There’s something so satisfying in seeing a sequel to one of your favorite movies after 20+ years and having it be amazing. Was Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II needed? No. Did we ask for it? No. But did it stand up on its own and become a great film I want to watch repeatedly? Absolutely. Having purposefully skipped some of the later trailers so as not to reveal or spoil anything, I found that the film’s story, characters, and action make this one of the year’s best films.
Directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II follows the events of Gladiator (2000). Written by Peter Craig and David Scarpa, the film picks up years after Lucius witnessed Maximus’s death at the hands of his uncle and emperor. Lucius (Paul Mescal), the former heir to the Roman Empire and son of Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), is living in the northern African region of Numidia when his home is invaded by the Roman army led by Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Lucius seeks revenge against Acacius and fights as a gladiator for Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave who plots to overthrow the emperors Caracalla and Geta. Lucius enters the Colosseum with rage and heartache as he takes on the empire. The film stars Mescal, Pascal, Nielsen, Denzel Washington, and Derek Jacobi, with Nielsen and Jacobi reprising their roles from the first film.
One of the cool things about Gladiator II is how history and fiction collide. Scott returns audiences to ancient Rome with a blood-obsessed populace, cruel emperors, and justice through combat. This time, the action in the arena is more than just crazed men wielding weapons and the occasional tiger. “There is real history at the core of Gladiator II,” says Estelle Paranque, assistant professor of history at Northeastern University in London. “The twisted pair of emperors in the film, Caracalla and Geta, were real, along with Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, although the details of his life have been changed dramatically. Even some parts of the gladiatorial action are plucked from history.”
Some of the action in the arena, while dramatized, is so incredible to watch on the big screen. There is this excitement in knowing that they used to do a form of this in ancient Rome. Having visited the Colosseum in Rome makes it even more extraordinary to me. Movies that make you want to travel or learn more about historical accuracy are good in my book. Art inspiring life is what film is all about.
Action is one of the most popular genres in film. Throw in historical, and I’m there. Gladiator II has all the making of a fantastic action film, from the fights to the stunt work to the explosions. Now throw in semi-historically accurate costumes and a real, historical setting, and it’s love. The nerdiness really comes out when I can follow up a screening of a film with a historical deep dive. But I digress.
The action in this film is top-notch, historically accurate or not! For those that are squeamish with blood, be warned. The fight sequences are a “bloody” good time. Scott upped his game from Gladiator with the stunt work and practical effects. Not to mention the use of CGI and the A word (Artificial Intelligence). The sets really place you in the action. It’s fun to watch! “We begin the film with probably the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done,” said Scott in a recent interview. My eyes never looked away. My mouth was open in wonderment and amazement as the scenes unfolded. Breathtaking!
From the cast and acting, for whom Oscar nods are sure to follow, to the production we see on screen, Scott has created another epic worthy of the 24-year gap from its predecessor. Say what you want about Denzel’s accent or lack thereof, but that man delivered a character I didn’t know we needed. The way he works with the actors in scenes is fun to watch. Give him the Best Supporting Actor nomination now.
Everyone stepped up in front and behind the camera to make this film as special as it is. I didn’t know much about Paul Mescal before this film, apart from All of Us Strangers, but he came out the gates swinging, and I won’t forget who he is from this day forward. The pacing, the music, and the dialogue work in harmony at peak value.
Gladiator II is a real sigh of relief. I had high hopes when the film was first announced, but I was nervous about its success after seeing Napoleon (2023). Gladiator II does have its plot holes, but this is as close to perfect as it gets. I would love a director’s cut to see what could have been if there’s more on the cutting room floor, but I can’t wait to make this part of the annual Gladiator watch with my family.
Gladiator II is in theaters on November 22, 2024.
