Spartacus DVD Review

"SPARTACUS" reviews

DVD

SPARTACUS

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-25 21:42:24

Provider

DVD Review

"I'm Spartacus!" is the famous cry from the freedom fighting slaves led by the titular slave-turned gladiator who, by assuming his name, they would die to protect. That scene is one of the most memorable in film history and it's one of many reasons why this action-packed, yet dramatically emotional, 1960 movie - which bagged several Oscars - has stood the test of time.

Kirk Douglas stars as the hero who leads a violent rebellion against his Roman oppressors. As word of the uprising spreads, more and more join Spartacus and they head south to flee Italy. Meanwhile in Rome, one power struggle is having a profound effect on another as Senators Gracchus (Charles Lawton) and Crassus (Laurence Olivier) try to manipulate the situation to their own ends. The latter is involved in a powerful scene where one strong gladiator/slave is pitted against Spartacus but when he has the opportunity to kill him, he instead turns to climb up toward the watching Romans.

Tony Curtis' performance as the poetic Antoninus is also memorable as is Jean Simmons as Spartacus' love interest and Peter Ustinov as one of the more lenient Romans.

Stanley Kubrick's 1960 epic is simply one of the finest examples of it's genre and is well worth owning on DVD.

DVD

SPARTACUS

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-26 11:16:32

Provider

DVD Review

Would the real Thracian Spartacus please stand up, please stand up, please stand up? Is what Eminem might say if he rapped about the brave group of Roman Empire-era ex-slaves who were willing to die for their leader. Kirk Douglas stars in this multi Oscar-winning movie which has more than stood the test of time.

Douglas is the titular Spartacus, a slave-turned-gladiator who leads a violent rebellion against his Roman oppressors. As word of the uprising spreads, more and more join Spartacus and they head south to flee Italy and return to their homes. Meanwhile in Rome, one power struggle is having a profound effect on another as Senators Gracchus (Charles Lawton) and Crassus (Laurence Olivier) try to manipulate the situation to their own ends.

It's easy to overlook Spartacus and it's impact on modern cinema - mainly because it seems to be on TV every other Bank Holiday - but Stanley Kubrick's 1960 epic is one of the finest examples of it's genre and this special edition release certainly does it justice.