While this sequel doesn’t reach the heights of its predecessor, it will leave you entertained.
What’s most surprising about the original Gladiator is that it took this long to get a sequel to a film many consider among their favorite movies of all time. For a film that went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars and has been talked about quite often throughout the years, it’s shocking that it took 24 years for a sequel to arrive on the big screen, especially when you consider that just about anything, even offering much less popular, has gotten some sort of sequel much sooner rather than later. While Gladiator II might not stand toe-to-toe with its predecessor, it’s still a sequel that matches up well with a classic whose shadow looms large over the film. Thanks to the film’s exciting action and solid-to-great cast of characters, there’s plenty to like in this sequel and to persuade viewers to return to the Colosseum once again, even if it’s not as sharp as the weapons its characters wield.
Set 16 years after the events in Gladiator, we find Rome led by twin emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger), whose corruption and dictatorship have the city on the brink of disaster. When Lucius (Paul Mescal) is taken as a slave after a battle on his homeland in Africa that has been conquered by the Roman army led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal), he is bought by a gentleman named Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who plans to use him in fights at the Colosseum to further establish his power within the Roman Empire. But as Lucius fights for survival and revenge, his past is unearthed by Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and others who watch him battle in the arena.
At one time many years ago, a well-established writer had a draft for a follow-up to Oscar-winning film that found Russell Crowe’s character, Maximus, battling his way to earth from the depths of hell, and that might have made for a more interesting (and better) film than what’s presented in Gladiator II, which is another revenge story through and through. While this film comes out of the gate strong, it loses its footing in the back half from a story and editing standpoint. While you won’t find yourself looking at your watch or phone, there are many dialogue-heavy conversations in between the action that certainly make the film feel a little bloated. However, with that said, director Ridley Scott knows what to give audiences here, much like the citizens who attend the Colosseum in these films (and in real life at the Colosseum back in its glory days): pure entertainment.
From the first action set piece to the last, Gladiator II delivers on, well, its action. Whether it’s sword-and-sandal fights on the ground level, battling rabid bamboos, taking on a rhinoceros, or using boats while avoiding water-infested sharks, the action in this sequel is all you could ask for and more. However, if you think it’s preposterous that sharks are shown swimming around the Colosseum and have forgotten that Ridley Scott has told us time and time again that he does not care what did/did not happen in real life as it relates to his films, then this film is not for you. One thing to appreciate about this film when it comes to the action is the set pieces where we see all the action take place feel authentic as opposed to being visual effects-heavy or using the infamous “wall” technology studios are leaning so heavily on these days; it makes a huge difference when you’re watching all the swift action again and again, and even the animals look believable to a great extent as well.
As far as Gladiator II’s cast of characters goes, overall, they’re good. While Paul Mescal may not be the imposing lead character in this sequel that Russell Crowe’s was in the original film (which landed him an Oscar), he does a fine job carrying the film. Up-and-comers Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are devilishly fun as the twin emperors who only care for themselves, while Pedro Pascal delivers a level of balance to the film’s overall story that we have seen him deliver in other pop culture products. It’s also nice to see Connie Nielsen return to her character that played an integral part in the first film, and she does here as well. But to no one’s surprise whatsoever, the movie’s best performance comes from Denzel Washington, whose sly character adds a nice twist to the film that could see the beloved actor garner awards attention (and rightfully so).
Much like the historical inaccuracies the film presents, if you were looking for a unique angle about the inner workings of the Roman Empire, then, again, this film is not for you. But much like the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Gladiator II is a feast when it comes to its action and the cast of characters who flip Rome upside down. Sure, it’s not going to be as memorable as its predecessor, and it may induce an eyeroll or two when it quotes a memorable line from the original. But it’s nice to see Ridley Scott deliver a sequel that moviegoers can champion, for better or worse, and one that will fill the appetite for anyone looking for non-family fare at the cinemas this holiday season.