It’s rare when a big budget movie sequel is able to surpass the success of the original blockbuster film. But that’s what Ridley Scott has done with Gladiator II.
The original Gladiator (2000) starred Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielsen. It was also directed by Ridley Scott, and it went on to win five Oscars (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role). It also made a ton of money at the box office.
A sequel seemed unlikely since the main character, Maximus, tragically dies in the final reel. Nevertheless, moviegoers clamored for more and Hollywood is always more than happy to oblige, despite the overwhelming failure of movie sequels over the years.
What seemed promising was that Ridley Scott was back in the director’s chair with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles as Lucilla and Gracchus.
Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal were joining the cast along with the new lead actor Paul Mescal as Lucius.
From the beginning of production, it was clear that Gladiator II would spare no expense in raising the bar in terms of size, scale and opulence. In the tradition of classic sword and sandal epics like Ben-Hur (1959) and Quo Vadis (1951), lavish sets would be built, and an army of extras would be hired. Many gallons of stage blood would be spilled.
When it was all said and done, Gladiator II was met with a wave of early reviews that were mediocre at best. Critics complained about the plot structure which seemed to be a rehashing of the original Gladiator story. Admittedly, both movies have a lot in common. In many ways, it’s the journey of a heroic warrior who falls from grace, becomes a gladiator and fights for his freedom and revenge.
You could argue that the script lacks originality, but you could also argue the age-old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Audiences clearly loved the story the first time around. Why not enjoy it all over again?
Despite similarities, Gladiator II sprinkles in a ton of tasty twists, turns and details that make the movie engrossing and watchable from the sweeping opening battle scene to the closing credits. It creates its own freshness and energy with movie technology that wasn’t available 24 years ago.
Everything is cranked up in this sequel. It’s big and bold and powerful. And, yes, it’s brutally violent and bloody, true to the subject matter. Gladiator II has a sense of realism throughout. It is rich in detail.
Occasionally details are embellished such as the inclusion of man-eating sharks in the naval battle scene that is staged in the flooded arena. Historically, Romans did flood the Coliseum with water in order to stage mock navel battles. There is no record of live sharks.
At age 86, Ridley Scott proves that he is still at the top of his game. Shot for shot and scene for scene, Gladiator II unfolds with confidence and pace. It’s what you expect from one of our generation’s most talented filmmakers -- a true visionary who brings old-school, epic entertainment back to the big screen.
About the only thing lacking in Gladiator II is perhaps Paul Mescal’s performance as Lucius, which is underplayed and occasionally uninspiring. To his credit, he looks more like a gladiator than Russell Crowe did in the original, but he lacks the emotional fire of a man consumed with hate and hellbent on righteous revenge.
What makes up for a lackluster lead performance is Denzel Washington’s role as the slave-trader/gladiator-maker Macrinus. He steals the show and emerges as the real star of Gladiator II, playing a character that you both love and eventually loathe.
In terms of sheer spectacle and epic entertainment, Gladiator II is impressive, well-crafted on every level. It a movie from a man who is a master of his craft. See it on the biggest, loudest screen you can find.
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