Returning with a more punishing film, Ridley Scott uses a plethora of special effects in Gladiator II. His usual making of his films explosive and incredibly realistic place this episode far and above his original Gladiator in 2000. For action lovers it’s a treat, for the squeamish a bummer. However, the target audience wins big with this nearly $200 million dollar epic.
16 years have passed since the Gladiators fought under Maximus and Rome has not changed much with the wickedness of its newest Emperors the Twins Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn). Very blood thirsty, the two Roman rulers want more of the excitement in the Coliseum. Still alive is Lucilla (Connie Neilsen} the surviving daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius who had sent her son Lucius away from all the debauchery many years earlier. It was a good move, but one that will come to haunt her.
With a new batch of Gladiators, we find Lucius (Paul Mescal) among them. It’s the beginning of the terror and heartbreak that will feed the frenzied people of Rome. The arena has grown and the menaces that are brought forth are beastly and horrifying. With Ridley Scott back at the helm of course, you can expect double the danger. I like the way Scott leads into the storyline that adds more slimy characters trying to control the action in the ring. Heightening the fury makes this film even more appetizing in a weird sense, but it makes it a big winner.
The performances by Paul Mescal (Lucius), Pedro Pascal (Marcus Acacius) and Denzel Washington (Macrinus) are flawless in their roles. Lucius is unbeatable as the leader of the newly arrived Gladiators and his ability to fight in the crowded arena make him a favorite of the people. His foe, Marcus Acacius however wants him to fail so he can be loved by the Emperors. And in the middle of it all Macrinus wants power and he uses his sly wickedness to show he’ll never stop until his has it.
Gladiator II has been rated R by the MPAA for strong bloody violence. The film runs about 2 and a half hours, but for its fans, longer would have been better. The bloodletting is often and the brutality power and punishing. And the action tops the first due to the available CGI that was not as prevalent for Gladiator. Watch the film with the biggest screen possible. It has been released in IMAX as well.
Addition film information and trailer:
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence
Running Time: 2 hr. 28 min.
Opening Date: November 22, 2024
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Released in: Theaters
