Gladiators (2pc)

Starring:Various
Studio: Brentwood Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

don't buy it
One of the Best Bibically-Based Films
A film that surmounted the acidic test of time!
An exciting epic sequel, fashioned according to the manner of Hollywood in the '50s
Robe Sequel drawn from "The Big Fisherman" Lloyd C. Douglas Novel

Demetrius and the Gladiators
Starring: Victor Mature , Susan Hayward , Michael Rennie , Debra Paget , and Anne Bancroft
Director: Delmer Daves
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The Robe
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ASIN: B000056AXZ
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Product Description

This enormously successful sequel to "The Robe" continues the story of Demetrius (Victor Mature), the Greek slave who, after the death of his master, is sentenced to train as a gladiator in the Roman arena. There, his newfound Christian faith is put to the test when he has to contend not only with the swordsmen and wild beasts of the arena, but also the evil and sensuous Messalina (Susan Hayward) and the mad emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson). Crammed with astonishing action and fight sequences, this heroic epic is not to be missed.

System Requirements:
Starring: Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, and Debra Paget.
Running Time: 102 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2000 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Amid a cast of all-stars in 1953's The Robe, Victor Mature made the strongest impression as the Greek slave, Demetrius. It was only natural, then, that Mature should star in this 1954 sequel, in which the newly liberated Demetrius forges an alliance with his Christian brethren to hide the sacred robe of Christ, coveted for its "magic" by the vile emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson, also reprising his role in The Robe). Captured and manipulated into believing his beloved Lucia (Debra Paget) has been killed, Demetrius rejects his pacifist faith, plots vengeance while becoming a rising star in the bloody arena, and falls prey to the scheming senator's wife Messalina (Susan Hayward), who craves his... affection. It all leads to a crisis of faith that will determine Demetrius's fate as a noble Christian or downfallen hedonist.

Inheriting The Robe's CinemaScope production values, Demetrius and the Gladiators has everything you'd want in a Biblical epic, riding the wave that would crest two years later with Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments. It's campy, of course--Robinson is outrageously over-the-top; Mature is too contemporary (preceding the absurdity of Richard Gere's King David by 30 years); and Hayward seems closer to Rodeo Drive than ancient Rome. Still, there are abundant pleasures here, from the lavish arena battles (a bit cheesy, but still impressive) to a straightforward morality tale that doesn't compromise its themes of religious loyalty. You don't watch movies like this for historical accuracy, but for the combination of thrills, passion, and glory that were Hollywood trademarks of 1950s epics, long before the more secular ambition of Gladiator. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

don't buy it.......2007-05-13

This is a terrible movie - it would be bad enough if we hadn't read the book, The Robe, but because we did, the book portrays Demetrius as a thoroughy moral, loyal and admirable person, and the movie shows him as a pleasure-loving, vacant-eyed, immoral fighting machine. Where the movie makers came up with this spin is beyand me, but someone should have stopped them. Actually, after reading the book and 'knowing' Demetrius in that manner, I found the movie nauseating - like a crude and mean characture of a good friend.
Don't buy it.

One of the Best Bibically-Based Films.......2007-04-10

This is one of the very best Bibically-based films ever, and it was also one of the best of the early "sequels." Taking up the story precisely where The Robe left off, it is an even more exciting continuing tale of the Greek slave, Demetrius, and his quest to protect the robe worn by Jesus at His crucifixion. The gladitorial combat scene, where Demetrius avenges the assumed death of his sweetheart, and subsequently renounces his faith, is one of the most memorable ever, and actually rivals that of Russell Crowe in "Gladiator." A must for the Easter season, or for any time one needs a reaffirmation of faith or inspiration.

A film that surmounted the acidic test of time!.......2007-04-10

Demetrius and the gladiators is 'possibly one of the finest and exciting about the biblical epic. The movie in question depicts the last days of Caligula around the untiring search of the Holy cloak; the capture of Demetrius and his forced incursion into the gladiator' s epic, his sudden loss of faith when he fervently is seduced by Mesalina and finally the death and rise of Claudius.

There are brilliant and realistic sequences of brave fights on the Imperial sand but the film abruptly ends; and one leaves the hall firmly believing if it was question related with the budget.

