GLADIATOR II Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Tim McInnerny, Derek Jacobi, Rory McCann, Matt Lucas, Yuval Gonen, Peter Mensah.
Gladiator was a great movie, and even though it entertained us it didn’t really need a sequel. But here we are, 24 years later with Gladiator II. Written by David Scarpa, who also wrote the epic Napoleon biopic for Ridley Scott, Gladiator II pretty much follows many of the same beats of the original and incorporates some elements of Kubrick’s classic Spartacus. It also delves deeply into the corrupt politics of the period. And returning at the helm of this blockbuster sequel is the prolific Ridley Scott, who shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 87.
This film follows the character of Lucius (played by Paul Mescal, from Aftersun, etc), the son of Russell Crowe’s character Maximus. Following Maximus’s death Lucius was sent away from Rome for his own safety. He has been living far away in a walled city in North Africa. But his peaceful life comes to an end when a legion of Roman soldiers under the command of General Marcus Acacius (Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, from the tv series The Last Of Us, etc) invade. The Romans destroy the village and capture the survivors, including Lucius) taking them to Rome where they will be sold into slavery.
Lucius is bought by the wily Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who controls a small stable of gladiators who are trained to fight for the glory of Rome in the colosseum. But Rome is a cesspool of corruption and greed under the tyrannical control of twin brothers and cruel emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn, from A Quiet Place: Day One, etc) and Caracella (Fred Hechinger, from Thelma, etc), who are generally despised by the population because of their lavish lifestyle and excesses. The bloody fights in the colosseum are intended to distract the population from their woes and the failings of the government.
As Lucius survives each brutal encounter in the arena his popularity and status also rise until he is able to inspire an uprising to topple the corrupt government. Lucius also reconnects with his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, reprising her role from the original) who is married to Acacius. But she is also working in secret with a group of senators to try and restore stable government to Rome and return the city to its former glory. Lucius becomes caught up in the intrigue. But Macrinus is also maneuvering behind the scenes, but not out of altruistic reasons but because he has more lofty ambitions. Washington doesn’t often play the villain but when he does like here as the manipulative and conniving Macrinus, he is very good . And his character is one of the strengths and driving force of the film.
Irish actor Mescal is a rising star who is capable of delivering empathetic and sympathetic performances and he acquits himself quite well in the action sequences; although he has bulked up here he lacks Crowe’s commanding physical presence. Derek Jacobi, also reprising his role from the original, is wasted and given little to do. Neilsen has a strong presence and gives the film a strong focus. Tim McInnerny is also good as the weak and venal senator Thraex. A younger looking Crowe also appears briefly in flashbacks culled from the 2000 original.
Ridley Scott’s CGI augmented recreation of ancient Rome is very good, and the film steeps us in this ancient world with some great cinematography from Oscar nominated John Mathieson, who also shot the original. There is some superb production design from Arthur Max, who recreated a physical replica of the colosseum for the film. The film was shot on location in both Malta and Morocco and these sparse landscapes also add to the authentic looking backdrop.
Scott’s direction of the bloody gladiatorial contests is quite muscular and visceral, and those scenes are quite spectacular. Amongst Lucius’ opponents in the arena are ravenous baboons, a giant riding a large rhinoceros, and even the recreation of a famous sea battle staged in a colosseum flooded with shark filled water, which requires a suspension of disbelief.
While Gladiator II is not as strong as the original it is still an entertaining spectacle best seen on the big screen.
★★★
