Gladiator II
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2000 director Ridley Scott brought the world the action-drama epic Gladiator starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. The movie is fantastic and won numerous awards during its run, but not one that you would think would get a sequel. Now 24 years later Ridley Scott is returning to the Colosseum for Gladiator II starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington. Could this long-awaited sequel live up to the greatness of the original or will it fall on its own sword?
There isn’t much in the way of a synopsis yet other than it follows Lucius, the son of Maximus's love Lucilla, after Maximus's death, that at least gives us a enough to make sense to how this sequel is going to work.
Like many I love the original film, and it is one that really doesn’t need a sequel, but I am happy to say that Scott has crafted a film that not only works, but to me is on par with the original with its own voice. They go more over the top in some elements using a battle Rhino sequence that was planned for the original film and filling the Colosseum with water. For those that think that is just too out there, it is something called Naumachiae that was actually done they filled the arena’s with water to recreate naval battles much like in the movie. The shark addition was clearly artistic license but added to the excitement of the film.
For this film to really work outside of the action, which there is plenty of, the story must make sense to follow up its predecessor. I really liked the direction it goes and brings some of the same elements of the original film paying homage to it and the legends of Maximus while being a completely new thing, all its own that delivers. Using some new simple added scenes, they are able to explain the
events following Maximus’ death and how we got to where we are at that makes total sense and allows the audience to dive right back into this story.
The cast are all great with Denzel Washington stealing the show with his often over the top portrayal of Macrinus. He looks to be having a great time chewing up the scenery and his wide variety of quirks both sentimental and scheming shines throw to make for a excellent performance. I know some have complained about his accent or lack thereof, but I wasn’t put off by it at all and thought it worked for what he brought to the table.
Mescal is great in the role as well carrying the anger and resentment of his past along with the hatred and vengeance in his heart moving towards his conflict with Pascal and Rome itself. He is of a single focus once it pushes him into this path and they have done a great job to make him emotional and singular focused without making him feel whiny or weak. The revelation of his relation that we all already knew is handled well and allows it not to bog down the story trying to explain things we already know going in.
There are so many great battles, fights and insanity, but I love it more so that not all of it is just contained to the arena to give it that bigger feel it needed to stand out from the original. Scott has once again crafted an excellent film that is a worthy successor to the perfection of the original that not only does it justice but brings its own greatness to stand all on its own.
Return to Rome and the Colosseum for Gladiator II in theaters now.
