20 hours ago5 min read

‘Gladiator II’ Review: Rhinos and Monkeys and Sharks, Oh my!

After Ridley Scott’s latest faux pas (yes Napoleon, I’m looking at you) it was hard not to worry about the possibility of a Gladiator II fiasco. Following Commodus’ death in the original film, a sequel seemed unlikely - the Senate had taken power from the Emperor and the dream of Rome seemed to be in its remake, hardly anything could go wrong, right? Even Scott himself expressed doubts about the necessity of a sequel, admitting in an interview that he had spent the last two decades wondering if Gladiator needed a sequel at all.

The film begins 16 years after Maximus' death, with Rome once again plunged into chaos. It is now run by two temperamental twins, Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn) who have long abandoned Marcus Aurelieus’ vision of peace. General Acacious (Pedro Pascal) is their formidable leader and the embodiment of Maximus’ strength and strategy, focused on expanding the Empire’s reach to the shores of Africa—specifically Numidia.

Here, we encounter the film’s protagonist, Hanno (Paul Mescal), better known as Lucius - our link to the original film. Acacious effortlessly conquers Numidia, imprisoning its citizens and killing Hanno’s wife, Arishat, in the process. Taken to Rome, Hanno finds himself caught in the twins’ latest spectacle: new games to celebrate their victory. He is bought by manipulative Macrinus (Denzel Washington) as a gladiator. Hanno/Lucius is fuelled by rage and vengeance, but blissfully unaware of his true lineage. He demands Acacious’ head from Macrinus in exchange for his efforts; what he doesn’t know is the general is married to his estranged mother, Lucilla - clearly, she has a type. But don’t worry, I haven’t spoiled the whole film—this is just the setup for an epic two-and-a-half-hour journey.

Scott’s direction is nothing short of masterful and his brilliance shines after many years of disappointment, the answer to his question becomes undoubted, Gladiator did need a sequel. The film is both reminiscent of its predecessor and original in perfect balance, Scott combines the characteristic effects of Gladiator I but wisely exploits the technological updates and budget increases that have happened over the last two decades, leaving us with a flawless fusion of nostalgia and awe. The film is full of references and if you’re planning to watch the sequel for its star-studded cast, I can’t emphasise enough how crucial it is to watch the original Gladiator.

Writers David Scarpa, Peter Craig, and David Franzoni perfectly capture the essence of the original, maintaining its linguistic discourse while seamlessly weaving in direct and indirect references. They honour iconic lines from the first film, placing them so thoughtfully that hearing “What you do in life echoes in eternity” still gives you goosebumps. In a great alignment with Scott, they too take from the original and go beyond it, perhaps even a little too much, creating a more intricate plot and adding another layer of political complexity that the original lacks. Introducing subplots and schemes that capture the Roman spirit of complots, they also address a change in the time that has passed since the original release in 2000, subtly launching queer-coded characters without making it seem like affirmative action. Their credit is due even more so, as none of them were involved in the making of the original, something which, comically enough, can only make me replicate Paddington in Peru’s overwhelming reviews and say that for a film with everything working against it, it makes a worthy sequel to an emblematic original.

The main draw of Gladiator II is undoubtedly the cast, so overwhelmingly brilliant independently that outshining each other was a reasonable concern. Nevertheless, they work perfectly in unison prioritising the tribute to the last film and performing brilliantly within their roles. Paul Mescal’s performance is Oscar-worthy and long gone from the days of Aftersun, his Lucius pays respect to Crowe’s Maximus and elevates it to a complexity that we missed in the original. While a major face of the industry at no time do you see Connell Waldron slip out of him, although a ring of Irishness is heard at times. Pascal remains flawless and professional in his secondary role, taking as well from Crowe’s performance and maintaining Maximus' duality between his duty as general and his wish for peace. Washington showcases his usual standard of excellence and carries a large weight of the film that he delivers without a stumble, unsurprisingly. However, the film’s surprise is carried on the shoulders of the twins, as Quinn performs to the level of major industry figures, his Stranger Things days far behind him. Hechinger and his unfailing companion Dondus, are a revelation and provide the film with a humorous tone that the first one lacked.

After speaking wonders of the film, I must address its main two flaws, both stemming from the same person - ironically, the only remaining character from the original. Connie Nielsens’ performance is artificial at best and, frankly, deplorable. This is surprising, as her acting in the first one, while far from mind-blowing, was not noticeably bad. While we can be grateful for the lack of incest in Gladiator II, Nielsens’ acting stumbles are even worse in light of the brilliance of her co-stars. The second flaw, which may not entirely be her fault, involves the outing of Maximus as Lucius’ father, the only noticeable switch from original to sequel. This, while hinted at in the first film, was never explicitly mentioned, a subtlety I found perfect, nevertheless required by the plot - he is openly discussed by Lucilla as his descendant which inevitably seems forceful and strange. Especially considering that the famed bittersweet conclusion of Gladiator I came from Maximus’ love for his wife and his desire to be reunited with her in a wheat-filled afterlife, this sudden outing is also doubtful given some chronology issues that imply that Maximus would have cheated on his pregnant wife to plausibly be Lucius’ father.

Overall, while inevitably slightly flawed, the brilliance of Gladiator II was so unexpected and well-crafted that it feels truly deserving of its two-decade wait. It pays tribute to the original with respect but goes beyond it in so many ways, leaving us with the lingering thought of Did I like it more than the original? A question that ultimately can't be answered as the two films work as one, and to compare them is impossible with Gladiator I offering a tied story with fewer characters and narrower objectives. The sequel zooms out from Maximus’ story into a broader picture where rather than Lucius, Rome is the protagonist.