The winner is Gladiator.
But the two films should not be compared. And no, they are not the same movie as some people claim, using the most superficial and general plot points for comparison.
Braveheart is told in a naturalistic, human fashion.
Gladiator is told in a mythological fashion, in the vein of the legends of Achilles and Ulysses, with all mighty reach for immortality through noble action, honorable deaths and defense of principles until the very last breath as is the way with Greek mythology.
IT absolutely is not simply a "revenge tale" as people claim. It is about the pursuit of the ideal expression of humanity; This is a battle between degradation (the lower animalistic Rome) and transcendence (the dream of Rome).
I personally prefer the grandness and transcendence of Gladiator, presenting Maximus as a mythic hero. It is inspiring. It's so lean as to be poetic. No one scene is extraneous or wasted. IT moves so well that you can watch it again and again and still feel your spirit surge. And that's what great myths are for. (I have on several occasions watched multiple viewings back to back). I have no desire to do that with Braveheart and I am not transfixed to the battles nor every scene in Braveheart as I am with Gladiator.
I scored this a perfect 10 years ago and I score it a perfect 10 today. It will never grow stale. Or lose its power. When I read ridiculous reviews like on Rotten Tomatoes where one idiot claimed that Gladiator was meaningless... I think these are the types of people who don't deserve to be exposed to mythology.
reply
share