While it doesn’t reach the highs of its predecessor, “Gladiator II” is still a solid film and an excellent way to kick off the last stretch of 2024.
Director Ridley Scott’s return to Ancient Rome was released on Nov. 22 and offers a continuation of the story of the original.
The narrative centers around Lucius Versus. Following the death of Marcus Aurelius and his uncle, Emperor Commodus, Lucius is forced into exile for his safety as a power vacuum threatens to swallow Rome.
After 16 years, after building a new life in Numidia, Roman forces storm the North African kingdom and kill his wife in a battle to claim the territory. Driven by rage, Lucius eventually makes his way back to Rome in search of revenge, to slay the Roman General Marcus Acacius, unexpectantly finding himself captured and thrown into the Colosseum for the entertainment of the corrupt twin emperors Geta and Caracalla.
The defining feature of Scott’s “Gladiator” franchise comes from the sheer size of each installment’s production. Both films are fantastic at displaying the grand scale of Ancient Rome with the set designs, locations and uses of extras.
Scott is known for exaggerating some aspects of his historical epics, choosing visual flair over historical accuracy in some areas. The “Gladiator” franchise displays an over-exaggeration of the real-world character counterparts, Roman siege technology and the use of domesticated animals in the Colosseum.
While it is important to criticize these elements, I believe these slight changes work well in the context of the movie’s story and can be easily overlooked.
“Gladiator II” features some of my favorite performances of the year from its stacked cast. Paul Mescal, as Lucius, is an engaging protagonist. I commend him for his range here. While I wish he had a bit more screen time, Pedro Pascal is compelling as Marcus Acacius, with his moments to shine in the story.
My favorite performance by far comes from Denzel Washington as the gladiator master Macrinus. You can tell he had fun with his character and has such a commanding presence when he’s onscreen.
The same can be said for Joeseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as Emperors Geta and Caracalla respectively. I adore the line delivery from both of them.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Connie Nielsen reprising her role as Lucilla. She was the perfect choice for the character and brings so much passion to the role.
On a technical level, this film is a sight to behold. There are loads of shots that offer up some striking visuals. The camera angles and techniques used during the various fights in the Colosseum provide so much thrill and engagement to the action sequences.
Plenty of moments serve as callbacks to the original through the use of creative visuals. Several night scenes are flushed with blue as per its predecessor. We also get glimpses of the afterlife through Lucius’s eyes, reflecting Maximus’ experience.
There’s much to be said about “Gladiator II” releasing at the tail end of 2024. This year has seen plenty of continuations of several series from Hollywood, with 16 of the top 20 highest-grossing films being sequels or additional installments in already existing franchises, according to Box Office Mojo.
While I can’t read the minds of studio executives, I hope this trend doesn’t serve as an excuse to greenlight unnecessary franchise continuations.
While there are a couple of moments that I believe rely on the legacy of its predecessor a tad too much, the callbacks to its story are done sparingly and tastefully.
As a history buff and fan of “Gladiator,” I still found plenty of enjoyment from its sequel. As a continuation alone, it’s a diamond in the rough with quality.
I highly recommend viewing this film in theaters if possible. Seeing it on the big screen is the only way to give this film any justice. I could practically feel the impact of every clash in the Colosseum while watching.
While there is no definitive streaming date as of writing, “Gladiator II” is set to come to Paramount+ sometime in early 2025.