Rating of
3/4
Veni, vidi, vici... Once More
Chris Kavan - wrote on 11/28/24
I always knew that it would be hard for a sequel to top the 2000 original film, but Gladiator II at least comes close, paying honor to the first and landing some killer casting choices. Ridley Scott also benefits from some advances in technology which create some even more epic showdowns in the arena.
Casting does indeed play a big part in what makes this work so well and on top of that list is Denzel Washington whose Macrinus reminds me of another on of his top roles - that of Alonzo in Training Day. Both characters at first appear to be the good guy until an about face shows their true nature. Macrinus, however, is more subtle in his machinations but no less scary as a character. Paul Mescal, one of the "it" Hollywood actors right now, also performs well as the oft-shirtless Hanno/Lucius - and while it's hard to match Russell Crowe, Mescal it more than just a pretty face (and toned body) and holds his own in both the action scenes and the more emotional moments.
Pedro Pascal is always welcome in any project as far as I'm concerned and as General Acacius does well portraying a conflicted hero who is tired of the way things are going in Rome. Speaking of that, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are delightfully over-the-top as the twin emperors who are more into blood and conquest than, you know, ruling over a kingdom. Also, one of them has a cute monkey, so there's that. Connie Nielsen reprises her role from the first film (her and Derek Jacobi are the only OG cast members to return - but it's still nice to see them both back). Matt Lucas, Peter Mensah, Yuval Gonen, Alexander Karim and Tim McInnerny round out the supporting cast.
Those who want action need not look further as the film starts with a massive battle, heads into the arena where they fight baboons, a rhino-riding gladiator and a Coliseum filled with water (and sharks) for a naval encounter. Heads roll, blood spills and the people ARE entertained. But for those wishing for a good story beyond the action, Gladiator II also manages to make a high-stakes battle for the future of Rome with a lot of duplicitous deals and hidden agendas and, of course, the addition of the real lineage of Mescal's Hanno. Now, could some things have played out a bit better? Perhaps. But given how most sequels fare - especially after this long of a time between them - Gladiator II should be considered a success.
While the sequel has some big shoes to fill, it manages to get more right than wrong, enough that I recommend it.