Fortunately the precious Susan Hayward gives a tour de force acting who makes us to forget on one hand the awful performance of Caligula (absolutely flat and pasteboard) the straight stone faced of Victor Mature whose inexpressiveness was pitifully its main enemy to achieve a major status in Hollywood.

But there are justified moments of emotion all the way through, for kids and adults.

An exciting epic sequel, fashioned according to the manner of Hollywood in the '50s.......2007-03-12

Demetrius and the Gladiators is a very good movie, in the classic sense of that term.

Many people of his time adored Victor Mature, while critics sometimes claimed he was melodramatic, but Mature was impressively right for the majority of films in which he was cast. The studio system was smart that way.

In this case, Mature brings the drama to life almost single-handedly, and certainly carries off this cast-of-thousands sequel to THE ROBE beautifully. Mature was well suited to the 50s sword-and-sandal trend, and I'd say this film, along with DeMille's equally good SAMSON AND DELILAH, are among his best performances of the period.

This film is a respectable and interesting sequel to THE ROBE, and unequivocally worth seeing. What's more, I can't agree that Jay Robinson is "over the top" -- he's just as fascinating a villain as he was in THE ROBE, and we're lucky to have more of him in the role in this movie. Considering that Robinson became, by all accounts, mentally obsessed with his character of the Roman emperor in these two films for the rest of his life, I'd say this movie is even more fascinating in that regard. Robinson is one of those actors who proves the old saying that it only takes one stand-out performance to secure an actor's place in history forever. Robinson's performance is easily the best Roman emperor ever committed to celluloid up until now, I CLAUDIUS notwithstanding.

In short, don't sell this movie short, or you'll be the worse for it. The movie's tone is certainly different from THE ROBE, but it is a genuinely satisfying Hollywood entertainment of a fairly high order. The budget is generous, the cast is excellent, and the movie looks very good in all the most important aspects as a result. Feel free to bring popcorn, and I'd recommend a Kleenex as well.

Robe Sequel drawn from "The Big Fisherman" Lloyd C. Douglas Novel.......2007-02-15

In an age when Hollywood was not fond of making sequels (1954), we have here a continuance of the story of the Robe of Christ and the Christians who were dedicated to it's preservation after Tribune Gallio (Richard Burton) is martyred at the end of 1953's "The Robe", an extremely popular Christian epic. The plot follows Demetrius (Victor Mature) as he experiences what Christians call "backsliding", due to a perception that his love is dead at the hands of some drunken gladiators. What follows is a tremendous example of revenge and eventual redemption of a man overwhelmed with grief and filled with hate. The Gladiator scenes are wonderfully done. The colors and production in Cinemascope stand out and some of the continuing performances such as Jay Robinson are worthy of an Academy Award nomination, as Robinson gives his heart to the role of the manic Caligula, believing himself to be a God and eventually being killed at the hands of his own guards. The revenge scene against the Gladiators is Great! Demetrius grabs a sword and kills them one by one in the arena as his opponents are forced to face him under the whip of Ernest Borgnine and the hot-smoking poker of Demetrius's friend. "These aren't the rules" says a gladiator full of fear at Demetrius's blood lust for their deaths. "We're changing the rules!!! replies Borgnine as he chases the rest of them out to die. WOW! One of the better Gladiator movies since Spartacus and although Crowe's Gladiator is excellent and funny in spots, this movie from the 50's is a classic rendering with bad guys you love to hate! Well recommended, but make sure you see "The Robe" first to know what is going on.

Average customer rating:

Evel is #1
Flawed But Engaging
Grab this great doco NOW!
king of the stuntmen
This Evel video is by far the greatest compliment to the greatest dare devil on the planet earth!!! James Morris, Palm Beach, FL

Evel Knievel - Last of the Gladiators
Starring: Robbie Knievel , Evel Knievel , and George Hamilton
Director: Martin Jay Sadoff
Manufacturer: White Star
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000BB1MG4
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Description

The Last Of the Gladiators, starring Evel Knievel, is the incredible story of the rise and fall of the world's greatest daredevil. From Butte, Montana to international wealth and fame, this film reveals the true saga of a 20th Century Gladiator who repeatedly defied death to become an American hero. Knievel's spectacular motorcycle jumps are some of the most requested film footage of all-time. For the first time ever, all the jumps, all the crashes, plus an original music score are combined in an inspiring look at an impossible dream. The Last Of the Gladiators is a dynamic and memorable film that all will enjoy -an incredible visual experience. Original music score by Dennis Herring and David Faragher.

