Gladiator II marks the sequel to the original film almost a quarter century later. Director Ridley Scott returns for another thunderous outing, but I personally didn’t see the need for a follow-up.
The original film worked wonderfully well as a self-contained effort and ended perfectly. Gladiator II supplies a bombastic spectacle but curiously lacks much of the weight and emotional resonance of the first one.
This second chapter focuses on the character of Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), now an adult who lives far away from Rome in 200 AD and goes by the name Hanno. He lives in Numidia with his archer wife when the Roman army invades and conquers. Pedro Pascal is General Marcus Acacius, responsible for Lucius’ wife’s death.
Lucius’ wife is killed in battle. He becomes a slave and, eventually, a gladiator. Lucius fights against savage baboons. It’s here where we can see the original formula on autopilot.
Denzel Washington costars as Macrinus, a former slave who now manages gladiators. He senses great potential in Lucius and offers him an opportunity for revenge in the Roman Colosseum. Washington brings the most charisma to his role as a man who has lofty ambitions of overthrowing the current emperors.
Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother. When she’s reunited with him, he rejects his lineage. Lucilla sent him away because he was next in line for the throne.
Director Ridley Scott still knows how to execute these intense, violent, and over-the-top sequences with a combination of practical sets and CGI. Perhaps the movie’s most memorable sequence involves flooding the Colosseum and staging a naval battle. It’s impressive to look at and offers something different while still being cut from the same cloth. And there are sharks.
My recommendation is more for the spectacle rather than the emotional or psychological attempts the movie makes. Russell Crowe’s Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus provided equal contrast, and their performances were so committed to the material that there was a strong interest in who would come out on top.
Here Gladiator II misses that despite solid work from Mescal, Pascal and Washington. I can see Mescal emerging as a star due to his towering sense of intensity as Lucius and Washington generates interest with his screen presence by playing Macrinus with a wit and a charm that masquerades ambiguity underneath his mostly poker-face exterior.
Gladiator II doesn’t reach the near-perfect heights of its Oscar-winning predecessor, but you might be entertained.
Grade: B
(Rated R for strong bloody violence.)
