Gladiator II : Review

The long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott's Gladiator II is out, and here is my verdict.

Overall, this film seemed to be consistently full of promise, only to culminate in disappointment every time. Let me clarify, there were indeed standout scenes, impressive performances, and thrilling battles in the coliseum. However...

I recommend reading this review whilst listening to the wonderful Hans Zimmer soundtrack from the movie!

SPOILER ALERT

Ridley Scott's latest installment of the Gladiator movie, based 16 years after the original, introduces new emperors and characters and had me very excited to see what was in store. Nevertheless, it falls short in terms of intricate storylines and character development. Don’t get me wrong, there were some notable performances, particularly by Denzel Washington, who, in my view, carried the movie. Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, intended as main characters, seemed more like supporting roles that did not significantly contribute to the storyline. I had high expectations for Paul Mescal after his great performance as Connell in Normal people (excellent series that came out in the height of COVID), but his performance seems one dimensional to me in this. The film lacked a gradual introduction of characters, solid backstories, and the ending felt hurried.

Bringing back a few actors to play in this movie was a nice touch. Both Connie Nielsen as Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus reprised their roles, and I enjoyed that. However, there were too many repetitive nostalgic nods to the first film that I felt were not needed. Although the soundtrack was undoubtedly great, being from the original movie meant that it didn't contribute significantly to this volume.

The first scene in the movie was a battle scene which felt laborious, boring and full of inaccuracies which made it feel very unrealistic. We jump straight into a war without any backstory and therefore did not feel any attachment/emotional bond to the wife of the main character when she was killed in the first ten minutes. In addition the whole storyline felt like it was geared towards Lucious wanting to kill Pedro Pascals character Acacius - so when he was killed halfway through the movie it felt like it lost its flow completely and did not have any goal or end point in sight.

The first battle in the arena, where the new gladiators faced a group of monkeys, was quite entertaining, much like it would have been for the Romans of that time. The subsequent Rhino fight was equally thrilling. However, I was no longer engaged when the coliseum was flooded with water with bad CGI sharks, which seemed rushed and out of place. Matt Lucas brought a touch of humor with his performance, just as Omid Dijalili did playing a slave trader in the first film.

The twin brothers who were the new emperors of Rome had no good backstory, and whilst they had great potential at the beginning (I particularly enjoyed Joseph Quinn's take on Emperor Geta - he was a very convincing villain), it went downhill when they made the characters too psychotic and had one killed abruptly without much of a subplot. The remaining brother's decision to appoint his pet monkey as his second in council was amusing, as it not only paid homage to historical practices (like appointing a horse to the council) but also added depth to his craziness.

I was thoroughly disappointed by the ending because it felt so rushed and lacked any real meaning .The resolution where Paul Mescal's character Lucius effortlessly persuades two opposing armies to reconcile with a rather half-hearted speech felt contrived and unrealistic. It seemed to be a convenient way to wrap up the movie swiftly.

I warmed to the character portraying the doctor, Ravi, and I thought the scenes involving him and Lucious were particularly well executed. These interactions contributed to the character development of both individuals. If the other relationships had been explored in a similar manner, I believe the movie would have been more engaging and memorable, leaving a stronger impression.

Tim McInnerny, known for his role in Notting Hill, portrayed the character Thraex effectively, despite my dislike for the character. I only form strong opinions about a character when the actor's performance is exceptional so this speaks volumes.

This leads me to consider, without making direct comparisons because I believe each stands on its own, the original Gladiator film. Whether it's fair or unfair, I rewatched it shortly before seeing its sequel in theaters to refresh my memory. The movie was truly magnificent and captivating, filled with numerous poignant moments. Russell Crowe delivered a stellar performance, as did Joaquin Phoenix. Oliver Reed was also outstanding, as was Richard Harris (known for portraying the beloved first Dumbledore in the initial two Harry Potter films). Honestly, I couldn't find a flaw in any of the performances. Crowe received an Oscar for best actor that year, and the film itself received numerous awards and accolades for aspects such as cinematography, costume design and soundtrack. While Phoenix missed out on the best supporting actor at the Oscars, he did win at the Critics' Choice Awards which I feel was well deserved.

I left the first movie feeling very deep in thought, emotionally connected to all the characters involved, and very intrinsically satisfied with such a beautifully woven plot and soundtrack. Unfortunately, I left the second movie with questions, no connection with any of the characters, and a feeling of lackluster. There is a third movie in the making, so it will be interesting to see which direction Ridley Scott takes it.

What did you all think? I would love to hear your thoughts about the movie in the comments below...