Close ups of Maximus’ face, how he always walks towards the camera, low camera angles, undershots and slow motion in the battling all create the impression of strength, dominance and presence

Both Maximus, the Roman general turned Gladiator and Commodus, the son of the Emperor manipulate others to gain power in

order to fulfill their desires.

	Commodus, the Emperors son, tries to manipulate Maximus to be loyal to him and not his father. When he is unable to do this, he seeks to gain power over Maximus by executing his wife and son and burning his crops.
To weaken him more, using personal attacks, Commodus states to him in the fighting arena: “The soldiers tell me that your son squealed like a girl, when they nailed him to the cross. And your wife moaned like a whore, when they ravaged her again, and again, and again.” It is this manipulation of Maximus emotions and mind that gives Commodus power over him.