In 180 AD the invading Roman Army under the command of the feared General Maximus conquers the last remaining resisting forces in Germania. In Rome the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius offers the command of the empire and the responsibility of founding the new republic to Maximus, passing over his untrustworthy son Commodous. In retaliation Commodous kills his father and orders Maximus and his wife and son, now in Spain, to be murdered. Only Maximus escapes with his life, but falls into the clutches of a slave trader who sells him to Proxima, once a fighter himself and now the trainer and organiser of gladiatorial bouts. Maximus quickly adapts to the life and becomes a feared and respected gladiator, showing great skill and a total lack of remorse. In Rome Commodous revives gladiatorial battles in the Colosseum to entertain the increasingly unsettled populace. His increasingly unstable nature and incestuous leanings start to worry his sister Lucilla, whose son, Lucius, is in line to the throne. Maximus and Proxima's other gladiators are brought to Rome to fight in the Colosseum in front of Commodous. Maximus eventually triumphs against gladiators armed with swords, nets, spears and tridents, giant Teutonic fighters and wild animals, and finally reveals his identity to Commodous. He is stunned and considers having him killed on the spot, but realises the new gladiators' popularity with the baying crowd. Lucilla, once an old flame of Maximus, plots with him to reestablish his old army to overthrow Commodous and form the new republic, but Commodous discovers the plan. He has Proxima and most of his school of gladiators killed but leaves Maximus alive. To entertain the bloodthirsty crowds he announces he will battle Maximus himself in the arena in combat with all the advantages on his side.... Through computer animation both ancient Rome and the departed Oliver Reed are restored to their former glory in Ridley Scott's breathtaking blockbuster. Powerful action, excellent production design and photography, and a real screen hero in Russell Crowe elevate Gladiator to a triumphant level.