Type "Gladiator" into any search engine for movies, and you'll get pages and pages of Russell Crowe's gladiator epic. Yet, at the bottom of those lists, you may just find this little gem that you've never heard of. If you are a fan of pugilistic big-screen experiences, this is one that at the very least will keep you entertained.

For a basic plot summary, "Gladiator" tells the story of Tommy Riley (James Marshall),a white teenage youngster who (via parental circumstances) is moved into an all-black school and neighborhood. After having enough of the constant bullying and needing money badly, Tommy is recruited into a shady boxing circuit by Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia). After befriending similar hard-luck case Lincoln Haines (Cuba Gooding Jr.),Tommy runs headlong into "big boss" Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy) when a huge conflict of interest rises between them.

"Gladiator", in terms of themes, is about as simple a movie as ever was made. I remember watching it off television as a kid and even then being about to follow the themes. While that simplicity keeps it from being a classic, it also makes sure that the movie ages pretty well. Whether you watching this movie in theaters in 1992 or on your flat-screen in 2014, it plays pretty much the same.

Perhaps what shines most from this movie, though, is the performance by Brian Dennehy. That is what I remembered most from the original viewing and what drew me towards finding it again. Along the way, though, I noticed great performances from Gooding Jr. and Ossie Davis as well.

If you are not a fan of boxing movies, I would say you can probably skip this one, as without an appreciate of the boxing-related themes the rest of the narrative will be a bit too simplistic to hold your interest. If you love the "sweet science", though, this one will at least entertain you with some drama and adversity themes.

Tommy Riley (James Marshall) is new in an inner city Chicago school and gets in trouble with some of the black students called the Storm Troopers led by Shortcut. Abraham Lincoln Haines (Cuba Gooding Jr.) comes to the rescue. Tommy's father (John Heard) is in trouble owing gambling debts. His mother is dead leaving the family in debt for the hospital bills. Dawn (Cara Buono) likes Tommy and gets him a job at her family diner. Underground boxing promoter Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia) hooks him into a fight run by Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy). Noah (Ossie Davis) is the experienced trainer. Tommy befriends fellow boxer Romano (Jon Seda). He quits after one fight but Jimmy Horn won't take no for an answer. Jimmy buys out Tommy's father's gambling debts.

Firstly, the fights look ugly. I don't mean they are filled with dirty tricks. I mean that the choreography is poor. The other problem is that Cuba doesn't have enough time on screen. He's a big part of the climax and should have much more time to set it up. Also everybody looks a bit too old to be in high school. James Marshall is very stiff which somewhat fits the character. It doesn't make the character compelling. The movie still works in a limited fashion.

The best one of all the Gladiator movies. Lots of punching and fighting.