"Gladiator"

A big part of this movie bothered me that I'd never thought of before.

Emperor Marcus Aurelies says "I've been tyrant my whole life, and after enjoying a life of absolute power, I've decided that having absolute power is wrong. I'm not going to do anything about it, but after I die, I'd like someone else to change the system back to a Republic."

What a jerk!

And who does he pick to do it? General Maximus! A guy with no politics, experience, or apparently even political awareness is supposed to somehow reform centuries of corruption? AT BEST he could lead his loyal armies into Rome and stage a military coup. I don't see that ending well for Rome or the Republic.