Customer Reviews:

Evel is #1.......2007-03-12

I've already watched this DVD several times. If you're nostalgic for the 70's and an Evel Knievel fan like I was growing up, buy this. When Evel was jumping trucks in the early 70's, I was setting up ramps and jumping my bicycle over the neighbors bicycles! trying to copy Evel. Great DVD!

Flawed But Engaging.......2006-12-16

"Evel Knievel: Last Of The Gladiators" provides a comprehensive overview of Evel Knievel's career with extensive footage of many of his most famous jumps. The movie is narrated by Knievel himself and, presumably, made with his full approval. Much of the movie focuses on the angle that although he was something of a hoodlum as a youth, the police and everyone else in his hometown liked him. Also, annoyingly, clips from the George Hamilton movie "Evel Knievel" are intercut with interviews involving people who knew him as a youth and clips of Knievel himself, reminiscing. The editing is poorly executed and amateurish. At the 29 minute mark, the movie picks up speed as we finally see the first real jump, the infamous Caesar's Palace. This jump and horrible landing are just as gut wrenching as I remember. Unfortunately, the film of this has not held up well and is begging for some digital remastering. It's extremely washed out looking and it doesn't help that the filmmakers add some really bad sound effects. Subsequent jump footage looks much better but all of them suffer from the filmmakers added sound effects. Hearing Knievel's analysis of each jump, I was amazed at just how little concern for safety he had. A lot of times he went for the jump even though he knew there was a problem with the bike or with the path he would have to take once he completed the jump. Despite the film's efforts to whitewash some of his character issues, it's easy to read between the lines. It was a lot of fun to see these jumps again, especially Snake River Canyon. Brought back a lot of childhood memories. Recommended for anyone curious about Evel Knievel but you must have patience, this movie falls somewhere between a documentary and a vanity project. It's extremely self-indulgent in parts and about 40 minutes too long.

Grab this great doco NOW!.......2006-03-31

This is by far the best collection of Evel Knievel on film, what they don't tell you above is that Evel, himself, narrates his own life story from the ups and the downs he experienced in his unique life, I was so hocked listening to him I didn't notice the musical score. This has all the footage of the "Spectacular Jumps" DVD and more. Its over 100 minutes long too.

king of the stuntmen.......2006-03-24

This is a great DVD to introduce the greatest motorcycle daredevil to a whole new generation of young adults, who have just heard of Evel, but never seen him in action. I had the pleasure of growing up watching him defy death on ABC TV in the 70's. He is in my opinion the grandfather of "extreme sports"
and deserves all the respect for starting this type of sport.

This Evel video is by far the greatest compliment to the greatest dare devil on the planet earth!!! James Morris, Palm Beach, FL.......2006-01-11

In brief, you can't go wrong if you are an Evel fan. This documentary of the greatest dare devil to ever step foot on a motorcycle depicts evel's ups and downs. It only takes a few minutes and you will be glued to the television for the remainder of the video. To sum it up, this documentary is like potato chips, you can just watch it once. James Morris, Palm Beach, Florida

Average customer rating:

The Gladiators
Starring: Arthur Pentelow , Frederick Danner , Hans Bendrik , Daniel Harle , and Hans Berger (II)
Director: Peter Watkins
Manufacturer: New Yorker Films Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Gladiators - Bloodsport of the Colosseum

Average customer rating:

Great Video For Learning about Gladiators
To Endure Being Burned, Bound, Beaten And Slain By The Sword
Very Irritating Flickering Scenes
The grim reality behind the Hollywood spectacle
Just the facts , please

Gladiators - Bloodsport of the Colosseum
Starring: David Hemmings
Manufacturer: Questar
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000051WAH
Release Date: 2001-02-09

