Gladiator (2000)

General Maximus Decimus Meridius leads the Roman army to victory against Germanic barbarians in the year 180, ending a prolonged war and earning the esteem of the elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius is dying and though he has a son, Commodus, the emperor wishes to appoint temporary leadership to Maximus, with a desire to eventually return power to the Senate. Aurelius informs Maximus of his decision and offers him time to consider. Aurelius then informs Commodus, who is heartbroken at the decision and subsequently murders his father in cold blood. Maximus realizes the truth about Commodus's patricide and refuses a promotion to the head of the Praetorian Guards offered by Emperor Commodus. Commodus orders him to be arrested and executed, and soldiers are sent to murder Maximus' wife and son.

Slave traders find and take him to Zucchabar, a rugged province in North Africa. He is purchased by Proximo, the head of a local gladiator school. He rises through the ranks and becomes a popular gladiator. During this time, he meets the Numidian gladiator Juba and Hagen, a barbarian from Germania. The recently crowned Commodus reopens the gladiatorial games in Rome to commemorate the death of his father, and Proximo's company of gladiators makes the trip to Rome. Against all odds Maximus leads his motley crew to decisive victory, much to the amazement and approval of the crowd. When Commodus descends into the arena to meet the newcomers, Maximus reveals his true identity to the stunned emperor, who almost has Maximus executed on the spot. The crowd's roaring disapproval however prompts Commodus's begrudging change of heart, and he retreats away from the Colosseum.

Commodus continues trying to kill Maximus by unbalancing the odds against him, pitting him against Tigris of Gaul, in an arena surrounded by chained tigers whose handlers are told to target Maximus. After an intense battle, Maximus narrowly defeats Tigris and sanctions Commodus's decision on whether he should have Tigris killed or spared. When Commodus votes for Tigris's death, Maximus spares him and glares back at the emperor, much to the approval of the surrounding audience.

Following the fight, Maximus meets with his former servant Cicero, who reveals that the army he led during the Germanic campaign remains loyal to him. Soon after, Maximus forms a plot with Lucilla, Commodus' sister, and the senator Gracchus,to reunite with his army and return to Rome to topple Commodus by force. Commodus, however, suspects his sister of betrayal and threatens her young son, forcing her to reveal the plot. Praetorian guards immediately storm Proximo's gladiator barracks, battling the gladiators while Maximus attempts to escape. Hagen and Proximo are killed in the resulting fight, whilst Juba and the survivors are imprisoned. Maximus makes it to the city walls, but Cicero (who was waiting for him with horses) is murdered by overhead archers in an ambush and Maximus is arrested by the guards.

Concluding that legends born in the Colosseum must die in the Colosseum, Commodus challenges Maximus to a duel in front of a roaring audience. Commodus, knowing he is inferior in fencing ability, pierces Maximus's lung with a stiletto just before they enter the arena and has Quintus conceal the wound with Maximus's armor. The two bitter enemies fight, each taking wounds before Maximus rips the sword from Commodus's hands. Commodus, unable to solicit a sword from the ring of Praetorian guards surrounding the two, pulls a hidden stiletto from his forearm guard. Maximus quickly and efficiently beats back Commodus with a series of hard punches before grabbing and slowly driving the stiletto into Commodus's neck. Commodus collapses to the ground, and the coliseum is silent.

As he dies, Maximus sees his wife and son walking amidst endless fields of wheat. He reaches for them, but is pulled back to reality by the utterings of Quintus, asking Maximus what is to be done. Maximus orders the release of Commodus's prisoners including the Proximo's gladiators and Senator Gracchus, whom he reinstates and instructs to return Rome to a Senate-based government. Moments later, he collapses, and Lucilla rushes to his aid. Maximus reassures her that her son is safe now that Commodus is dead. Senator Gracchus and Proximo's gladiators carry Maximus' dead body out of the Colosseum. Juba, now free, buries Maximus' two small statues of his wife and son in the ground where Maximus died.

Famous Quotations :

Marcus Aurelius: [to his daughter Lucilla] If only you had been born a man, what a Caesar you would have made.

Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Maximus: My name is Gladiator.

source : wikipedia | imdb