GLADIATOR II is the sequel to the 2000 film, set during the reign of the Roman Empire under brothers and co-emperors, Geta and Caracalla. Their quest to conquer as much land for the kingdom is paralleled with the desire to keep the Colosseum filled with seized gladiators for entertainment. As the tension for a more power-balanced Rome rises, can Gladiator II secure a thrilling story as a sequel?
With a Best Picture win for GLADIATOR, Ridley Scott’s return as the director makes sense to continue the brutal and emotional story. The movie picks up sixteen years after its predecessor and shows how things have changed in Rome for the worse under the brothers’ control.
The characters are what makes this movie distinctive as Scott combines their motives to build a web of a multitude of fiery emotions. Paul Mescal’s aura is highlighted in a way that gives the feeling that he’s ready for the challenge to stay on the big screen for years to come. His costars Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger also give remarkable performances that keep viewers engaged in the ruthless story. Denzel Washington truly shines through with his charismatic ability to transform a character into someone who will be talked about for years.
At 2 hours and 28 minutes, there is a lot of information presented at once that weighs down the story. The distracting subplots take away from the phenomenal cast and at times lead nowhere leaving me wondering how many scenes were cut. The use of CGI is also off-putting because it feels outlandish and out of place against the time period’s backdrop. Gladiator II does however change the formula and abandons heavy dialogue (there still is quite a bit) for more battles in the Colosseum. This will likely pay off for fans as the film depicts the barbaric nature of the gladiator games with full gore.
In the end, GLADIATOR II follows a blueprint that is familiar and different at the same time. The overstuffed plot teeters with the excellent cast to deliver a film that is one thumb up instead of two. That’s ok however because it is entertaining enough with a unique cinematic experience that makes one feel like they are a spectator in the arena.
GLADIATOR II is only in Theaters, Dolby Cinema, Premium Large Formats, and IMAX on November 22nd, 2024.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Ashley Bell (Contributing Editor) is an Orlando native who loves watching movies. Her favorite genres include comedies, thrillers and sci-fi.Click Here to check out Ashley's Articles.