The much anticipated Gladiator II follows Lucius, a seemingly regular civilian who seeks revenge against Roman general Marcus Acacius after he captures him and kills his wife in battle. Lucius is forced to team up with slave-trader Macrinus and enter the Colosseum as a gladiator in order to try and get his vengeance.
On the surface, Gladiator II has a fairly similar story to the original Gladiator, however there are several interesting differences. Most notably, the sequel has a campier tone, embracing the sillier aspects of the aristocratic conflicts whilst also containing more outlandish action sequences. No one captures this tonal shift better than Denzel Washington, who is equal parts goofy, charismatic and at times scary in his role as Macrinus.
The action is probably less historically accurate than the original film – I’m not sure the Colosseum ever had sharks swimming around inside – but it definitely makes for entertaining set pieces
In comparison, the twin emperors Geta and Caracella, whilst entertaining at times, are too bratty to be the intimidating presences they’re supposed to be. Pedro Pascal’s Marcus Acacius is also an interesting character who has more to his character than it initially seems.
Lucius is at the centre of the dramatic side of the film, and he nails that task, with Paul Mescal giving the role a quiet gravitas which comes to fruition by the end. The gladiatorial sequences themselves are excellently directed and really engaging, with creative fight choreography and a liberal use of blood.
The action is probably less historically accurate than the original film – I’m not sure the Colosseum ever had sharks swimming around inside – but it definitely makes for entertaining set pieces. It’s also great to see an action film that isn’t overly reliant on computer effects or quick cut editing, both of which have become unfortunately common in modern action cinema.
Where the film also succeeds is in capturing the epic scale of the story. Director Ridley Scott is very experienced at directing big budget epics, and his expertise shines through in the final product. The pacing is mostly good and keeps the film entertaining, although the ending did feel slightly rushed.
Scott also nails the more dramatic sequences and gives them the emotional weight that they deserve. He is helped by Harry Gregson-Williams’ excellent musical score and the great cinematography from John Mathieson. Overall, Gladiator II may not be better than the first film, but it brings enough unique elements to the table to be a worthwhile sequel. To paraphrase Maximus, I was indeed ‘entertained’.