Amazon.com

A historically accurate look at the gladiators of ancient Rome is presented in this documentary filmed mostly in Rome and at the famed ruins of Pompei. The roots of gladiatorial combat is traced to the harshness of Roman culture, and how fighting between slaves went from casual attractions in town squares to enormous spectacles in specially built arenas throughout the Roman empire is explained by historians. Much of what we know about gladiators emerged from clues found when the buried Roman city of Pompei was excavated and carefully examined, and drawings of gladiators found on walls in the ancient city are shown. The Roman gladiators became wildly popular cult figures, managed by businessmen and chased by what today we'd call groupies. The "sport" of combat became increasingly violent, with each successive emperor raising the stakes until there were literally hundreds of people in bloody spectacles staged for the entertainment of a screaming crowd. Using films of scholars who faithfully reenact the roles of gladiators, as well as stock footage from Hollywood productions, this documentary provides a fairly comprehensive introduction to how gladiators lived, fought, and died. --Robert J. McNamara

Description

The Roman Colosseum was the setting for more terror, agony and horror than has ever been witnessed anywhere. Emperor Trajan gave one set of games that lasted 122 days, during which 11,000 people and 10,000 wild beasts were killed. Often the fresh blood of gladiators was used as a cure for epilepsy. It was also considered a good luck charm for brides-to-be to dip their combs in gladiator's blood. Who were the gladiators? Where did they come from? How did they live? This fascinating video follows gladiators through their training, choice of costumes, weapons and style of combat to their rise to stardom and their inevitable violent death. So popular did some gladiators become that many Roman women were prepared to give anything to meet and be with the idol they worshiped. A compelling video insight into the violent, deadly world of the gladiators. Etxra Features: Colosseum, House of Terror; Flamma, Gladiator Superstar; Gladiators of Hollywood;Training Killers; Fighting Men of the Arena; Fearful Facts.

Customer Reviews:

Great Video For Learning about Gladiators.......2006-11-22

As a high school teacher, I found that this video passes the basic test of an 'educational' video--it informs and entertains. My freshmen enjoyed it and stayed focused. The information is accurate and presented in an interesting and coherent manner. Good use is made of Hollywood archival footage as well as live shots from a school in northern Italy devoted to recreating the lives of gladiators down to the smallest detail. Backed by concise background information on the Roman Republic and Empire. It would also be of interest to anyone with an interest in the Roman Empire, and good background for such Hollywood films as Spartacus and Gladiator. Recommended. 4 and a half stars.

To Endure Being Burned, Bound, Beaten And Slain By The Sword.......2005-11-08

That was the notorious oath of the gladiator. Documentaries such as this offering always provide such a mind-opening window into a subject of acquired taste, they're severely valuable. As a matter of fact, programs like this, and also its like-minded brethren, continually air on the Discovery network of monopolized channels up to this late day, eliminating any reason to still buy this dvd and/or vhs.

Firstly, the unqualified and skewed perspective of the purported Amazon.com reviewer's editorial is plainly incorrect, and needs to be righted. The original roots of Gladiatorism actually stem from Etruscan origins, directly contrary to Amazon.com's self-righteous reviewer's, disrespectable and disappointing claim of it coming from "casual attractions in town squares". The Etruscans, whose name is derived from the ancient geographical region of Etruria, produced the same-named people who would be the forefathers, and then stewards of all things Roman, seeing as how at the start of their civilization, Romans stole excessive aspects of Etrurian life, after deposing of them by the catalyst for their revolution, which was the murder of Lucretia. But, with my additional, free-of-charge information, I've digressed. At the funeral of some important, societal figure in Etruscan life, the Etruscans would perversely stage sadistic "gladiatorial" games--consisting of only 2 participants at the gladiatorial concept's infancy--in their bloodthirsty distortion of values, which was common in the ancient world. This was done to allegedly "celebrate" the accomplishments of the deceased; i.e. that meant that the more blood that was shed at these games for that deceased person, the more honor was being done to his life.

