Gladiator: Extended Special Edition

Written by Martin Drury // 12/09/2005 // Comments

Martin Drury reviews the 3 Disk Special Edition Directors Cut of Gladiator featuring extra scenes added back into the film and a wealth of extra features.

At my signal, unleash hell. At my signal, pretend this movie is Ben Hur and spend hours making out that Gladiator is an epic to be worshipped within the covens of cinema. About the re-release of Gladiator on DVD, there is a furore of whirlwind proportions. It’s announced like a seldom-seen relative who spends much of his time in foreign lands. The coming of Gladiator once again to DVD is more than an occurrence. It is an event. Gladiator is an epic film and it is time for the rest of us to pay attention. Russell Crowe [pre “telephone Tarzan” period] is Maximus, a Roman who is having a bit of a bad week. His family have been murdered. Maximus decides to allow himself to be captured and to throw himself into the Gladiator ring as a slave. There is discord between fans of the original DVD release of this film and with good reason. Many of the devoted already own a copy of the film on DVD; the DVD release including more than enough extras and special features to keep the fan hooked and satisfied. So, why the re-release?

There’s a secret smouldering in the woodshed and the realisation of the truth will leave you far removed from a blissful state of divine comedy. They call it the most intense Gladiator experience ever and the director of the film Ridley Scott has personally overseen this re-release content. True, one could easily drown in the murky depths of the bonus material included on the three discs. Disc One features commentaries by both the director and the lead star of the film Mr Crowe. Fortunately, the commentaries are not mere opportunities for Mr Crowe to apologise to yet another hotel clerk who happens to irritate him. Here, BAFTA can’t stop Mr Crowe talking. They managed to cut his poem but nobody can stop his discussion of the movie. Fans will delight as they listen to luminaries of the film speak freely and frankly on the development of the movie.

There are trailers, TV-spots [in England, we simply call them adverts] for the film, abandoned sequences, deleted scenes and photo galleries. The remainder of the bonus material splits in two and either forms part of the lengthy “making-off” featurette which discusses the creation of the movie from start to finish, or forms part of the historical discussions and documentaries on the stories and themes behind the film. What was it like in Roman times? How did people dress? What were Roman battles like? History buffs will salivate and Gladiator fans will run and tell all their friends before showering in a delectable feast of extras and special features treats. Yet still, the secret smoulders in the woodshed. Still it burns. Can’t you feel the heat in the air? Can’t you smell the scent of something, a slight of hand in progress? The re-release is not a chance to get back to basics with an old favourite. No, it’s a bet. Hollywood studios are desperate. After the appalling ‘Alexander’ they certainly should be. Big historical epics have fallen flat on their faces in recent months and all the eggs have been put in one basket. The gamble has been made and the pundits have backed Kingdom of Heaven. A film that –coincidently I am sure- comes out on DVD very soon after Gladiator the re-release hits the shelves.

For once, let the PR posse have their fun. Winter’s drawing in and the days are getting shorter and there’s not too much light that means the PR posse can’t play outside in the evenings anymore. They’ve got to find something to and if that means selling you a re-release in the blind, gagging hope that you’ll part with your money for another release on the cards further down the line, then so be it. Despite the dressing-up attire, the soundtrack and the furore, this film is not an epic. It’s not an event either. It’s just a film. It’ll feature in the “Top 100…” lists that Channel 4 use to kill time but that’s pretty much it. Unless you love it with a passion. In which case- with this re-release- you’re in for a treat. Wallow in your passion. At my signal, unleash your wallets.

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