Rugby Film Review: Gladiator

With the release of the second Gladiator movie, it seems like a good time to go back and look at all my old rugby blog posts where the original Gladiator movie was an inspiration. The way no one in that entire movie succeeds without humility and teamwork? Chef's kiss.

Both entries below reference the same scene, so here it is for quick access:

Universal Studios / Via youtube.com

Friday, April 16, 2010

What we do in life echoes in eternity.

I'm starting to realize why before every single rugby game in the fall I watched the movie Gladiator to pump me up for it. First of all, from the get go the first scene in the movie reminds me of rugby. It's a battlefield; there's two clear sides on a field facing each other with space in between (looks just like the start of a rugby match). And I can't help but think of rugby every single time I see this first battle scene because Russell Crowe holds down the front line until one specific moment when they all EXPLODE together, and this just reminds me on a kick off when our team is together and we yell in sync, "Ready....ready....FIRE!" and all do that same explosion together on defense. Russell Crowe also says a lot in that first battle scene about the army working "as one" and sticking together, which is what a rugby team does too.

Also, I love the idea that size doesn't matter; even the littlest guy can conquer and do something big. Russell Crowe in the movie was little literally (by being a gladiator) and physically; I'd say at least 90% of the guys he fought as a gladiator were bigger than him. I think this also holds true for rugby; size doesn't matter. You don't have to be huge to be good. David can beat Golliath all day in rugby with good old fashioned skill and athleticism. It makes me smile to think that a good rugby player doesn't have a face or a size.

I've also thought of rugby as being sort of like a battle or a war. Just the strategy and unity of the team that goes into every move of attack is a lot like an army. We all fight together and keep pounding and pounding while being pounded at the same time.

Siiiiiiiigh, it's a great game. A great great game.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Enough of the politics.

So I am watching Gladiator as part of my nightly pre-rugby game ritual, and I just heard yet again another fantastic quote in the movie that reminds me of rugby:

It's in the beginning, when Russell Crowe and his wing man are about to fight a battle. The two of them are standing among the rest of the army, and they're just staring down at the Barbarians who are clearly outnumbered. It seems pretty obvious that Russell Crowe's army is going to win the battle (not just because he's the main character and on the front of the movie box), and his wing man says, "People should know when they're conquered..."

And then...the best line ever.

Russell Crowe says, "Would you, Commodus? Would I?"

It just makes me think of the most epic rugby mentality ever spilled out in a line of a movie right there. Even if you're outnumbered, or the opposing team looks bigger, faster, and stronger, you never ever ever back down and you never ever ever "know when you're conquered." There's never a time that you think before the referee blows that final whistle signaling the game is over that you should give up, or think that you will be defeated.

Another scene that I never wrote about but sticks out in my head as another rugby reference is this fight scene:

Universal Studios / Via youtube.com

No matter how much a rugby team is underestimated because of size, ability, experience, you name it...a group of individuals on the same page working together will be hands down more successful in a rugby game.

"We've got a better chance of survival if we work together...if we stay together, we survive."

"HOLD...AS ONE...STAY LOW..."

The spatial awareness, communication, support, heads on a swivel, even calling and executing plays together ALL IN THIS ONE FIGHT SCENE give me rugby ball carrying butterflies in my stomach.

Not gonna lie...Gladiator is probably one of the LAST movies on Earth that I would think needed a sequel...unless it was about Juba, this amazing character:

Universal Studios / Via dreadpennies.com

Hopefully someday they remember that Juba was the REAL man of the match in that movie and give him his time to shine. And hopefully I suck it up and watch Gladiator II, which will hopefully be full of more rugby metaphors...

..."but not yet" [Juba reference intended lol]

Strength and honor.