There's a particularly telling part in this program, one that specifically uses the archaeological evidence of skeletons found in definitively curious positions to establish just one of the many rattling and arcane innuendos surrounding the gladiator. That being, that there apparently was the body of a harshly wealthy noblewoman found--thanks to the preservative pumice of Vesuvius--being shielded under the arm of a preserved gladiator, inside the gladiators' quarters, surrounded by as much as up to 18 gladiators, inside of the building in Pompeii that would serve as their training grounds/housing. Speculation is the one avenue left for one to determine her exact purpose in that suspiciously scandalous association. Reason being, for said scandal, is that in the Roman world, gladiators had a specially stigmatizing libel hung on to them, called infamy. This dictated that in society, they were spat on and outcast as the lowest of the lowest scourges, represented in how they didn't even have citizen status, wherein they couldn't even vote, one of their many disenfranchisements. However, this notoriety had excessive and really unequal perks, as an unfair side effect of how they were labeled as "forbidden". In layman's terms, they were homicidally embellished to "sex god" status, and their sweat was in fact errantly considered as an aphrodisiacal substance. This was the contention of the woman's presence, that the program makes, for her being exclusively interred in the quarters of 18 robust men.

Another disturbing facet of information is the decidedly bloodlusting rage that all Romans, from all walks of Roman life (which, realistically, included only 2 definite divisions: 5% rich, the crushing rest of the populus 95% ghoulishly impoverished) barbarically lusted for. This was the brutal relentlessness of the frequency with which that the fated Death Matches were put on, and also the genocidally beastly number of the casualties. Since in Ancient Rome every other day was a state-oppressed "holiday", this half of the time in the year was unscrupulously misused to stage the most sensationalistic, propaganda-based games, whose exclusive, planned function was to, cunningly, dupe the masses of Rome into feeling "alleviated" of their everyday worries. Worries that stemmed from living in a conclusively brutal ancient world where people's life expectancy was seriously low, and, adding insult to injury, where the majority were living in the poorest of squalor. This was the callous and unrighteous irony of what the morally twisted early civilizations misappropriated to feel better about themselves: to simply punish worse atrocities on others.

These are only some of the exorbitant, educational enlightenments that this hour-long window into this subject offers. These programs that are produced, from the Discovery monopoly of like channels all taken over by one managing group, are so vibrant and lush that they bring alive the theme being documented.

Very Irritating Flickering Scenes.......2002-05-29

This is the WORST DVD I ever bought technically! The movie excerpts are from clippings from old films and the clarity is beyond recognition. I find the excerpts very irritating. They were a lot of flickering (as if you are watching a movie or television show using an old television set or your set back to the 1950's when the frame of the TV screen keeps on flickering continuously until the screen stabilizes). The running time is actually more or less an hour and not 90 minutes as advertised. The special features are not really special anymore because they were just repeats of the main feature. You will realize that you will watching the same scenes a couple of times. Some scenes are shown more than five times just to stretch the time. Do not waste your money with this DVD. I wasted mine! This is not a DVD quality. The quality of the silent movies are much better!

The grim reality behind the Hollywood spectacle.......2001-05-03

I thought this video was an excellent documentary, which should be viewed alongside the recent Academy Award winning movie. This documentary helps one really understand the times portrayed in the movie. I thorougly recommend this video.

Just the facts , please.......2001-04-30

While I found this DVD to be very well produce as far as special effects are concerned, I aslo found several of the statements made by the narrator to be suspect at best. For instance the narrator states that corporations owned most of the chariots used in the Circus Maximus to race. I have read quite a lot about the Roman Empire and nowhere have I ever read any information which stated the existence of any corporations in ancient Rome. I also found the weapons which the actors used in the reenactments to be very cheesy indeed. The swords looked like they were cut out sheet metal to look like swords. They had no edge on the blades at all. The narrator (David Hemmings) was also very hard to understand at times due to the raspy quality of his voice. I think the choice of narrator was a mistake. On the postive side the documentary made good use of the facts about gladiators which has been uncovered by the archaelogical finds at Pompei and had several experts providing information through out the DVD.

