tears that are NOT period induced.
Well, I'm certainly glad that I opted out of watching Gladiator during class and watched it at home instead ... considering I just got done with the heaving sobs. DAMN YOU, RIDLEY SCOTT! And you, too, haunting singing lady that makes it into every heroic movie ever made and has this magical ability to make tears come out harder and faster. (My classics teacher calls her Our Lady of the Soundtrack Sorrows.)
Dude, I'm so freaking depressed right now. I mean, it's a "happy ending" in the way that Pan's Labyrinth (which, by the way, is amazing) had a "happy ending" but that's bullshit, it's not happy at all cause they still freaking die. Where is the happy, I ask you?? I seriously thought about wallowing in my ridiculous misery and listening to some Enya (you know, to go along with Our Lady) but I feared that last suicidal thread would push me over the edge.
Okay, so, I'm not that upset but DEAR GOD I need a happy. I swore that I had seen this movie before but, by my reaction and complete lack of knowing what was going to happen next, I'll assume not. Can I just say that Joaquin Phoenix did a miraculous job at making himself despicable? Gosh, I have such a soft spot for all of these modern Roman/Greek/Gladiator/Epic Hero/Sword-and-Sandal movies. They're so moving and epic and ... I don't know. Inspire a sense of awe. Is it weird that I remember completely hating Troy and yet, when I had to rewatch it for this class, adored it? I'll chalk it up to voodoo if I rewatch Alexander and enjoy it.