It is based on a true story. Kim Basinger is Italian mother Kuki Gallmann, who, along with her son and her new husband (Vincent Perez), moves to a ranch in Kenya. But there’s trouble in this paradise — from both man and beast: evil poachers, a dog-eating lion, and lots and lots of hissing snakes.

While watching “I Dreamed of Africa,” I dreamed of being elsewhere.

This Chinese language epic starts out with great promise, but the character-driven tale soon loses its dramatic edge as it bumps along for 162 minutes. And once we get to know all involved, we find ourselves much more interested in the secondary plot about the assassin Jing Ke (Zhang Fengyi). In fact, his story is much more heroic and entertaining than the emperor’s.

In traditional tragic hero style, Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a general favored by the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) as his successor. You see, both believe in the founding tenets of the Republic. This doesn’t sit well with the heir apparent, the malevolent Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He chooses treachery and murder to ascend to the throne and rid himself of his rival. But Maximus escapes his death sentence and is sold as a slave to Proximo (Oliver Reed in remarkable form). He becomes a gladiator and fights his way back to Rome for revenge.

Crowe is terrific as Maximus but Reed steals the show. Reed, who died during filming, leaves quite a legacy, once more giving us the charming brute only he could play. “Gladiator,” with a running time of 154 minutes, is a movie you will either love or hate. I loved every frenetic, brutal moment.

Years after the TV hit “Galaxy Quest” has left the prime-time airwaves, it seems the actors involved are stuck recreating their roles for countless adoring fans. Their lives are filled with bank openings and sci-fi conventions, hawking memorabilia and memories. But it seems they have some really out-of-this-world fans who need their help to save their planet from a barbaric race of lizard men. Allen does a terrific Shatner riff; Alan Rickman does a believable turn as the Spocklike character; and, Sigourney Weaver seems to be having fun as the spaceship’s resident blonde babe. Whether you’re a Trekkie or not, this is great fun.