Average customer rating:

new gladiators
New Gladiators
Must have

New Gladiators
Starring: Darnell Garcia , Ron Marchini , Benny Urquidez , Emil Farkas , and Roy Kurban
Director: Bob Hammer
Manufacturer: Rising Sun Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00007JO6Y
Release Date: 2002-08-15

Description

A feature film financed by Elvis Presley found restored and released 30 years later. Music Score by David Crosby and Graham Nash. A film in the tradition of surfings Endless Summer a group of the top karate fighters from the USA travel the country and globe in search of the perfrect tournament and opponents. Feature man fighting stars of the Golden Era of Karate in America the mid 1970's. Great historical collector's piece,

This story is so good, it sounds like a Hollywood story, which it is. For years there has been a rumor that Elvis Presley financed a feature length documentary on sport karate in the 1970s entitled, "The New Gladiators."

American martial arts history books mentioned the film, but no one ever said they actually saw it. References indicated that it was an unfinished project that died with Elvis in 1977. Now, 25 years after the passing of Elvis Presley, the original 16mm film stock has been discovered and restored.

The "The New Gladiators" is a 93-minute documentary that chronicles the exploits of the U.S. Karate Team of Ron Marchini, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Darnell Garcia, Tom Kelly, and John Natividad. Additional fighters showcased in the film include Steve Saunders, Roy Kurban, Ed Parker, Ticky Donavan, Geert Lemmens and other American and European stars of the day.

This remarkable film is fully narrated and even has an original soundtrack by David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, and Nash fame!

Customer Reviews:

new gladiators.......2007-01-06

The New Gladiators is a excellent look at the marital arts scene from back in the 70"s. As a long standing martial artist i throughly enjoyed it.But i did feel it was wrong to not have footage of Elvis Presley praticeing Kempo Karate, especialy since this documentary originated as his own project.......Skip.A

New Gladiators.......2006-01-31

This DVD is a collectors item & a must-have for those interested in the formative years in American karate. But the DVD froze in the same spot each time I tried to watch it (even after a wipe-down w/ a soft cloth). I only saw half.

How do I get an exchange so I can write a complete review?

Must have.......2005-10-17

Classic footage of Benny Urquidez, Eric Lee, Fumio Demura, all the greatest martial artist all on one DVD.

Average customer rating:

The Little Movie That Could
Good for what it is
I would rather die free than be a dancing whore!
You didn't REALLY expect masterpiece theater, did you?
"Dey dun't do zem gud in Lithuania, eh Heine?"

Amazons and Gladiators
Starring: Patrick Bergin , Jennifer Rubin , Richard Norton , Nichole Hiltz , and Wendi Winburn
Director: Zachary Weintraub
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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Customer Reviews:

The Little Movie That Could.......2006-12-21

I found Amazons and Gladiators a very pleasant surprise. From its packaging I expected a sexploitation flick, in the manner of "women in prison" films but with swords and Romans instead of inmates and wardens. Understand, by the way, I'm not putting down WIP movies, there's a place for such guilty pleasures. But in Amazons and Gladiators, what I got was ever so much more.

Okay, this is obviously a low-budget film. Much of it takes place in the forest simply because, I'm sure, it cost no money to build the "set". None of the actors in A&G is ever going to win an Academy Award. Having said all that, however, Amazons and Gladiators is also obviously the product of talented, skilled people who've taken what they had to work with and crafted a pretty darn good little movie. The writing, direction, camera work, even the acting in this film are all surprisingly good.

The main character is Serena, who as a child has her mother murdered by the brutal Roman governor Marcus Crassius. Kidnapped into slavery as a dancer, ten years pass, her virginity is sold to a Roman Senator. Serena fights back against her rape, killing the Senator, then escapes along with devoted friend-since-childhood and fellow slave Briana and the captured Amazon leader Ione. Taken into the Amazons, trained as a warrior, in time Serena returns to kill Crassius. Captured again, she winds up a gladiator, fighting for the amusement of the people and the governor before finally getting her chance to face Crassius himself.

Not a blindingly original plot, but anything can be done well or poorly. This story stands or falls on our caring for the characters on-screen. Those characters may be a bit stock - the warrior traumatized as a child returning to wreak vengeance on her tormentor, the stern but loving teacher, the steadfast best friend, the evil and sexually degenerate bad guy/governor - but the characters themselves are so well-drawn, so believable, they rise above the stereotypes. We can, especially, become emotionally invested in Serena and her fate, root for her success, because she comes across as an admirable, decent, real person.

