Gladiator II
November 12th, 2024
MOVIE: GLADIATOR II
STARRING: PAUL MESCAL, DENZEL WASHINGTON, PEDRO PASCAL, CONNIE NIELSEN
DIRECTED BY: RIDLEY SCOTT
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 4 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 148 MINUTES
When Gladiator began production, there wasn’t even a script—just a rough outline. What it became was a Best Picture-winning epic that revived the sword-and-sandal genre, blending a classic revenge story with a historical look at the power of Rome. Now, 24 years later, Ridley Scott returns with Gladiator II, and though much has changed both on screen and in cinema, this sequel isn’t just a return to a bygone genre—it’s a meditation on what we can become. It’s a film brimming with warrior spirit, exploring power, deception, and the rise of a new hero.
Picking up 16 years after the events of Gladiator, Rome is a shadow of its former self. The streets are filled with beggars, famine runs rampant, and the ruling class basks in decadence. Our new hero is Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, reprising her role). Lucius is now fighting on the coast of Africa alongside his wife, Arishat (Yuval Gonen), as they prepare for a battle with the Roman army led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). After the Centurions decimate their forces, Arishat is killed, and Lucius is washed ashore, only to be captured and sold into slavery. Much like Maximus before him, Lucius embarks on a journey for vengeance—but also toward greatness.
At 28, Paul Mescal is eight years younger than Russell Crowe was when he first led the charge in Gladiator, and while his Lucius shares some parallels with Maximus, the similarities stop there. Lucius has few allies and is sold into the hands of the manipulative Macrinus (a scene-stealing Denzel Washington). Though Macrinus presents himself as a mentor, he’s merely another greedy opportunist, steering Lucius toward his destiny. Meanwhile, co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) are both madmen, each oblivious to the dangerous forces conspiring around them. In this world, Lucius doesn’t win the crowd—he’s just trying to survive in a ruthless, deceitful Rome.
Some may critique Gladiator II as a near-carbon copy of its predecessor, but that’s a superficial take. The screenplay by David Scarpa and Peter Craig offers a fresh narrative, focusing not just on revenge but on a young leader’s awakening. Ridley Scott’s direction digs into the complexities of the characters, highlighting how the two emperors are not just evil, but genuinely mad. Lucilla’s complex relationship with Acacius, a love born out of political necessity, is another subtle touch, as she must now choose between the man she fought for and the son she lost.
Where the film truly excels is in its scale. The battles are bigger, the sets more expansive, and the violence is relentless. Gladiator II is one of Scott’s grittier films in recent memory, with limbs hacked off, soldiers impaled by spears, charging rhinos, and a chaotic battle with baboons that feels straight out of Alien: Covenant. As with all of Scott’s work, the film feels like a carefully constructed monument—each piece of storytelling, from the battles to the political maneuvering, recalls his past films, like Napoleon, House of Gucci, and The Last Duel.
While Gladiator remains the stronger film, Gladiator II offers a more nuanced exploration of power, legacy, and revolution. Ridley Scott has crafted a Rome that mirrors our times, where power-hungry men sit on thrones, the people speak of rebellion, and the manipulators pull the strings behind the scenes. It’s a film that resonates far beyond the screen, echoing through eternity.
4 STARS
GLADIATOR 2 IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22ND, 2024.
Written by: Leo Brady
