English practice essay

Texts are not always created to simply entertain. It identifies and explains how
human experiences are conveyed in this prescribed text. The film Gladiator,
directed by Ridley Scott, is an example of a text that deeply explores the human
experience. The themes that are discussed in Ridley Scotts film is of peace,
freedom, good over evil and strength and honor, these are represent how texts are
not meant to be created just for simple entertainment. These themes are
portrayed throughout the film using a variety of film techniques including the long
shot, Ironic Costuming, low and high angle shots, lighting and music.

In the film Gladiator, is shows a sense of triumph of good over evil throughout the
film. One scene that outlines this most is when Maximus and Commodus were about
to fight their final battle. The technique shown in this scene was a long shot of the
whole arena showing the crowd all cheering for the battle. Another technique that
was shown was the ironic costuming; it shows the evil villain Commodus dressed in
white while the hero Maximus dressed in black. The effect of this costuming of
Commodus is trying to persuade us that he is trying to express himself as a hero as
he walks are cheering for the crowds applause while trying to make Maximus seem
like the villain by dressing in black. The effect of this was to make Commodus feel
worthy of his throne and that he was stronger than Maximus. The Long shot effect
was to show the huge colloseum and just how many people came to watch their king
fighting to the death along with their beloved gladiator.

By the beginning of the film the viewers would have already known on how evil
Commodus was. From the first time Commodus appears in the film he is seen to be
making romantic advances towards his sister. When these scenes occur, Hans
Zimmer composes sinister music which has the effect of strengthening the
unnatural and evil nature of Commodus' actions. In these scenes dark lighting and
shadows are also used, in order to convey the idea that Commodus lives in the
shadows and acts accordingly. There was also another seen that positioned
Maximus and Commodus together. The technique used in this was a low angle shot
on Maximus and a high angle shot on Commodus. The effect of this was to prove
how Maximus looked much stronger and dominant against Commodus. The high angle
shot on Commodus was to show how weak and frightened Commodus felt, his eyes
were shadowed throughout the scene and the film.

Peace and Freedom has been a life goal for Maximus as a Gladiator in the film.
Maximus main goal as a gladiator and a loyal soldier was to achieve peace and
freedom throughout his life. Maximus finally achieved this as he dies after the
final battle against Commodus. The technique expressed heavenly music and
flooded lighting as Maximus sees visions of him in the afterlife to join his family
who were awaiting him. The effect of the music was to enhance a sense of
dramatic feeling into the scene of the freedom and peace that Maximus was finally
experiencing as he slowly faded away into the afterlife. It finally brought him
peace as he died away on the battlefield to search for his freedom to join his
family. The effect of the lighting was to show the difference between the two
different worlds. As he died it finally gave freedom to Maximus as he was finally
free from the mortal world. He could now live happily along with his family in the
afterlife that he has been waiting for ever since the beginning of the film. Now
what makes Maximus a true hero is that when he finally defeated Commodus, not
only did he give himself his freedom but also all the other gladiators and his army.

To conclude, texts are not only created to entertain, they are there to teach us
deep lessons and issues in life. Gladiator is an example this it teaches about the
triumph of good over evil, peace, freedom and strength and honour.