Spartacus (1960) + Bonus
BDRip 720p | MKV | 1280 x 576 | x264 @ 2560 Kbps | 3h 16min | 4,35 Gb
Audio: English AC3 5.1 @ 448 Kbps | Subtitles: English (embedded)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama | Director: Stanley Kubrick
BDRip 720p | MKV | 1280 x 576 | x264 @ 2560 Kbps | 3h 16min | 4,35 Gb
Audio: English AC3 5.1 @ 448 Kbps | Subtitles: English (embedded)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama | Director: Stanley Kubrick
In 73 BCE, a Thracian slave leads a revolt at a gladiatorial school run by Lentulus Batiatus. The uprising soon spreads across the Italian Peninsula involving thousand of slaves. The plan is to acquire sufficient funds to acquire ships from Silesian pirates who could then transport them to other lands from Brandisium in the south. The Roman Senator Gracchus schemes to have Marcus Publius Glabrus, Commander of the garrison of Rome, lead an army against the slaves who are living on Vesuvius. When Glabrus is defeated his mentor, Senator and General Marcus Licinius Crassus is greatly embarrassed and leads his own army against the slaves. Spartacus and the thousands of freed slaves successfully make their way to Brandisium only to find that the Silesians have abandoned them. They then turn north and must face the might of Rome.
IMDB - Won 4 Oscars
The darkest historical epic. No dancing girls, no chariot races, filmed in sombre browns and reds. Nominally directed by Kubrick but Douglas, as a very 'hands on' producer was responsable for the operatic sweep of the film. I was astonished when revisiting the film in 1991 at the cinema at the bravery of the project-to have the hero cry several times, once even out of self pity and with a heart rending ending! The film has depth and weight, the characters are well drawn. The performances are almost flawless, Douglas managing as actor to create tension in each scene-Olivier, not withstanding his eyerolling mannerisms is perfectly cast. The minor parts are richly drawn-gravel voiced Charles McGraw, Herbert Lom and Woody Strode. The cinematography and music are flawless. Only John Dall as a very modern Glaberus and John Ireland as Crixus seem out of place. Ironically, despite the downbeat tone of the film it is impossible to watch it without being uplifted through your tears of compassion. Unofficialy remade as Braveheart…watch one after the other and you'll see the similarities in mood, theme and even the battle choreography. Spartacus would be my 'desert island' movie.
(Enlargeable)
Bonuses included:
– "I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas" featurette (9:39)
– Archival Interview with Peter Ustinov (2:57)