Gladiator's high-def debut in Paramount's Sapphire Series is a different experience from the DVD, and not always a superior one. The famous opening shot of a hand in a wheat field somehow seems a little clearer in stan-dard-def. The Blu-ray image is sharp overall, and facial details are, well, in your face. Contrast, however, is overdone. In the end, this transfer is good but not the jaw-dropping improvement I was hoping for. I have no such reservations about the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, which has more focus and tighter bass than the sound of the DVD.
All of the DVD's extras are included on this two-disc set, and then some. First, you can choose between the theatrical release and the 171-minute extended cut. Then there's the jocular and sometimes informative commentary by director Ridley Scott and his star, Russell Crowe. Over on Disc 2, you'll find making-of material that totals 3 hours. (Worth a look by itself is the segment on how Oliver Reed's role was finessed when he died before all of his scenes were filmed.) You also get new historical and moviemaking factoids, many of which are fun. I just wish the menus accessing them were easier to navigate.
Download Gladiator full movie (DVD,DivX,iPod,PDA)
