There are very few films in cinematic history — especially from the ‘00s — that many would consider perfect. But 24 years ago, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator became a monumental box office success, an Oscar Winner for Best Picture, and is now considered to be one of the best films of its decade. So I was insanely skeptical about Gladiator II.
How would it work? Was the original truly untouchable? However, to my surprise, I’m happy to report that after seeing the film, I emerged from my arena quite satisfied. You will be entertained!
“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” Reflecting on the meaning of this famous quote from the first film, what Russell Crowe’s Maximus was referring to is ultimately tied to legacy, and what’s left behind as a result of the actions we take in life. It’s a quote that could not be more apt in discussing Gladiator II, because that theme is written into the very DNA of this film. It’s also the driving force behind Scott’s decision to do everything in his power to bring us a film that honors the legacy of his original movie, and the desire and responsibility to make a follow up that does it justice. It’s because of this principle that Gladiator II succeeds. To the heights of the original? Not quite. But as a solid, fun follow up. Absolutely!
Gladiator II picks up over 20 years after the ending of the first film. It centers on Lucius, the now adult son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). Previously played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original, the mantle has now been picked up by Academy Award Nominee, Paul Mescal. Having fled Rome as a child following the death of Maximus and the liberation of the city to its people, Lucius has turned his back on the city, finding it now festering in corruption under the tyranny of two emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
With the Roman Empire conquering Lucius’s new home, thanks in part to the efforts of conflicted Roman General Marcus Acaceus (Pedro Pascal), Lucius is forced back into Rome. There, he must become a gladiator under Macrinus (Denzel Washington), in order to gain his freedom, reclaim his birthright, and carry out the wishes of his grandfather Marcus Aurelius to liberate Rome and give it back to the people.
While a lot of the story sounds like it could have easily been an exact retread of the first film, there’s more going on in this film than one might assume. Gladiator II is actually quite a different story in many ways, with a lot of drama and subplots going on that tie into each other quite elegantly. There’s even something of a Breaking Bad-esque, Machiavellian twist in the film, that I, along with everyone else at the screening, savored deliciously. In short, it’s a film that you’ll go in skeptical about, but find it getting better and more intriguing the more it continues.
Like the first film, the screenplay is quite strong. With writer David Scarpa (All the Money in the World, Napoleon) providing the same flair for witty, insightful lines that John Logan, David Franzoni, and William Nicholson added to the original. However, what Scarpa and story partner Peter Craig do quite well is ensure this installment is deliberately impacted by the events of its predecessor, and successfully build on the story of Rome set up by the first. The story of Maximus absolutely matters, and has affected the characters in this film considerably; particularly Lucius and his fellow gladiators.
However, what really sells this film, and the absolute reason this will leave you mesmerized, is Scott’s confident hand at blending drama with incredible, bloody action sequences, and masterful visuals. He once again recreates the look and feel of ancient Rome in a size and scale that is just awe-inspiring, reminding you what true epic cinema looks like.
For my money, not many directors can boast the ability to do the same. In fact, there’s one arena sequence in particular that had me completely stupefied about how they possibly crafted it, as well as questioning the logistics of how that would really work in reality. However realistic logic or not, if you aren’t smiling at the idea of sharks circling a flooded coliseum, while Roman soldiers fight to the death for their lives, I may have to assume you have no soul.
What Gladiator II lacks in depth, it makes up for in spectacle, immersion, and pure entertainment. This movie is a bloody good time, and like the first the action contributes to the escalating narrative of Lucius and his internal conflicts with his home, his past, and his mother. I’ll admit the machinations of what each individual character wants prove to be quite soapy, but I guiltily also found them absorbing.
We have a conflict between two heroes, who are both justified in what they want. We have the twisty plots of unexpected villains bubbling beneath the golden thrones of dangerous and corrupt emperors. We have the complicated relationship between a son, his mother and her lover, his legacy, and his desire for vengeance. There’s a lot going on, but it’s all rooted in character motivations that actually make sense. Add to that a ton of bloody, epic action, and showstopping visuals and production design, and you have a follow up that will leave you engrossed and invested from beginning to end.
On a performance level, both Pascal and Mescal drive the movie forward with complexity and purpose. They give dedicated performances and add depth to incredibly likable characters with charisma, charm, and heart. In short, they successfully have what it takes to create realistic underdog heroes you can root for fully.
However, admittedly, the film belongs to its villains. Much like the way Joaquin Phoenix stole numerous scenes in the original, the same can be said for Quinn, Hechinger, and amoral Washington. Quinn and Hechinger give us vibrant, over-the-top performances that you can’t help but smile at. Quinn is so devious, stealing so many scenes with his delivery and underlying menace. Hechinger delivers a sense of fragile insanity, that ends up providing the movie with some unexpected laughs. And Washington employs much of his Training Day skills to give you a questionable character you’re unsure about rooting for or against. By far his arc becomes the most interesting as the film progresses.
From a technical standpoint, the film features wonderful cinematography courtesy of Scott’s mainstay DP, John Mathieson. Mathieson employs the same sweeping camerawork and attention to detail he showcased from the first film (which earned him a worthy Oscar nomination), but takes things further giving us an uglier, aged Rome heading towards its fabled fate as a fallen empire. Gone are the sun-kissed golden glints of the Rome of yore. We now get a juxtaposition between a dirty, grimier feel of a Rome in collapse, coupled with the still grandiose, epic, transformative look of a historical world we’ve only read about.
The visual effects, sound design, and sweeping score from Harry Gregson-Williams also contribute beautifully to the film’s technical strengths, really making every scene feel real, genuine, tense, and immersive. It’s something Scott is truly adept at bringing together in every movie, but you can feel his passion in bringing out the best of these elements in Gladiator II, more so than with recent works, like The Last Duel or Napoleon. And that’s understandable given his protective nature of this film and the legacy it’s living under.
Will I be bold enough to say Gladiator II is as good or better than Gladiator? Absolutely not. It would take a miracle for any film to surpass the legacy of a masterpiece, such as the first. There’s definitely less heart, and a few narrative elements that made me question continuity and character consistency. However none of its flaws made me consider it an insult to the original either. On the contrary, I had an absolute blast watching this film, and was completely invested and engrossed in this story and its immersive setting from the first frame to the last. And that’s because Gladiator II is awesome, awe-inspiring, and action packed! It’s a return to form for Scott, as he once again proves nobody else can do epics like him! With solid performances from Mescal and Pascal, and even more scene stealing turns from Quinn, Hechinger, and Washington, combined with insanely thrilling action sequences, I guarantee you’ll want to see this gorgeously immersive epic on the biggest arena possible!
Overall Score: B+
