There does appear to be a trend as off lately. Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Top Gun: Maverick and Blade Runner 2049 are all “legacy” sequels to their respective films that were all respectively “complete” as they were to begin with. Sometimes it is hard to touch on something so special and give it a new lease of life, or even update it for a modern audience. Saying that however these select films, and a few many more too, all somehow exceeded or matched their previous films while also providing a new perspective at their legacy. New characters, continuing story arcs and nods of nostalgia all litter these films and it is thanks to these selling points that we got a new film to add to that list - Gladiator II.
I believe we were all entertained back in 2000 when Gladiator, the Roman epic blockbuster, debuted in cinema’s across the world. Iconic lines, killer performances and beautiful cinematography all helped elevate the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius. Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix crafted a legacy alongside filmmaker Ridley Scott that was left untouched until now. Enough time as passed and Paul Mescal fills in the sandals as Hanno, a prisoner from the African territory of Numidia that was soon conquered by the Romans led by General Acacius who is played by Pedro Pascal. What follows is a revenge story, with some twists and turns along the way.
Many people have scolded Gladiator II already for its historical inaccuracies, and okay there may be a few liberties in terms of what the Roman’s did and what they knew about at the time in terms of other cultures, but this film was designed to entertain you just as much as immerse you in this ancient world. The set design, huge practical effects, the fighting in the arena and the impressive visual effects all come together to deliver another outstanding blockbuster by the Alien and Blade Runner filmmaker. Scott honours his original film but also updates it with new characters too, with Joseph Quinn and Denzel Washington being two more stand outs in the film as Emperor Geta and former slave Macrinus. There is so much going on that the film does not drag and instead you’re glued to your seats and enticed to see how these events will play out.
Gladiator II does suffer from a weak script, especially when compared to the original film. What helps is that the cast do their best to deliver their performances in ways that can only be described as Shakespearean, in that they make every word and every sentence have meaning. The depth of the characters are not explored too deeply, nor the culture of Rome. Admittedly the first film did do a good job at that but you’d expect the same here. Mescal’s character gets a few surprises but he doesn’t say a lot in the film. For an action blockbuster it's not a bad thing but some character development would have been nice instead of the odd guilt and grief he is tortured with.
Gladiator II works on a lot of different levels. It is fun, entertaining and immersive. This is what cinema is designed to be, an event where you get lost in a world and story that you just feel transported too. It may not hold a similar classic status as the original but it definitely works as a companion piece really well. You won’t be bored, you will be engaged the entire time and you will want to see me despite the films shortcomings which are few anyway. This is a great way to remind you that cinema is truly still alive and thriving.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Gladiator II proves that Ridley Scott can still truly deliver a cinematic piece of art, even if it is a sequel to a well-loved classic. The ambition and scope is all there on the big screen. The attention to detail with the practical sets and minimal but vital visual effects all help to provide a truly immersive experience captivated by some magnificent performances, from Pedro Pascal, to Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal. Everyone and everything just feels like Rome brought to life. The script may feel a little weak or lacks enough depth as the original, but the spirit and violence of the original is here and this is a truly worthy sequel.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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