A sequel to the first Gladiator movie, Gladiator II is full of action and beautifully shot with talented actors, but it has no developed emotional center.
I really liked the first Gladiator film. Having not watched it in years, I am not wholly sure what it is that made it special other than the gorgeous sets and talented actors, but I know that I wanted Russell Crowe’s Maximus to defeat Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus. Commodus was so repulsive and Maximus had been through so much – it mattered. I cared.
Gladiator II picks up approximately 15 years after the death of Maximus and Rome is now being ruled by a duo of emperors, twins Caracalla and Geta. Lucius (who was a child during the first Gladiator film and was sent away from his own protection) is now a twenty-something man whose wife has been killed, village conquered, and has been sold into slavery to fight in arenas for others’ entertainment. Ultimately, he ends up in Rome, where he comes face to face with his long lost mother, Lucilla, and her boyfriend, General Acacius.
This film is a historical drama that is beautiful to look at. The gorgeous boats, arenas, costumes, and battle scenes are epic, with vivid colors and designs. There is also a black and white sequence that happens only a few times when Lucius feels his wife after death, and that is lovely as well.
The biggest issue that I had – and it was huge – is that Gladiator II is kind of boring. I did not care about any of the characters, other than a slight twinge when it came to Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius – but I can’t honestly tell you if that’s because I enjoyed the character or because I love Pedro Pascal. Probably the latter.
Denzel Washington, who is a great actor, seems to maintain his New York accent behind his dialogue, which is odd since this movie is set in approximately 211 CE – which is about 1600 years too early for NYC. Paul Mescal does everything that he can possibly do with the character of Lucius, but there is absolutely no connection. And since I didn’t care about what happened to anyone, I didn’t care all that much about what was happening.
But because I enjoy knowing the real history, I found myself Googling during the movie (because I was bored). To answer some questions that may come up for you – 1. Historians believe that the Colosseum could indeed be filled with water to allow for naval battles. I highly doubt they brought in sharks, though. 2. The emperors were real people who ruled together, but they were brothers, not twins. 3. While there is a record of a rhino at a peaceful event at the Colosseum, gladiators did not ride them into battle.
You can watch this film without having seen the first Gladiator. There are many references to Maximus and the late emperor, but you are told everything you need to know.
I really struggled with this movie because it was absolutely beautiful and I did not care about or what happened to anyone in it. I was completely emotionally barren, and that’s never good. You might enjoy it if you like big, epic battle sequences and aren’t concerned with emotionally connecting with the characters, but if you are, don’t bother.
I really liked the first Gladiator film. Having not watched it in years, I am not wholly sure what it is that made it special other than the gorgeous sets and talented actors, but I know that I wanted Russell Crowe’s Maximus to defeat Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus. Commodus was so repulsive and Maximus had been through so much – it mattered. I cared.
