“Gladiator II” leaves audiences “entertained”
24 years ago, “Gladiator” was released into theaters. Since then, the film has continuously grown in fame and reputation. With the relatively minimal CGI and stunning performances by actors such as Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielsen, it was no wonder the film garnered such a positive reception. In addition to these factors, the plot, writing and directing made the movie a stand-out amongst other Roman period pieces. Taking all of this into account, expectations were high when it was announced that there would be a “Gladiator II.”
Premiering on Nov. 22, the sequel to the beloved movie did not fall short of standards. It takes place years after the first film and centers around Lucius Vera, the son of Lucilla and grandson of Marcus Aurelius, as revealed in trailers. It follows a similar plot of revenge, yet evolves further into fighting for what is referred to as, “the dream that was Rome.”
Throughout the film, there are many outstanding acting performances. I might even go so far as to say that there were only outstanding performances. Paul Mescal plays Lucius Vera, the son of Lucilla, who is played by Connie Neilsen, with the two being the only returning main characters, and Neilsen being the only returning actress. Mescal gives a powerful performance as Lucius, and displays many different kinds of courage throughout the movie. Neilsen plays a wonderful distraught mother, and helps build the tension her scenes so often carry.
Another performance that I feel I need to mention is that of Pedro Pascal, who played General Acacius. Pascal portrays an easily lovable “man of the people” archetype, which directly contrasts the beginning of the movie, where audiences are slightly pitted against him. One that I cannot go without mentioning is that of Denzel Washington. Washington brings a beautiful performance as Macrinus, a former gladiator and now gladiator master, and creates such complexity within the character. The final performances I have space to mention are that of Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, who play Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla. They provide excellent comedic relief whilst also being threatening and unpredictable villains.
Something that I found myself loving within both this film and its predecessor is the production design. Although not entirely fictional, it is the little visual embellishments that made these films for me. The technical elements, such as costumes and set, are truly what immerses you into the story. The combination of the makeup and costumes beautifully reflect the time, with my favorites being Lucius’ battle armor and almost all of Lucilla’s dresses. Set wise, it is undeniably impressive. Whilst a downfall of this film is its over-reliance on CGI, it still finds a balance between the varying sets and CGI scenes.
Another strong point of this film was the directing. There were so many beautiful shots and moments where all I could do was be in awe. At some times, I was confused with decisions that were made, such as certain color lenses that were applied over flashbacks, but overall, the good moments outweighed those that confused.
In addition to the visually appealing elements of the film, one cannot deny that it has an amazing score. The music in the first film created such ambience, and this sequel successfully replicated the beautiful soundtrack in a unique way.
Overall, I cannot recommend this film enough. It may not be at the same level of the original “Gladiator” film, but to even come near is an honor, and “Gladiator II” cuts it very close. The story is about hope in a time when many need it, and is overall an amazing action movie for those looking for something new. It incorporated many moments that had been important to fans of the original, and allowed for loose ends to end in a neat little bow.
