we get this flick here a day or two before the U.S. Release. I imagine there might be a little of the Rusty Crowe influence there (not directly). Yeay for us, anyway. Hey, if someone made a small clone of Maximus would he be called Minimus?
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Yes. I know it's a great film, and it's going to fucking rock, but I'm going insane. Perhaps I can get a sneak a week before it comes out at the SF screening.
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Is this gonna be out in the UK??
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I think the official release date is the 19th of May but I've heard rumours that it might be the 12th, so keep your fingers crossed!! this movie is gonna be so damn cool, Russell Crowe rules!!(tho has anyone seen Silver Brumby? it's one of his earliest films and it's pretty funny)
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