Gladiator Vs extended edition

[D.D.D.]

Hey movie buffs, I watched Gladiator long ago and liked it a lot. I wanna show it to my wife and I'm considering the extended edition or directors cut whatever is out there, any one seen both and can comment on the differences??

[elmagicochrisg]

Hmm, maybe try posting that question on IMDB. Might have some more luck there...

[D.D.D.]

Yeah well I figured with the ginormous thread of "last movie you watched" someone here had to have seen them.

[elmagicochrisg]

Seems like a matter of personal taste. Read these...

Is the extended edition worth it?

Gladiator Theatrical vs Extended

Gladiator: Extended Edition

What does the Extended Edition have to offer over the theatrical version? First of all, I think it's interesting to note that in his introduction to the Extended Edition, director Ridley Scott explicitly tells the viewer that this is not the "director's cut": that in fact the theatrical version is the director's cut. The Extended Edition, then, doesn't represent his ideal film; it's simply an edition that includes a number of previously deleted scenes.

In terms of added running time, the added material is not particularly extensive, running a total of about 17 minutes. It's split up into a number of different scenes, most of them fairly short; some of these scenes are extensions of existing ones, while others are completely new. For instance, we get a scene with Maximus touring the camp hospital after the first battle; a meeting with Lucilla and Gracchus discussing Commodus' madness; Commodus presiding over an execution; and others. A list of the additional scenes can be accessed through the Supplements menu on the Theatrical Edition: a "deleted scene index" provides a capsule description of each scene, and selecting it will play the new scene. About two-thirds of the new scenes were presented in the deleted scenes section of the earlier edition of this film: "Battle Aftermath," "Looking for Strength," "Dye Market," "Meeting at Gracchus' House," "Father and Son," "The Execution," "Spies Close In," "Another Enemy," and "Fighting with Fire."

Four completely new scenes are also included in the Extended Edition: "The Scribe," in which a hapless new gladiator recruit gets some advice; "Stage Directions," in which Maximus is advised to entertain the crowd; "Grain Reserves," providing a new insight into Commodus' madness; and "Quintus Obeys," adding a bit more substance to a scene near the end of the film. In addition, there's at least one very short unmentioned additional shot worked into the Extended Edition; I noticed a brief glimpse of Proximo's giraffes.

The effect of the additional material on the film is subtle but positive. I felt that the characters gained in depth from the new material, with both Maximus and Commodus becoming slightly more well-rounded as characters in this cut of the film. I also found the situation in Rome to be more clearly explained, so it makes more sense why the senators would be conspiring to depose Commodus. It may not be the "director's cut," but all in all I'd say that the extended version is slightly better than the theatrical cut.

[D.D.D.]

Cool~ Thanks!