24 years later, director / producer Ridley Scott returns to the gladiator arena with the long-awaited sequel. Is it worth the wait? Our JP give his take on “Gladiator II,” now starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington.
Gladiator II
Paramount Pictures
- Directed by Ridley Scott
- Screenplay by David Scarpa
- Story by Peter Craig, David Scarpa
- Based on Characters by David Franzoni
- Produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, David Franzoni
- Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington
Synopsis:
From legendary director Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II” continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
JP’s Take:
Russell Crowe’s exuberant performance in “Gladiator” gave us one of the most memorable lines, “Are You Not Entertained!?” as spouted by his character Maximus Decimus Meridius. The award winning, historic/action epic still rings in the minds of many who watched the film in all its big screen glory in the year 2000. Here we are 24 years later and director / producer Ridley Scott is hoping to capture lightning in a bottle for the second time around.
Upon remembrance of the original “Gladiator,” I can recall how lively, bloody and dramatic it was for such a historic piece. It was a testament to Scott’s masterful directing style, especially when staging some of the more brutal battle scenes, while it also amplified then writers David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson’s attentive story weaving.
“Gladiator II” has a much more understated tone than its sparky predecessor. To be honest, I didn’t have the same sentiment going into this sequel, initially. With a story written by Peter Craig and David Scarpa (who also wrote the screenplay), “Gladiator II” is a slow churning drama, which takes place 16 years after Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ death, and it carries on the notion of a new Rome dreamt up by its elders. We’re also led down the warpath to Rome’s destruction by the usual suspects with the proper motivations to do so. Yet, you’ll find a nice twist which upsets the balance of this tale. We’re met by new blood in the twin Emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and brother Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), who are the corrupt rulers and their plan to conquer India and Persia. In the midst of it all, a nice twist percolates to the surface, which involves several key players. Hispano-Roman General Acacius (Pedro Pascal), along with his wife Lucilia (Connie Nielson), stage a coup against the Emperors behind closed doors, while Lucilia and her late lover Maximus’ (played by Russell Crowe in “Gladiator”) long lost son, Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal), returns to Rome under an assumed name of “Hanno.” These three accounts of revenge, reclamation and redemption converge, while the main catalyst for the soon to be cataclysmic event to watch for would be Macrinus (Denzel Washington). What transpire next are a clash of wit and a clash of titans in the gladiator arena.
I have to admit some of the original’s DNA does transfer over to “Gladiator II” in the form of bloody and gruesome battle scenes. However, it doesn’t retain the same spark as before. Paul Mescal as Lucius feels too low-key to make much impact, yet that doesn’t affect the outcome in a negative way. You will certainly notice Denzel Washington’s role as Macrinus as the moment stealer, since he does play both sides of the fence in conniving ways. Pedro Pascal as General Acacius plays his part with sincerity and adds to the drama believably. Connie Nielson is lady Lucilia feels authentic enough to pull off the heartbroken mother role. There are moments that felt a bit campy during some of the more dramatic scenes, especially when the moment involved the twin Emperors. They were certainly portrayed as flamboyant spectacles to an obnoxious degree.
Ridley Scott’s direction in “Gladiator II” proves to be raw and upfront, as many of the gladiatorial fight scenes are equally as brutal as its predecessor. Yet, those scenes were actually kept to a minimum; making way for the wrought theatrics underneath.
Admittedly, I was on the fence when it was all said and done. I had to look back at all the events that took place prior and recall the key moments from the first “Gladiator” film. When it comes down to it, “Gladiator II” is a fitting follow up that is ripe with scandal, heartbreaking moments and barbaric battles. It took a while for this one to sink in, but I can say that for those looking for a satisfactory and complete tale. The sequel fits the bill nicely.
Official Site: Gladiator II
