Gladiator II Movie Review
Nathan Swank
November 21st, 2024
Are You Not Entertained?! Yes. Yes I am entertained. Thank You.
GLADIATOR II is the sequel to Ridley Scott’s triumphant multiple Oscar winning (including Best Picture and Best Actor) 2000 film epic. And while it is nowhere near the caliber of high end filmmaking as its predecessor, nor do I see it as much of an awards contender, GLADIATOR II is wildly entertaining.
It’s been 24 years since GLADIATOR came out. However, GLADIATOR II takes place 16 years after the victorious end to Maximus inside the Roman Colosseum. Rome is now under the rule of two tyrannical emperors. It seems that it doesn’t take long for evil to once again overtake Rome. After his home is conquered, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced into captivity to fight for his freedom, to gain the crowd, to lead the prisoners, and to regain glory to Rome.
GLADIATOR II is more like a summer blockbuster, upping the ante from the previous film in grander ways. GLADIATOR has tigers, GLADIATOR II has rhinos and sharks. And I don’t mean sharks during a battle in the ocean. I mean they fill the Colosseum with water and as Dr. Evil might say, put freakin’ sharks inside. When gladiators are hit with arrows and fall from their respective ships inside the Colosseum, sharks devour them. It’s all crazy childhood imagination action and it is absolutely glorious. Sadly, these types of blood thirsty events are true to history and while the Colosseum was at one point filled with water, sharks never inhabited the arena. At least according to a quick google check.
Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal are appropriately heroic and commanding with Connie Nielsen making her return as Lucilla. But it is the villains who have all the fun and steal the show. Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla are deliciously psychotic. I eagerly awaited next time they were on screen. But as enjoyable as they are, the gravitas and presence that Denzel Washington brings to the table is a beauty to behold. For as much visually impressive production iconic director Ridley Scott brings to GLADIATOR II, it’s Denzel Washington that lifts the material. Denzel is clearly having fun, chewing up scenery as Macrinus, a gladiator owner who desires to work his way up in power. Denzel is so great at being bad and so naturally charismatic that he may have earned himself another Supporting Actor Oscar nomination in this playfully villainous role.
Clearly, GLADIATOR II is an unnecessary rehash of the original. It is imitating so many wonderfully big moments with action packed bloody energy. There are even a few times that are laugh-out-loud absurdity meant for B-level movies. But the film is soooo much fun! I think Ridley Scott was purposeful in making a blockbuster sequel with talented stars and production solely for grand amusement, in which I am all on board. My biggest quibble is in the final climax, which loses some of the luster. I say embrace the ridiculousness and go be entertained at the awesome power of GLADIATOR II.
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