For sequels, I make it a point to watch the previous films beforehand to refresh my memory and help appreciate the movie better. So with the upcoming release of Gladiator II this week, of course, I watched the first film again. More specifically, I watched Gladiator (Extended Edition), which has over 15 minutes of footage that was not seen in the theatrical version.
Like in the director's cut of Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, the deleted scenes enhance the characters and story of Gladiator. Maximus' servant, Cicero, who appeared somewhat randomly in the theatrical version, has more screen time in the Extended Edition, as well as the ever-memorable Proximo, the slave owner. One deleted scene even explains why Maximus shouted the famous line, "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!" Most of all, Gladiator (Extended Edition) delves deeper into the plot against Commodus.
The theatrical version of Gladiator has been widely acclaimed and earned numerous awards and nominations. In my humble opinion, Gladiator is Ridley Scott's best film, complemented by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's marvelous score. Yet, even then, Gladiator (Extended Edition) improves on a movie that's already a masterpiece and is an absolute must-see.
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