Spartacus (1960) Rank 5 Reviews

BBCi - Films

The story follows Spartacus (played with career-defining heroism by Douglas), a slave bought by Peter Ustinov to join his gladiator school. Once there, he becomes the best darn fighter in the biz (sound familiar?), but decides to do something about the ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at BBCi - Films

Reel.com DVD review (James Plath)

Some stories are epic even behind the scenes. Blacklisted writer Howard Fast says he thought about Spartacus while in prison for contempt of congress â�� for refusing to "name names" during the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. "In ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Reel.com DVD review (James Plath)

Popcorn Pictures Review

The all-star cast, cracking script and screenplay and superb battle scenes make this stand the test of time as one of the outstanding epics. Kirk Douglas is in his best role ever here, playing Spartacus with such emotion and passion and always managing ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Popcorn Pictures Review

filmcritic.com

The original movie about gladiators, with Kirk Douglas taking the starring role in Stanley Kubrick's muddy epic (over three hours long) about slaves vs. Romans in the heyday of the Empire. Director Stanley Kubrick was obviously just collecting a ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at filmcritic.com

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

At the time of its first release in 1960, "Spartacus" was hailed as the first intellectual epic since the silent days - the first Roman or Biblical saga to deal with ideas as well as spectacle. Even the ending was daring. The crucified hero is denied a ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)

If you have access to a DVD player and love movies, get hold of the special Criterion edition of Spartacus and turn on the main commentary track for some of the most illuminating and brutally honest background information and criticism that has ever been ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at CultureDose.net (John Nesbit)

Thoughts on Stuff

This is the only Richard Linklater film I had not seen, largely because it has not been released on DVD. However, the library had the VHS, so I broke one of my major rules and watched a pan and scan presentation of the film. Despite those bad viewing ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Thoughts on Stuff

DVD Breakdown

Stanley Kubrick may have been a gun for hire on this film and never considered it to be part of his real body of work, but his cynical eye for political machinations and his negation of the heroic individual makes this a much more interesting movie than ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Breakdown

DVD Movie Central

In his autobiography The Ragmanâ��s Son, Douglas recalls the constant strain of reeling in actors Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton, both of whom quibbled over every little detail, from the slightest line of dialogue to the issues of money and ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Movie Central

Movie Vault (Vadim Rizov)

Spartacus was a transition period for Kubrick, between his very personal anti-war film Paths Of Glory and the beginning of his career as a director completely in control of his material. But for this movie, Kubrick was brought in one week after ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Movie Vault (Vadim Rizov)

DVD Savant review

Spartacus is of course a spectacular, intelligent, witty and emotionally affecting movie, an epic that made a bold move and took for its subject secular totalitarian politics instead of watered-down bible sermons. Spartacus was a complicated production ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Savant review

Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)

Set in Ancient Rome, Spartacus follows a group of slaves that are bought up by a trainer of gladiators to hold as entertainment for patricians who want to see them fight to the death. Unable to take the injustices of slavery any longer, one of the slaves ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)

Movie Reviews UK

As one of the most famous film epics Spartacus takes us, battle by battle, through a slave uprising in Roman Italy and the intrigues of the Senate. The central figure, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), is a gladiator-trained slave with more brains and balls than ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Movie Reviews UK

DVD Verdict

Widely recognized as a classic film, and one with an undeniable place in Hollywood history, Spartacus showcases a number of luminous acting stars fixed in a slowly developing story of the indomitable human spirit colliding with inevitable tragedy. ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Verdict

BigSofa

Something about the Kirk Douglas scenes in Spartacus made me feel as if I was watching an old Star Trek script blown up to fit a big screen epic. But as Spartacus preceded Star Trek by a few years, then I should instead perhaps say that some of the ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at BigSofa

DVD Journal

Certainly, in terms of careers formed and taboos broken and the beauty and skill of its 1991 restoration, Spartacus is an important film. Taken on its own merits, however â�� freed of the shackles of being Important Cinema, if that's possible â�� a more ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVD Journal

digitallyOBSESSED! DVD Reviews

Spartacus is the quintessential poster child for The Criterion Collection's brand of film restoration. Locked in memory as a beloved epic, it is actually more deserving of preservation for its politics - both on screen and behind-the-scenes - than its ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at digitallyOBSESSED! DVD Reviews

I Viddied it on the Screen (Alex Jackson)

Roger Ebert and MaryAnn JoHanson both make the same modest complaint regarding "Spartacus": They think that it has dated. Now, I do love "Spartacus" and I don't require that everybody else love it also, but I'm inspired to come to the film's ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at I Viddied it on the Screen (Alex Jackson)

DVDTown (John J. Puccio)

The 1950s were a time of change, and not a little trepidation, for the movie industry. Television was the enemy, keeping people in their homes, and Hollywood was doing everything it could to lure viewers back into theaters. It was the age of widescreen ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at DVDTown (John J. Puccio)

Chainsaw Fodder

Holy smokes, what a movie! This is another one of those "I'm really embarrassed that I have never seen this" movies that I am sure glad I finally had the good sense of renting. Kirk Douglas stars as Spartacus, a slave who revolts and leads a slave ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Chainsaw Fodder

The MovieHamlet (Stefan Hedmark)

This is a story about freedom. Our hero was born without it and died without it. It is easy to see what Dalton Trumbo saw in the titular character in Howard Fastâ��s novel. Mr. Trumboâ��s own freedom was taken away from him when he was blacklisted during ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at The MovieHamlet (Stefan Hedmark)

Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)

Though pre-Christian, Spartacus prefigures and provides historical context to the Gospel story in intriguing ways â�� most obviously in the bold climax, the filmâ��s greatest strength. Spartacus doesnâ��t entirely escape the melodrama, cheesiness, and ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Decent Films - faith on film (Steven D. Greydanus)

The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

A rebellious slave leads a revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews

The City Review (Carter B. Horsley)

Spartacus was a gladiator who led a major slave revolt in pre-Christian Rome. (Some critics have rightfully noted that this film is one of the few major epics about the Roman Empire that was not centered on the beginnings of Christianity.) The movie ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at The City Review (Carter B. Horsley)

Appreciating Great Trash

A bloated imitation of a David Lean movie that retains none of his love for complex storytelling and layered characters, Spartacus is an overwrought movie that makes the age-old mistake of taking a powerful story and moralizing it, as if us dunderheaded ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at Appreciating Great Trash

LowComDom Online Film Reviews

Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is a slave trained as a Roman gladiator. During his training he notices a beautiful slave woman. For fighting well she is given to him for a night. he does nothing. Yeah, like that would ...read the complete Spartacus movie review at LowComDom Online Film Reviews

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