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Admirable film.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

"Gladiator" is a movie about boxing that came after the "Rocky" franchise seemingly ran its course. Making less that $10 million at the box office upon its release in 1992, it was not a hit, and is now grossly overshadowed by a certain Russell Crowe feature of the same name which you may have seen.Regardless, despite occasionally wandering into hackneyed sports movie territory and having the same name of an Academy Award winner for Best Picture, "Gladiator" is still worth checking out. Every boxing scene is exciting and very well shot, the acting is good from everyone involved, and the final fight is actually so unpredictable, yet plausible, that it makes one of the most memorable climaxes in sports movie history.In this movie, Tommy Riley (James Marshall, best known as playing Laura Palmer's rebel motorcycling ex-boyfriend James Hurley on TV's "Twin Peaks") finds himself attending a public high school on Chicago's rough South Side. The only thing that's clear about his background is that his father is struggling to get back on his feet after battling crippling gambling debts.With Tommy's family owing $1250 to pestering loan sharks, Tommy finds his way into an underground amateur boxing league through bookie Pappy Jack (classic modern tough guy Robert Loggia). Jack works for the equally corrupt boxing promoter Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy).Yet despite the fact that the league is technically illegal, as it is made up primarily of high school students (albeit most of the actors playing them were actually around 25), the fights draw huge crowds and lots of money. Tommy also finds an honest-to-goodness trainer in Noah (Ossie Davis). Pappy Jack definitely knows Noah, but doesn't seem to catch on that Noah's not one of the corrupt ones, or maybe that's precisely why Noah's working under him.Tommy also manages to find two friends in this boxing world who also attend the same high school: Cuban-American Romano (Jon Seda), and African-American Abraham Lincoln Haines (Cuba Gooding, Jr.). And yes, there's a girl involved (the very pretty Cara Buono) who tries to dissuade Tommy from fighting. Her name in this movie is Dawn, but I couldn't help but think of another name (ADDRIENNE!).Gooding would go on to win an Oscar (for "Jerry Maguire" (1996)) not too long after this movie came out, so he is billed first on every video and DVD cover released after 1997. However, Marshall is really the star of this film, and does a better acting job than he did even in "Twin Peaks". Plus, you know he learned his boxing.I got a little nervous when you see him going into a school full mostly of black and Hispanic students not because I feared for his safety, but because of that tired cliché of the white guy surviving a multiracial climate. Fortunately, this movie didn't make the school seem like a literal jungle, and the offensive black stereotypes were thankfully minimized. In fact, the black bullies with whom Tommy has to deal, the aptly named Spits (T.E. Russell) and Shortcut (Lance Slaughter), made surprisingly complex characters.I even liked the scene when Marshall aids Gooding's Haines after his being cornered in a fight with the two and their gang, the "Stormtroopers". He laments about being "rescued by the Great White Hope", and it's funny.So while this film is not perfect, it makes a great boxing movie. It's fight scenes are worth watching, but they actually insert some boxing technique into the film, and incorporate it into the plot. The montages are there too, but what they lack in originality, the final few fights, particularly the very last one, make up for it in uniqueness and excitement. If you are a boxer, this film may even make a great motivational tape, and let you know what the hardest part of the body actually is. The answer will surprise you as much as the last fight will.

Prepare to be lifted up mind, body and soul.....Outstanding script, casting, acting, beautiful dialogues, musical score by Brad Fiedel (The Terminator,and T2), brilliant boxing cinematography by Tak Fujimoto (Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia).This magnificent film has not been given its due respect. Those of you that haven't watched it, do so now. It will change your perspective of life forever. The meaning of the film title Gladiator means strong in body and mind ans it portrays its central character and hero Tommy Riley.Always fight for truth and justice, and to stick to your true friends is the theme of this film. Tommy Riley (James Marshall) and his father have just moved in an attempt to start a new life. Tommy's father has accumulated many gambling debts, but has found a new job that requires him to travel extensively, leaving his son alone at home. Tommy also has a hard time fitting in at school, having crossed some gang members led by "short cut". A loan shark, named Sharkey, sends two collectors to Tommy Riley's house where he is threatened unless his father pays off a 1250 dollar debt. He takes a job at a local diner but is jumped by the gang members outside the restaurant. Seeing how well Tommy is able to fight, a local boxing promoter by the name of Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia) offers Tommy a chance to fight in an illegal underground boxing operation. Tommy then agrees to fight one match, in exchange for 1250 dollars in order to pay off the debt. This decision to fight will change his life forever...Outstanding acting by James Marshall (as Tommy Riley), Cuba Gooding Jr. (as Abraham "Lincoln" Haines), veteran actors Brian Dennehy (as Jimmy Horn) and Robbert Loggia (as Pappy Jack) not to mention the incredible performance by Jon Seda (as Romano) and Ossie Davis (as Noah).P.S. Mr Sylvester Stallone, please see this film. The boxing matches exceed even those seen in your Rocky films.

i'm not sure why this movie has such a low rating(5.6/10),but it doesn't deserve it.by the way,this is not the Ridley Scott directed epic starring Russel Crowe.it's something entirely different.this movie is vastly entertaining.it's more than just a boxing movie.it's about heart and determination and beating the odds.and the power of friendship.usually theses kinds of movies are schmaltzy and sappy,with that rah ,rah,rah attitude.you know,we can all succeed and everything is hunky dory.but somehow,this movie avoids that clichéd feel and succeeds.maybe because there's also some realism within it.there is a heartbreaking scene in the movie which brings some sobriety to the picture.the fight scenes are well done and quite brutal at times.the movie also has a good soundtrack,with some great songs,which really elevate the emotional aspect of the movie,but it's not overdone.overall,i liked it a lot.for me "Gladiator" is a terrific film.I give it a 10/10

First of all, this rating is ridiculous. I remember watching Gladiator when it first came out on video and now a few times on television. No it won't win any Oscars and it's not a dramatic masterpiece but it's never boring and moves along nicely. The fight scenes are entertaining, the chemistry between Marshall and Cuba is there, and the majority of the characters are developed. The only thing that fails is the love story, but I guess every film with teens has to have one. As far as people complaining about Marshall's wooden performance, I personally liked it. Not everyone is a charismatic, everyone is drawn to me type of person. He played it low-key, brooding, quiet, somewhat anti-social and it worked. If a film like this was made today, it would be a dumbed-down PG-13 version critics would probably love because it tells the story of a kid overcoming the obstacles. Rent it if you're an action fan, you won't be disappointed.