One of my favorite movies ever is Gladiator, and the reason for it being one of my favorites, is the leading actor Russell Crowe. His role as Maximus Decimus Meridius has to be one of the most raw and inspiring and macho I have ever watched. I remember being awestruck after seeing the film, and talking to my Dad about it after. He seem at the time to think the movie had little to say about anything. I suppose he was right, in that there wasn’t a major life changing message in any of it. But I still loved the film, and his performance in it.

If the movie had anything to say, it had to be a message about honor, and uphold your own definition of honor no matter what. Irregardless what others around you do, and have to say. The fact that the movie was directed by Ridley Scott didn’t hurt it in my books whatsoever. Ridley Scott happens to be one of my favorite directors of all time. Something to do with a couple of movies he did called Blade Runner and Legend.

I’m sure most of you have heard of Blade Runner, but not so many know of Legend. Legend starred Tom Cruise, a very young Tom Cruise I might had. It’s a mythical piece about fairies, elfs, unicorns and their accompanying nasty enemies. The role of the big bad was played by Tim Curry, in one of my most memorable movie scenes ever. Where he goes charging across in those big red horns . . . well, it was one of those things you just had to see for yourself.

I forget the young actress that played the maid in need of saving (Mia something . . . ) was quite remarkable, especially when dressed up in her evil costume. I think she’s the same girl that played Ferris’s love interest in the seminal movie Ferris Buellers Day off. Another one of my favorites to be discussed at a later date I’m sure. Matthew Broderick is pretty terrific in that one.

But, getting back to Russell Crowe, I was pretty happy he won the Academy Award when he did, even though he lost out the next year to Denzel Washington for his effort in Training Day. I think Russell would have won it, if he hadn’t managed to piss off a few reports and the media in general. Anyway, one of the lines in the early stages of Gladiator is one that always sticks with me. Maximus hears from his lieutenant Quintus, “People should know when their beaten”, to which he replies “Would you Quintus, Would I”.