“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” - Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Sequels will always be a bit of a conundrum in the art of cinema. On one hand, as rare as it may be, the infrequent sequel will come along that is better than its predecessor. The Godfather Part II is arguably as good if not better than the first. Terminator 2 is a vastly superior entry to the original which is saying a lot considering the first is a masterpiece of science fiction. The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, Top Gun: Maverick and as recently as this year with Dune: Part Two. All sequels that lived up to or completely surpassed any and all expectations including improving upon the first.
As uncommon as it is for a sequel to actually manage to be better than the original, an even rarer occurrence is for a sequel to be made for an Oscar winning film as so often movies that win Best Picture are usually thought of as stand-alone stories. You could go even further and say how even rarer it is for a sequel to come along for a best picture winner that in any way lives up to what made the first as significant and substantial as it is. The prime example there would have to be The Godfather Part II. Two parts of a trilogy both winning best picture is as rarified as it gets. In fact, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the only other sequel to win in that category. I could go on but I think I’ve made my point - Oscar sequels are one of the more uncommon things in Hollywood putting Gladiator II in a rather distinct and small group.
As made in my point the question then arises - Is part two of the Gladiator epic worthy of the name?
Absolutely.
Twenty-four years later Ridley Scott delivers us a sequel no one asked for. As is the case for a lot of sequels but that’s Hollywood for you. The first was a massive success with a box office take of nearly half a billion dollars. For an R rated drama in the early 2000s to make that kind of money was a bit of an anomaly. It would also go on to be nominated for twelve Academy Awards, winning five of them including Best Actor and Best Picture. Needless to say, part two has a lot to live up to. Although I don’t think it will come close to the same kind of numbers and accolades as the first, I think it definitely has a place in the conversation for certain categories. Without question there should be a nomination in Denzel Washington’s future for best supporting actor as Macrinus, a manipulative, conniving and murderous snake of a human being and Washington plays him to delirious perfection. He is quite the villain in Training Day, but I would argue we’ve never seen him quite like this and it’s incredibly thrilling to watch him devour this role.
We could see it pop up in more technical categories as well such as visual effects, costume design and production design. I’ve heard mention of a possible nomination for musical score but in my opinion, while the score matches the epic scope of the film, it doesn’t quite live up to the amazing work that Hans Zimmer gave us in the original. The score for part two feels more serviceable than award worthy.
As for Paul Mescal as Maximus’ long lost progeny, Lucius, he is fantastic as the inheritor of Rome’s wayward present and likely future. I just don’t imagine hearing his name come Oscar nomination morning. That said, he in no way falters, delivering a powerful, highly physical performance worthy of being called the son of the legendary gladiator himself. He is simply great in a cast of other fantastic performances led by the scheming Washington.
Nearly twenty years after the death of Maximus Decimus Meridius, Rome has tragically lost its way at the hands of twin brother emperors Geta and Caracalla. In their naive and impetuous actions of merciless rule, Rome has become a failed state. Conquering without reason, they imprison those that survive the battle. Among the most recent captives is Lucius Verus, former heir to the Roman Empire and son of Maximus and Lucilla. Long wanting nothing to do with his past, Lucius soon realizes in order to survive he must take up the mantle of his father and try to save Rome, revealing who he is and the legacy he must uphold.
As with any group of politicians, there are always the wolves in sheep’s clothing who will make every effort to stem the outcry of dissonance that is beginning to undo their place at the top of Rome’s power and status. Lucius fights with his father’s strength and a sword in hand. His enemies use deception and manipulation and when it suits them, a hidden blade thrust into the back of those who trusted them most. Rome has lost its way, Lucius and the armies loyal to his father must rise up and return it to the people.
The most obvious shortcoming of Gladiator II is the lack of emotional resonance that fueled the heart and soul of the first. The story is less emotionally driven with a more heightened focus on action and adventure. This is where it excels delivering amazing visual spectacle and visceral, brutal action scenes featuring everything from sharks and rhinos to epically massive battle sequences that Ridley Scott is synonymous with. This is his best film since The Martian and while it doesn’t quite measure up to the first, it never needed to. It just needed to be worthy of the name and it most certainly is. Gladiator II is the epic and noteworthy culmination and conclusion of Maximus’ story of legacy and destiny.
Rated R For: strong bloody violence
Runtime: 148 minutes
After Credits Scene: No
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Out of 10
Story: 8/ Acting: 10/ Directing: 8.5/ Visuals: 9
OVERALL: 8.5/10
Buy to Own: Yes.
Check out the trailer below:
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