Gladiator II

Gladiator II

Released November 22, 2024

Directed by Ridley Scott

Written by David Scarpa and Peter Craig

* No Spoilers *

I was entertained but I wasn’t moved. Comparison to Ridley Scott’s 2001 masterpiece is inevitable but in isolation if Gladiator II was released today, divorced from it’s predecessor it would have been a respectable and nostalgic call back to the epics of the past. Unfortunately Scott chose to double down and overemphasized this sequel’s marriage to the first film. It can’t stand on its own because it is so preoccupied with having a dialogue with the first movie’s themes, and unfortunately retreading much of the same ground.

I can appreciate mirroring for the sake of commentary, and in principle, the way it engages with the original film’s ideas is interesting, but only on paper. There are powerful and insightful points raised about democracy, the disease of decadence, and the cycle of violence and vengeance, but the movie fails to convey them effectively. There’s a great film buried in here somewhere, with incredibly well-set-up dramatic tension. Sadly, most of these moments lack the soul and emotional hook they deserve.

The cinematography is inconsistent. Some shots are masterful, besetting beams of light in some of the most immaculate sets I have ever seen. However, others are bland, boring, or too pristine. Where is the grit and realism that could have immersed me into this world. Scott is a legendary director, but he is well into his late 80’s and has such a high output of films can sometimes dilute his brilliance. There are glimpses of it for sure, but they stand in stark contrast to several key moments that feel so dull in their presentation.

I should have known that Hans Zimmer’s absence would be so detrimental to the movie’s emotional core. Harry Gregson Williams is a brilliant composer but he had large shoes to fill and came up short. The film opens with a retelling of the first film’s climax, presented through a stylized painted fresco filter. I might have enjoyed it, but I was taken out of the intended nostalgia trip by the unnecessarily bombastic new track. The music carried none of its predecessor’s DNA. Nostalgia isn’t inherently bad, but why not capitalize on it when it’s most critical—at the outset? Instead of being transported back to this magical world, I was made painfully aware that this would be a less polished approximation of what came before.

I say all of this as someone who already came in with very low expectations. I would say that this met those expectations — with one extremely critical exception. I was surprised they cast Denzel Washington (Training Day) in this movie and fully expected his role to be a brief but entertaining guest appearance. As the movie continued, one persistent thought kept crossing my mind: this needs more Denzel. Thankfully my prayers were answered. He was much bigger part of the plot and is probably the most well developed character in the movie. I am not exaggerating when I say that he steals every scene that he is in, and without him, this movie would have been nearly intolerable for me.

“The greatest temple Rome ever built. The Colosseum. Because this is what they believe in — power.”

The other performances are still respectable. Paul Mescal’s (Aftersun) physical acting and fight scenes are phenomenal. He makes every fight feel believable and the camera is pushed back enough away to showcase how much effort he put into learning the choreography. The action is brutal and visceral, and his ability to sell it goes a long way. He can definitely deliver a rousing motivational pre-battle speech, but I wish the dialogue they gave him was more memorable. Unfortunately he lacks even one iconic line that could even come close to any of the many we heard from Russel Crowe.

I love Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) in almost everything he is in. He is great here as well but is criminally under-utilized. Like Mescal, he nails the physical performance. It’s remarkable how well he can continue to emote and embody internal conflict even in a fight scene. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to present a a pained, regretful look while you are landing every sword slash in a complex action scene.

The twin emperors, played by Jospeh Quinn (Stranger Things) and Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) are suitable successors to Joaquin Phoenix’s iconic portrayal of Commodus. I enjoyed how each embodied elements of Commodus’ persona - from unhinged sadism to devious scheming. Joseph Quinn is the spitting image of a young Robert Downey Jr., and watching him here made me think of how incredible a young RDJ would have been as Commodus. While I’d never replace Joaquin, it could have worked.

[The one Indian character just had to be a Doctor 😆 ]

When Gladiator II was first announced, the most common reaction was surprise and confusion. How and why would they make a sequel? This is truly the sequel that no one asked for and it didn’t do enough to justify it’s existence. If this had been an entirely new historical epic from Ridley Scott, unburdened by comparisons, I think the expectations—and the experience—would have been much better. Instead, we got a movie so bogged down by its own history that it could never step out of its predecessor’s shadow.

It’s not all bad, so don’t let my pessimistic tone fool you. Let it temper your expectations instead. I loved the production design — the grandiose sets, the sprawling vistas of the ancient locations, and the compelling choreography of the battle sequences. They were refreshing to see in a modern movie, but they are just ingredients. This movie lacked the soul and spark to endear me to it’s characters or invest in it’s commentary on class, society, and revenge


6/10 - Denzel Washington’s performance and character elevate this entertaining but bland and derivative sequel to something just above tolerable. Without his scene stealing presence this wouldn’t offer much beyond the brilliantly choreographed and creative action scenes.