The cinematography in Amazons and Gladiators is quite nice. What sets exist might be a bit bare bones, but they're well-designed, well put-together, and get the job done. If the arena fight scenes don't exhibit Russell Crowe Gladiator level choreography, still they also get the job done. Yes, there's a certain amount of female nudity that is in some cases gratuitous. But hey, I **like** female nudity.

This is one of those films that proves "low-budget" doesn't have to mean "bad". Sometimes the lack of a serious budget forces moviemakers to be really inventive in compensation. Depending on the talent, skill level and commitment of the creators involved, you either rise to such a challenge or fall. Everyone involved with making Amazons and Gladiators rose.

It's hard not to like a movie that does so much with so little.

Good for what it is.......2006-10-08

I liked it.. it was a 'turn of your brain and enjoy' kinda movie. It wasn't totally gratutious and save for the guy she ended up with.. it was quite cool.

But just for the record... bathing was extensive in the 'Roman Empire' It was only after Rome fell that bathing fell into disrepute.

I would rather die free than be a dancing whore!.......2004-12-22

So says a captured Amazon who is brought before the Senator. She escapes with the help of kidnapped maiden Serena who stabs the Senator in the back with a candlestick. I'm not sure where the blade came from after the candle fell out, but you go along with it.

Serena was just a young child when her village was attacked by a bloodthirsty Roman General turned Governor. Her father was killed, her sister was kidnapped, and her mother's death rested on her shoulders. Her mother was hung from a tree and Serena was underneath her for support. With her bare feet she had to stand under her mother while hot coals were lit on the ground. Of course her mother died and she was taken away as a slave.

After her escape she rides and trains with the Amazons. Only then does she discover that her grandmother was a great Amazon warrior and she is prophesized to be even greater.

Well there is a lot of sexy costumes, but little sex. Oh there's a whole lot of female nudity for those of us who enjoy sex with our violoence. My favorite chick had no lines, but was only instructed to pour the bath water slowly. Check out the headlights on that little honey WOW!

Anyway there's a whole lot of fighting in this movie, in the woodds and in the gladiator arena. In the end Serena gets her revenge by fighting the governor himself in the arena. After her victory she makes her speech; "And if I hear that anymore women are abused in this town, I will come back and kill you all!"

This is not a great movie, but it's good enough to pop in the old DVD player every now and then.

You didn't REALLY expect masterpiece theater, did you?.......2004-06-03

Anything named "Amazons and Gladiators" cannot be taken as anything more than "B" movie caliber, and this certainly doesn't disappoint. Like all "B" movies about Amazons, it's about a bunch of naked women running around being sex objects while, somewhat hypocrtically, trying to talk and act convincingly about female empowerment in being MORE than sex objects. Characteristically, this empowerment is derived from the pointy end of a sword (phallic references obvious here, huh?).

Anyone who buys or rents this film expecting something more will be disappointed, but probably hasn't been off the back of the turnip wagon long in that case, anyway. Anyone who says they wish to watch it for the quality of the acting or its historical value is probably trying to convince their wife/girlfriend to see it with them so both can enjoy some lesbian action on screen. They will be disappointed, as there is none of that in this film, despite the lead characters' professed confusion as to what exactly a man IS good for....

The story is typical. Serena, a young girl from Pane (I assume a reference to Pannonia, or present day Hungary) is forced by General Marcus Crassius to participate in her mother's execution (taken straight from an old Charles Bronson western, only without the harmonica). She then becomes a dancing slave girl, who quite chastely refuses the (paid) advances of a Roman senator, slaying him the process and running off with the Amazon warrior who happened to be captive in the same room. She joins the Amazons, and sets out with her trusty sidekick to avenge herself on the evil general that killed her mother. She gets the general, then becomes the Amazon queen and defends women's rights across Roman and barbarian lands. We've seen it all before. What's the harm in watching some of it again?

