Review: Does ‘Gladiator II’ Entertain Like Its Predecessor?

It is 24 years since we first entered the Colosseum with Maximus Decimus Meridius. Twenty-four years since the general became a slave, Gladiator, telling us what we do in life, resonated in eternity and undoubtedly entertained us.

In 2000, “Gladiator” won best picture, best actor and three more Academy Awards after garnering 12 nominations. In addition to all the hardware, the film also earned nearly half a billion dollars at the global box office.

More than two decades later, “Gladiator II” is ready for the big show and hopes to entertain you again.

This time there is no Maximus or Commodus; instead we have the barbarian and Macrinus. But with fresh faces, some old and familiar fights in the Colosseum, is “Gladiator II” worth a trip back to the theater?

If you’re curious to know what I think, I’m here to tell you the answer is yes. The new epic may not live up to its predecessor, but it’s a good time at the theater and a fine addition to the catalog.

Here are some reasons why I think “Gladiator II” is a worthy sequel to “Gladiator.“

The cast

Like the first film, “Gladiator II” has assembled a stellar cast. There are many moving parts with many characters and stories, but everyone seems to understand the importance of their jobs and deliver fine performances.

Some notable mentions include Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla. Pascal is everywhere these days, and somehow the Mandalorian fits right in with the crowd in ancient Rome. Nielsen continues the great work she did in the original film and is better in this one than she was in the first film.

You will also hate the twin emperors, played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn. If you think Quinn looks familiar, you probably know him better as Eddie from “Stranger Things.” Herchinger and Quinn are abhorrent as the tyrannical leaders of Rome, and as we walked out of the theater my wife said, “I hated them.” I looked at her and replied, “That’s because they were so good.”

They’re so good, in fact, that I think you’ll struggle to see them in anything else and not feel a little sick for the next while.

I’ve saved the best for last.

Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington steal the show. Mescal is not a household name, but he is our new Gladiator and fits well with the sandals. His performance is genuine and his physicality meets the demands of the role. He’s not playing Maximus, but he’s giving us the same vibes that then-newcomer Russel Crowe did in the original. If you don’t know Mescal, I suggest you get to know him because I’m guessing you’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future.

Then we have the veteran, Washington. The man is amazing at everything he does and this is no exception. I’m willing to say that this is one of his best performances since his Oscar-winning role in “Training Day.” Yes, it’s that good. His character, Macrinus, is an enigma; you love and hate him at the same time. Some of that has to do with the script, but the way Washington brings it to life is unforgettable—he should earn another Oscar nomination for this role, if not another win.

It’s great to see an epic return to the big screen

As I prepared to watch “Gladiator II,” I was chatting with a friend and we were reminiscing about the days of the historical epic. There was an era – 20 to 30 years ago – when the studios invested in big budget bags and we couldn’t wait to buy a ticket to see it in the theater. These films included titles such as “Gladiator”, “The Patriot”, “The Last of the Mohicans” and one of my personal favorites, “Braveheart”. We’ve had others over the years like “Napoleon” and “Troy,” but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a well-executed juggernaut like “Braveheart” and “Gladiator.”

It seems like all the big budgets are now reserved for superheroes and live-action remakes of animated classics. I would love to see more historical epics and it was refreshing and nostalgic to see “Gladiator II” at the same time.

I can’t be the only one who feels that movie theaters were made for movies like this: large-scale productions with incredible sets, soul-shattering sound, palpable characters, moving stories, and iconic heroes like Maximus and William Wallace.

“Gladiator II” may be a sequel, as opposed to an original production like many of the films I mentioned, but it got back to the roots of these historical epics and made me feel like a kid on his way to theater excited to sit down with my popcorn, Nestle Crunch and ready to be transported to another time to meet heroes of the past and visit places lost in sand and time. This movie took me back and kept me in that state for almost three hours and I was there for every minute of it.

What parents need to know

“Gladiator II” is rated R and it gets that rating. There is no bad language in the film and no sex scenes. However, there are many allusions to sex and partial nudity. The idea of ​​excess and moral ambiguity in ancient Rome is alive and well in “Gladiator II,” even if it is not explicitly shown.

Where the film really gets its rating is the violence. This should come as no surprise to those who have seen the original. “Gladiator” was known for its brutal and often graphic violence. “Gladiator II” takes that approach and then turns the dial up a few notches. The new film is actually bloodier and more graphic than the original. The film is not for the faint of heart and certainly not made for young audiences. The violence starts early, and while there are some breaks here and there, it is fairly constant throughout the long 2½ hour running time.

Conclusion

Maximus asked us more than 20 years ago if we were not entertained. I can safely say that this movie entertains…and then some. Despite some missteps, uncanny coincidences and jarring occasional CGI, “Gladiator II” is a movie made to be enjoyed on the big screen.

While I don’t think “Gladiator II” is as good as “Gladiator,” I enjoyed the movie and thought it found a way to continue the story that so many of us fell in love with 24 years ago.

“Gladiator II” is officially rated R for strong gore.