Character - te kaituu

Maximus' Journey - Te haerenga o Maximus

Maximus experiences a difficult journey throughout the film. He begins as a well respected general, before being stripped of his rank and status and then sentenced to die by Commodus after he murdered his father and became emperor. After escaping Commodus' Praetorian guards, he sees his dead family (murdered at Commodus' command) and succumbs to a grievous wound. He is then captured by slavers, and sold to Proximo to be used as a gladiator. He then uses his success and Proximo's wisdom to succeed even further and be used to fight in the Colosseum. His continued success brings the attention of the emperor Commodus, who tries to dispose of Maximus. Ultimately, Maximus succeeds in killing Commodus, but dies of his own wounds after he restores Rome to a republic as per the old emperor's wishes.

Character Change - Te tini Kaituu

Maximus changes during this journey. The film-maker uses techniques to show his status at the start of the film, which changes to reflect his slavery and being a gladiator. The film maker uses a few techniques to do this...

Costume
Performance (Acting)
Dialogue (Speaking)
Setting *
Conflict*

*We will explore setting and conflict later, so lets start with Costume, performance and dialogue.

Beginning (General) - Te timatatanga

Costume - Nga Kakahu

Maximus wears heavy, practical and highly used armour. He also carries a sword, which he uses with deadly effect. This shows that he is a man of action, who is highly capable. The people in his army show their respect for his combat abilities with cheers and loyalty to his decisions. His fur shoal, is a status symbol that shows he has rank in the army.

Performance - Te Tuu

His performance is commanding and decisive. He speaks with authority, and carries himself with confidence. This shows that he is a leader, and very capable in his decisions in leading the armies of Rome. Just as important, is the performance of his soldiers, who obey his every command with the same confidence as Maximus' in the orders he gives. During the battle scene he also fights with skill and courage, showing that he leads by example.

Dialogue - Korerorero

Maximus' dialogue supports his costume (warrior, leader) and his performance (authority). During the battle scene, he issues orders with clear military jargon, such as "The distance is good", "Hold the line!", "On my order, unleash hell!". His commands are followed unquestionably by his soldiers, which shows their loyalty and respect for his knowledge of battle.

Middle (Slave --> Gladiator) - I waenganui

Costume - Nga Kakahu

After Maximus' capture by slavers, he is stripped of his costume of the films beginning, which reflects the removal of his status of leader and warrior. Replacing this costume is a plain brown loin cloth, which shows his nakedness and vulnerability mirroring the death of his family and his feelings of meaningless existence. Once he becomes a gladiator, he returns to wearing (non-roman) armour, which shows a return of purpose to his life in seeking revenge for his family and the murder of Marcus Aurelius (the old emperor).

Performance - Te Tuu

Maximus' performance as a slave is where he is at rock bottom. He is sad for the loss of his family, and wishes to join them in the Elysium fields (Roman heaven). He is disinterested in fighting and living. Symbolically, he carves his roman legion tattoo from his arm, severing his connection to a corrupt Rome under Commodus. Only when faced with death does he draw on his fighting skills to survive. It is only after Proximo tells his story of being a successful gladiator which made the old emperor notice him and award him freedom. Maximus is filled with purpose, knowing that being a successful gladiator will mean he could come face to face with Commodus, the murderer of his family and Marcus Aurelius, and exact revenge.

Dialogue - Korerorero

Maximus' dialogue supports his desire to die. He actually speaks very little as a slave, which shows his desire to withdraw and die by not being the leader he once was. Only in combat does he take charge, but afterwards his line "Are you entertained?" shows his distaste in existing only for the entertainment of the idle rich. After Proximo tells his story, Maximus says "You were a gladiator? You won your freedom?" to which Proximo answers "A long time ago, the emperor presented me with the Rudius, it's just a wooden sword, a symbol of your freedom." Maximus finds it funny that Proximo knew Marcus Aurelius (his old friend), but soon connects Proximo's experience to his possible path to meet Commodus face to face.

End (Gladiator) -Te Mutunga

Costume - Nga Kakahu

As Maximus comes to Rome to fight in the Colosseum, he undergoes a subtle shift in costume. His armour changes to a breastplate that bears two spanish horses - a symbol of his homeland, a symbol that shows a personal connection to his home and dead family, rather than his Roman armour from the start, and the plain armour from his early gladiatorial days. His mask hides his face, so that he can win the crowds of Rome through valor and not reputation - he knows that his name will get him killed by Commodus. By the time he exposes his face to Commodus, the crowds of Rome love him for his victories, so would rebel against Commodus if he killed their 'hero'.

Performance - Te Tuu

Maximus' performance returns to what we saw in him at the beginning of the film. He is a natural leader in the arena, and his fellow gladiators develop respect and loyalty because of his command. He issues orders and strategy that leads to an impossible victory against the odds. This return of the old Maximus wins the crowds of Rome, ensuring his safety from a punitive Commodus. He also takes personal risks to save his fellow gladiators, which shows his humility and deep connection to the people, even slaves and gladiators.

Dialogue - Korerorero

Again, the dialogue supports the story as shown through costume and performance. In the recreation of the battle of Carthage, he asks his fellow gladiators "Have any of you been in the army? You can help me." This line shows the return of the general he once was, and "If we stay together, we survive" shows his determination to lead these men to victory. After victory, he meets Commodus, who is shocked at the fact he is alive, but can't kill him because of the crowds love for him. Juba sums this up nicely when he says "You have a great name; you must kill it before he kills you." This foreshadows his death and the nobility that Maximus will show in restoring Rome to the vision that Marcus Aurelius wanted.

Page updated

Report abuse