DIRECTOR
Ridley Scott

STARRING
Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, a sequel more than 20 years in the making, is an ambitious return to the brutal and grandiose world of Ancient Rome, reviving the epic scope that defined Gladiator (2000). With a cast led by Paul Mescal, who takes on the role of Lucius, the grown nephew of the slain Commodus, Gladiator II attempts to capture the spirit of the original while expanding on its themes. However, the film struggles to recapture the original’s raw impact and ultimately stumbles in balancing action and philosophical depth.

The film dives into Lucius’s journey as he confronts the ghosts of his past while facing the same political and personal corruption that once destroyed Maximus. Thematically, the film echoes its predecessor with a focus on revenge, power, and freedom, yet, unlike the relentless arc of Maximus in the original film, Lucius’s story sometimes feels unfocused. The moral stakes, although present, lack the immediacy and emotional weight that made Maximus’s journey so compelling, instead it chooses to keep things very surface level. Having recently rewatched the original film, my wife commented that it felt incredibly long with it’s 2.5 hour running time, however by contrast, this sequel doesn’t feel long enough. despite being almost exactly the same length, there doesn’t feel as though there was enough time to flesh out characters and plot points to a point where there is a plausibility to the direction of the story.

Speaking of plausibility, there are several moments where the film jumps the shark entirely (pardon the forthcoming pun). The original film fictionalises real people and moments in history, but there is still a credibility to the fantasy. This time around, logic has been thrown entirely out the window in favour of ostentatious entertainment, best exemplified by Gladiators entering the Colosseum riding a seemingly fully tamed rhinoceros OR my favourite moment….a flooded Colosseum filled with sharks.  Can someone please tell me how ancient Romans were able to a) Capture no less than 15 sharks, b) keep them alive whilst they transported them to the Colosseum, c) store them at the Colosseum in preparation to flood the arena and then set them loose for a feeding frenzy on slaves?

On a positive note, Paul Mescal gives a grounded and introspective performance as Lucius, portraying a man torn between admiration for Maximus and his own internal struggles with power and vengeance. Mescal’s restrained portrayal is well-suited for the role, though the writing doesn’t allow him the same emotional range Russell Crowe had. Denzel Washington, playing a political advisor with hidden motives, provides gravitas and a fresh dynamic, though his character is somewhat underdeveloped, and his motivations occasionally feel opaque. Other supporting roles tend to serve as archetypes rather than fully developed characters, lending a sense of predictability to the interactions. Connie Nielsen returning as Lucilla doesn’t seem to have the same depth as she did in the role during the first film, perhaps her acting range retired with her original face.

Visually, Gladiator II is a spectacle, with grand scenes of ancient Rome that feel both historically immersive and cinematically modern. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, a frequent collaborator with Scott, delivers epic landscapes and brutal battle sequences that effectively reflect the gritty, dangerous world of the Roman Empire. However, some of the CGI scenes feel overly polished and lack the gritty, visceral feel that defined the original’s action sequences, this iteration leans heavily towards a polished visual style that occasionally detracts from the realism.

Whilst Gladiator II boasts exhilarating action scenes, it often feels as though the film sacrifices pacing and character development in favour of spectacle. Some scenes seem to exist solely to showcase CGI-heavy combat rather than drive the story forward. The climactic scenes, though technically impressive, feel somewhat rushed, with character motivation shifting gears at breakneck speed and with little explanation. The pacing overall is uneven, with slow-moving exposition scenes breaking the flow between action sequences.

Overall, Gladiator II is an ambitious sequel that offers visual splendour and occasional glimpses of emotional depth, but it falls short of the raw power and narrative cohesion of its predecessor. This by no means will have the enduring legacy of the original, and I don’t believe any of the cast or creatives will have to worry about writing speeches for the upcoming awards season. While Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington bring gravitas to their roles, they are limited by a screenplay that prioritizes spectacle over substance. The film’s CGI-polished visuals and somewhat formulaic plot prevent it from becoming the timeless epic it aspires to be.

For those seeking the spectacle of ancient Rome, Gladiator II delivers a visually compelling journey. But for fans of the original hoping for a similarly profound story, it may feel like a beautifully crafted but ultimately hollow spectacle.

Gladiator II is in cinemas now.