WARNING: Contains Spoilers
Twenty-five years ago, in a time that seems so distant from now, Ridley Scott released the heroic film, Gladiator. This film changed the trajectory of war movies with its outstanding cast, bloody violence, and truly inspiring story. Twenty-five years later, with the release of the second installment of this series, some members of the audience felt disillusioned.
Title: Gladiator 2
Director: Ridley Scott
Cinematographer: John Mathieson
Writers: David Scarpa and Peter Craig
Starring: Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Was a sequel to Maximus’ story necessary? The clear answer is no; however, this is what we wanted. When films like Gladiator and of similar caliber were made, the impact of them was much smaller than it is now. Gladiator is like wine, and with age, it sweetens until it hits a point where it is divine. No one in their right mind would grab a new bottle from the shelf. And that is exactly what Ridley Scott has done with Gladiator 2. When the first film ends, we see the end of Maximus’ story—case closed. Although bittersweet, this was a peaceful ending with a few loose ends. Perhaps waiting 20 years could have been the issue. It could also be the different light Maximus is painted in because of this new story.
The sequel fails to touch on something incredibly delicate about Gladiator. It may be the sense of the unknown. When the film was first released, it captivated audiences with its immense storytelling ability. Maximus Decimus Meridius is shown to be a strong and humble man betrayed by those closest to him. Through this betrayal, we see Russell Crowe’s award-winning acting abilities. The looks of sorrow and vengeance on his face are beyond remarkable. It begs the question; however, is this something that can be replicated?
Perhaps the greatest letdown of Gladiator 2 was the destruction of Maximus’ loyalty. In the first film, we know that Maximus has a wife and young son who are unfortunately killed by the Romans. Throughout the film, he avenges them and, in doing so, rekindles the flame with Lucilla, the previous emperor’s daughter. It is known that they were together before his marriage to his current wife. However, what Gladiator 2 does is unforgivable.
We find out that Hanno is, in fact, Lucius, the young son of Lucilla, who was enamored with Maximus, looking up to him as a hero. This would indicate that Maximus, who is seen to be loyal to his country and family, would have been unfaithful to his wife. This turn of events makes no sense whatsoever and is an easy fix to an unnecessary problem. It appears to be a quick money grab to just make the main character of this new film the son of the beloved hero. This completely destroys Maximus’ credibility as the perfect hero.
The cast of the new film exceeds expectations. Denzel Washington, perhaps one of the greatest male actors of all time, plays Macrinus, a rich man who takes a liking to Hanno and sees a great opportunity within him. For some reason, film directors have made it a well-known movie fact that in Ancient Rome, everyone had British accents. Nearly every character in the first film has this accent. Almost everyone in the second film has this accent, except Mr. Washington. For some, this is just who they know Denzel to be. If a director can get him in their movie, he can do whatever he wants. On the other hand, this completely throws the sense of fantasy out the window.
Another letdown in this film, unfortunately, is Paul Mescal. His delivery and performance were mediocre compared to Russell Crowe’s, which was to be expected. When a great film, such as the first Gladiator, releases with a sequel to come 20 years later, of course, media and social commentary will be different. However, if we use the same mental scope from 2000, we can see how much this film flops.
The audience is also introduced to the two twin emperors, Geta and Caracalla. As fun as these characters look, and with their actors being Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, we are once again disappointed by their performance. Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is portrayed in a way that makes him seem unhinged, which is historically accurate for the time period. However, to have this same exact personality in the same installment feels repetitive. In the same way that Hanno is living in the shadow of Maximus, these two emperors are a reflection of Commodus.
Final Score (1.5 out of 5 Stars)
As enthusiastic as I was about this film, I was thoroughly disappointed. Not only does the story completely disregard the character building of Maximus in the first film, but it also tries so hard to revive a feeling that simply can not be replicated. The action scenes felt as if actors were playing a role instead of watching real gladiators fighting in an arena. This star studded cast was not enough for this to be a great film. Denzel is a phenomenal actor, however, The Roman Empire was not made for him.
It is extremely rare to have a sequel to a period film. Ridley Scott wanted to break boundaries and he achieved it, at what cost? This film could have had potential if it were made 10 years ago with the relevancy of the first film. What do you think? Was this sequel necessary? Share your thoughts on our Discord and join the conversation!
Featured Image: Paramount Pictures
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