Gladiator is perhaps one of the most celebrated and fan-embraced movies to be released in recent years. Having won five Academy Awards, including the coveted Best Picture Oscar, the movie receives a much anticipated DVD extended edition treatment this week.

Ridley Scott is a master at directing epics such as this, and viewers will enjoy looking back on Russell Crowe's breakout role that led to his fame and good fortune (which he often forgets can so eaily be denied him). When originally released on DVD, Gladiator became one of the top 15 best-selling DVDs since the format came into existance.

Unlike most DVD releases, the director oversaw this extended edition and threw together what he felt the set needed on a three disc volume including 17 minutes worth of footage not seen anywhere before either in theatres or on DVD.

Crowe, who has never appeared in any commentary tracks for this picture, finally records tracks with director Scott to the enjoyment of diehard fans. We are also treated this time to footage that teaches us about Rome, including a documentary entiled "Strength and Horror: Creating The World Of Gladiator," which is a making-of feature that's remarkably candid in its approach. Included as an added bonus is a smaller watered-down booklet of things contained in Ridley Scott's book How It All Started. The new extended version is well worth the price and the wait.

The first disc contains the actual extended version of the film, the commentary from Crowe and Scott, Scott's intro to the film and a trivia track called "Are You Not Entertained?" that features historic references and details about the production.

The second of three discs contains: the documentary mentioned above; "Tale of The Scribes" story development; and "The Tools Of War" which focuses on weaponry and vehicles in the movie. The attire of the Realm is on disc two as well information about costume design, and there are production journals and visual effects featurettes as well as the story of how a dead actor's (Oliver Reed's) final performance was saved. A feature about the film's impact on society is also included. 

Disc three talks about production design, storyboards, photo gallery, other supplements, trailers, abandoned scenes that never quite worked, an explantion of how all the CGI effects in the film were done and what challenges were involved in the process of creation. 

If you've never viewed Gladiator before, it's about victory on a battlefield. Crowe plays General Maximus, who's asked by a dying emperor to assume the ruling mantle. Jealousy rears its ugly head when the emperor's son (Joaquin Phoenix) orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Maximus must escape death, slavery and being thrown into a gladiator's arena. He must rise above persecution in order to avenge the slaughter of his kin.

This new extended edition of Gladiator well worth the price and the wait.

(Scheduled for release by Umvd/DreamWorks on August 23, 2005. Rated "R" for intense, graphic combat. DVD bonus features unrated.)