Review: ‘Gladiator II’ is an Inferior but Still Decent Rehash of the Original

Twenty-four years ago, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator took home five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. In the years since, a sequel has been brewing, though events of the first film dictate an almost entirely new cast. That long-anticipated follow-up finally arrives, incorporating much of the first film’s spectacle-driven nature and a careless disregard for human lives. Though nowhere near as potent or memorable as its predecessor, Gladiator II boasts strong fight sequences and an encouraging spirit of perseverance and survival.

Years after the death of Maximus, the Roman Empire is ruled by brothers Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), whose maniacal love of chaos is even stronger and more unhinged than that of Commodus. When his wife is killed and he is enslaved after an attack led by Roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Lucius (Paul Mescal) becomes a gladiator who immediately impresses the opportunistic Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Selected as his chosen champion, Macrinus promises Lucius revenge if he fights for him and for the entertainment of the emperors.

Those who saw the first film, which should encompass nearly all of this film’s audience, will understand the need for the introduction of new characters given that most of its players were killed off before its end. The opening credits of this sequel visually depict the events of the first film to remind those watching what happened, and a few select flashbacks are featured to provide clear connections between the two. This story might have been more poignant as an entirely standalone installment not dependent on a relationship with the plot of the original since this can’t hold a candle to its power and cinematic style.

The participation of Scott, who is set to celebrate his eighty-seventh birthday at the end of this month, shows what a passion project this truly is. The script from his All the Money in the World and Napoleon screenwriter David Scarpa imagines memorable characters capable of delivering passionate speeches, but none of it feels quite as effective and natural as similar diatribes from the first film. Maximus’ influence and legacy is very much felt, but much like the score by Harry Gregson-Williams, another frequent Scott partner who recently worked on House of Gucci and The Last Duel, it feels like a pale imitation of what came before it, including Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s phenomenal soundtrack.

Taken as its own film, there’s a good deal of action to be found in the midst of eye-popping set pieces with strong visual effects. The opening battle sequence in which Lucius first sets his sights on Acacius cements a particular tone for the hero’s journey as he travels the expected steps to face his enemies directly, including a handful of high-profile and high-stakes trials in front of a large audience. Though his motivations come from a desire for personal vengeance, there’s an overarching sentiment of hope for coexistence that, however not rooted in the history of this era, may prove appropriately uplifting and inspiring to audiences eager for ideas of peace.

Mescal is forging ahead in a public-facing career after early independent starts in Normal People, Aftersun, and All of Us Strangers, and he does possess a leading man energy that serves the film well. Pascal is also well-cast in an enticing heroic role. Quinn’s diabolical turn as the more focused and deliberate of the two emperor brothers is particularly magnetic, and he’s well-matched by Washington, chasing a tenth Oscar nomination and third win, who’s clearly having fun as a scheming ladder-climber who, more than anything else, understands how the game works. This cast elevates an action drama that can’t possibly match the quality of the film that spawned it but has something decent to offer for audiences looking to revisit this very distinctive period of history.

Movie Rating: 6/10

Awards Buzz: Gladiator earned twelve Oscar nominations and won five. This film isn’t likely to do quite that well but should contend for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Washington), and a handful of technical prizes. Scott is also a possible Best Director nominee, and if voters really love it, an acting nomination for Mescal or a screenplay bid might not be out of the question.