It seems rather appropriate that Gladiator would end up getting a legacy sequel 24 years after the original film considering that one of that film’s most famous lines is: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” However, the fact that it is getting a sequel at all is a bit of an interesting choice. The first film tells a complete story and ends on a decisive note, so it isn’t exactly asking for there to be a follow-up. Regardless, talks of a sequel have been going on as early as 2001, with original director Ridley Scott staying involved with the project every step of the way. After years of trying to get it made, Scott has finally returned to the world of Ancient Rome with Gladiator II.
When the film was first announced, I couldn’t help but be both intrigued and confused. Confused because I felt that Gladiator doesn’t need a sequel, but intrigued by the possible directions that it might take. The fact that Ridley Scott was returning to direct made me feel more optimistic, as did the all-star cast that the film has assembled. What we get with Gladiator II is quite similar to the original in terms of its structure and the beats that it hits, which makes it feel predictable and rather standard. However, what it lacks in the writing department, it makes up for in sheer spectacle and great performances, which help redeem the film somewhat. Gladiator II might not live up to its predecessor, but it is still a lot of fun and has some great strengths all the same.
Many years after the events of the first film, Lucius a.k.a. Hanno (Paul Mescal) is brought to Rome after the Roman army invades his homeland. Rome is now led by corrupt twin Emperors Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively) and the once-great Roman Empire is beginning to show signs of decay. Lucius arrives in Rome as a slave and presented as a potential gladiator. After impressing stable manager Macrinus (Denzel Washington), Lucius is sold to him and trains him to fight in the Colosseum. As he battles his opponents, Lucius tries to regain his freedom and makes discoveries about his past that could help Rome return to its former glory.
As is the case with any sequel, I am always interested in what story the filmmakers are telling with it. If there is a strong point of view and it either acts as a great continuation or companion to the original, I’m usually on board with it. Gladiator II mostly checks those boxes, yet it feels like it borrows quite a bit from the first movie. It changes a few key details, especially in the third act, but its plot feels rather similar to the first one overall. This takes some of the excitement out of the film, as I could pretty much see where it was going most of the time. There were a couple of surprises for me, but I wasn’t all that impressed with the plot as a whole. I will say that some of the new characters and certain plot points are quite good, but the writing as a whole is merely serviceable at best.
Thankfully, the film goes all-in with its spectacle, which is easily the best thing the film has going for it. The set design is particularly excellent, and the costuming and cinematography is great as well. However, the most memorable aspect of the film has to be its major setpieces. The original film had some great battle sequences, but Gladiator II kicks it up several notches. The opening war sequence stuns due to its large scope, and starts the film off nicely, but the actual gladiatorial setpieces are the true standouts. The biggest of which is a naval battle in the Colosseum, where the arena is partially filled with water and sharks, and two teams of gladiators duke it out aboard two ships. It is wild, impeccably shot and choreographed, and one of the most entertaining setpieces of the year. The other battles are also very engaging, and it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the ideas for the battles came first and they came up with the story later, as it feels like more thought went into them. Perhaps that is due in part to Ridley Scott’s direction, as he once again proves he is fantastic when it comes to large-scale battle sequences.
I would go one step further and say that Scott’s involvement is one of the reasons this film manages to stay afloat, even if his work in the first film is decidedly stronger. Even in this late stage of his career, Scott still has such ambition and passion as a filmmaker, and it shows in his work. His most recent films might not be among his best, but they still are quite entertaining. Gladiator II certainly falls into that category, as it shows that he’s still got it as a director, even if the film itself is rather flawed. There are moments where his work approaches that electricity some of his best films have, but it doesn’t fully get there. That said, his direction is solid, and I would argue it is the glue that holds the film together.
Beyond the spectacle, the film’s cast emerges as a major highlight of the film. Paul Mescal has some pretty big shoes to fill, considering that Russell Crowe’s lead performance in the first Gladiator is so acclaimed and iconic. While Mescal isn’t quite on Crowe’s level, he does a solid job nonetheless. Mescal tends to ebb and flow with his performance, maintaining a quiet, simmering rage throughout that reaches a boiling point at various moments in the film. The moments where he goes all out are his best, while his quieter moments are fine but tend to get overshadowed. I generally like Mescal as a performer, but I wouldn’t say that this film provides him with the big mainstream breakout it seemingly is setting him up for. I could be wrong, and this film might open the door to bigger and better projects, but there are several other performances in the film that steal the show from him.
Joseph Quinn gives a rather showy performance as Geta, one of the twin Emperors of Rome, and it works quite well in the context of the film. Quinn impressed me in A Quiet Place: Day One earlier this year, and this film further shows that he is one of our most promising new actors currently working. He has such a strong presence every step of the way, and really goes for it throughout. Some will likely compare his performance to Joaquin Phoenix’s turn as Commodus from the first film, but Quinn isn’t necessarily ripping him off, and makes the role his own. I also really enjoyed Fred Hechinger as Caracalla, the other Emperor of Rome who often plays second fiddle to his brother. Hechinger starts off quiet and almost innocent, but his character’s growth over the course of the film really stood out to me. His work in the back half of the film wowed me, as he is doing more subtle work compared to his co-stars, but still gives a rather striking performance. I also must shout out Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Alexander Karim, and Tim McInnerny, all of whom are quite good throughout and get their own moments to shine.
The film’s best performance, however, is none other than Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a manager of gladiators who has aspirations of taking over Rome. Washington is one of those actors who is good in everything he does, and his turn here is no exception. It is rare to see him take on a supporting role at this stage in his career, but he still nails every scene he is in. From the physicality of the character, to certain line readings, to the way he interacts with other characters and plays his motivations, he gives an absolute knockout performance here. Part of me wished that he had an even larger role, but I kind of like that the film is a bit more conservative with how much they use him. It makes his role have a great impact without him completely overtaking the film, and makes the moments where he does show up feel all the more special.
Gladiator II pales in comparison to the original film, but it is still highly entertaining and fun. It might not do anything particularly daring storywise, but it comes alive when it leans into its spectacle. That, along with its great performances help redeem some of its shortcomings and makes it a decent watch. I can’t help but be a bit disappointed considering how familiar a lot of the story beats feel, but I also can’t be too mad considering how exciting and well-crafted the battle sequences are. Fun, yet uneven, Gladiator II is a decent sequel, even if it doesn’t quite recapture the glory of the first film.
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