Gladiator II
If it were possible to give birth from a film, it would definitely be Gladiator 2.
Let’s not dance around the obvious—this film knows how to sell itself, leaning heavily on its all-star cast, including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn, to ignite fan excitement (and, let’s be honest, a fair bit of thirst). But we’re here to talk about the film, not its undeniable horniness. Beneath the glossy exterior and the seductive allure of its leads lies a sprawling epic that tries to recapture the magic of the original Gladiator. While it aims high with heroism, betrayal, and redemption at its core, the results are as uneven as they are ambitious.
The story follows Lucius, who unwittingly retraces the heroic path of his father, Maximus. However, in doing so, the film makes some baffling creative choices, including the revelation that Maximus had a second son—an impossibility given the timeline of the original. But Ridley Scott didn't seem to care about this at all in his desire to launch a new story for the hero.
What unfolds is a visually grandiose blockbuster stretching over two hours, complete with stirring speeches, breathtaking vistas, and thrilling battles. Yet, beneath its polished surface, the screenplay falters. The film is full of plot holes and unclear character motivations, with the script often relying on dramatic distractions—like action scenes or shocking twists—to shift focus from its flaws. Lucius’s sudden forgiveness of Marcus and Lucilla, for example, feels rushed and unearned, while some characters, despite their dramatic arcs, fail to resonate.
Paul Mescal delivers a solid performance as Lucius, but he is outshone by Denzel Washington’s commanding turn as Macrinus, whose fiery emotions and nuanced portrayal elevate every scene he inhabits. The cast mostly does a good job, but to be fair, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen leave something to be desired, either in delivering more compelling performances or showing greater emotional depth.
The visual effects, a cornerstone of modern epics, surprisingly disappoint. Some scenes, such as the battle sequences featuring sharks in the Colosseum, fall short of the standards expected in 2024. Having revisited the original Gladiator in theaters recently, the contrast in craftsmanship is striking, as the sequel struggles to recapture the depth, intensity, and seamless storytelling of its predecessor. And I can’t help but mention the bloopers, because even someone as inattentive as me noticed this right away—so it’s safe to assume everyone did. One particularly noticeable moment occurs early on when Lucius bites off a piece of a wild monkey, only to appear completely clean and free of blood seconds later.
Despite its shortcomings, the film does manage to deliver a triumphant finale—grandiose, emotional, and undeniably powerful. However, the journey leading up to this conclusion feels flimsy, as the characters lack the depth and intricacy that made the original so compelling. In Gladiator, even minor characters had clear motivations and meaningful arcs, whereas here, many seem to exist only as nostalgic echoes of a greater past.
In the end, Gladiator 2 spends so much time basking in the glory of its predecessor that it struggles to forge a legacy of its own and serves more as a reminder of what once was, rather than a true successor to one of cinema’s greatest epics.
6/10