Yes, the costumes are cheesy. Yes, the dialogue is sometimes terrible (there are some Lithuanian actors whose only English is limited to the lines they learned for the film, notably "Yes, my lord"). No, it's not a movie for Feminists. But it's a good mental vacation, regardless. Enjoy it for what it intended to be in the first place, a "B" movie about naked women pretending to be empowered in a time when women were property.

"Dey dun't do zem gud in Lithuania, eh Heine?".......2004-05-06

It's the toothpaste's fault, really! On a short visit to the local 'Drugs-B-Us' store to replenish the toothpaste supply, I got lost again. This happens every time I enter a retail store of any kind. The vast & myriad possibilities of unbridled, rampant consumerism stun my sensibilities into quivering jelly in the same manner I would imagine a TASER does, and within a few seconds I found myself wandering down the DVD movie rack.

Spotting 'AMAZONS & GLADIATORS', and noting the discounted $5.00 price, I immediately knew that it would be as cheap a way of wasting 90 minutes as any one could spend, glued to the Hungry Eye. I am happy to report, my initial surmise was spot on.

This is indeed a DVD penny-dreadful. My first impression was how dreadfully clean all the costumes were. Every roman plebe's garments looked exactly as if they had just been freshly machine-made in Bengladesh from cheap polyester. Second impression was how dreadfully clean and tidy all the characters were--fresh scrubbed, rosy cheeked, perfect orthodonture, nicely styled hair, etc. The S&M styled leather gear was right out of 'Xena: Warrior Princess', with squeeky-clean (and rose-scented, doubtless) cleavage poised as artfully perfect as in a grade 'B' T&A flick, and it was curious how every character was good-looking and attractive, with such striking features (even the Amazon village hags were charming). The fact that baths and regular bathing were virtually unknown in the 1st Century seems to have been conveniently overlooked by the producer of this film, as is the fact that at that distant date, personal bodily 'fragrance' was the most effective prophylactic yet known to (Roman) science of the day. And of course all the men were clean shaven (undoubtedly attributable to the advanced state of exotic metallurgical knowledge in the post-Bronze Age world).

The acting for the most part was indeed mediocre, although it did get a bit better as the flick continued, and the shots of provincial Roman buildings had the painful look of a cheap back-lot movie sets rejected by the Ben-Hur film production of the 60s. The only acting of any substance I felt was demonstrated by this movie's version of the Python's 'Biggus Dickkus' (our banished Roman General), who was sometimes convincing in his portrayal as the sadistic provincial governor.

Another thing that never fails to impress me is how all those emaciated female Amazon ectomorphs were all so capable of swinging that heavy Roman hardware without breaking a sweat. In the real world, I would expect to see such outlaw XX types looking a bit more like bulked-up, steroid-enhanced linebackers for the Oakland raiders, than catwalk models.

While I enjoy a pure fantasy as much as any adult does, I sometimes worry about how films of this sort help further distort the awarenesses of those pre-and-immediately-post-adolescents who watch such maudlin stuff and confuse fantasy with street reality. The only real kick-a** females I know generally drive Hardly Goodsons and hang with MC clubs and they don't look like a slimmed-down version of 'Xena', either.

On the plus side of the equation, it was a harmless (for reflective adults, possessed of a full load of brain cells) 90 minutes of fantasy to pass a lazy afternoon. Most interesting to me was the fact that the production was apparently filmed and shot in Lithuania, judging by the film credits and location acknowledgements appearing at the end of the flick.

Customer Reviews:

The Little Movie That Could.......2006-12-21

Good for what it is.......2006-10-08

I would rather die free than be a dancing whore!.......2004-12-22

You didn't REALLY expect masterpiece theater, did you?.......2004-06-03

"Dey dun't do zem gud in Lithuania, eh Heine?".......2004-05-06

Product Description

LIVE IN PARIS (GLADIATORS)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent dvd - this one is for all of the roots fans out there...........2007-04-07

Fantastic dvd; this was filmed in France, and apparently the French know a thing or two about roots reggae. Excellent sound quality, and solid camera work as well. I first saw The Gladiators at the Bob Marley Festival this past February 07 in San Diego; I highly recommend that any true reggae lover buy this immediately!!! You won't be disappointed.

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