MIDNIGHT REVIEWS Gladiator II Review
Gladiator II: Legacy Sequel Killer
Matthew D. Smith also has a podcast he co-hosts with Leslie Wai. You can find it here.
Gladiator II (2hr 28mins)
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Featuring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal
Synopsis: After the events of Gladiator, wherein Maximus killed Emperor Commodus, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to leave Rome. He grows up, has his new home invaded by the place he used to call home and ends up vowing vengeance upon the general (Pascal) responsible for his wife’s death.
Review: Hot off the assembly line labelled ‘LEGACY SEQUELS’, Gladiator II succumbs to nostalgia bait and, while it’s not compulsory to compare it to the original, is weaker in every way that counts. If that’s too quickly jumping in with both feet, that’s a problem this film shares as well.
While this isn’t an attack review by any means, it’s one that will be laced with quiet frustration. Napoleon, Ridley Scott’s previous directorial effort, was impressive and despite having a script that structurally feels somewhat similar, Gladiator II doesn’t hit any of the emotional heights. It certainly doesn’t touch the original, a film infamous for winning best picture at the academy awards without ever really having a full script ready at any one point.
It’s problem, linking in with the need for callbacks without any real meaning or consequence, is that the film tries to simultaneously move away from the original whilst trying to remake it. With all the insane stories concerning what was originally pitched for prospective sequels (Maximus: Christ Killer; Maximus escapes from Hell), this story seems entirely rote by comparison. Would it have killed anyone to find some halfway point?
Incredibly rushed.
Paul Mescal’s Lucius sees his wife die in front of him; Maximus finds his wife and son dead outside their home. Both films begin with an action-packed prologue. Lucius moves on up in the gladiator arenas, starting off in small-time, down and dirty fights before reaching the biggest of all stages, in the hopes of killing the one who wronged him. We have seen this before, and while Gladiator II is bigger, the original was grander.
So while it isn’t compulsory to compare the two, comparisons certainly can’t be escaped. The pacing of the sequel feels incredibly rushed. The opening prologue happens and it’s over, very quickly. Much hype was built up around sequences featuring a gladiator riding a rhino, and another featuring a colosseum filled with water and sharks. Each of these sequences plays out without getting the heart pumping and once they’re over, neither feels like they made an impact. Whilst Maximus fought and strove for his place, finally winning the hearts of the men around him, Lucius already has them somehow.
More disappointing than anything else.
Which brings us to another comparison where, regrettably, the original outperforms. Mescal, whilst looking the part to a tee, seems miscast. It’s not that he does an obviously bad job with any of the material. But is he someone anyone would actually follow? When Maximus asked his men to follow him into Hell, they brandished their swords and roared. With Lucius, there is no moment where the respect is earned; if any of the gladiators had something else on that day, it would be understandable if they didn’t RSVP. He’s a great fighter, but an inspiration he is not.
At the other end of the scale, far and away becoming the best thing in the entire movie, is Denzel Washington as dirty dealer Macrinus. Anytime he’s offscreen, it feels like a not unentertaining wait for the main event. Considering this is supposed to be Lucius’ story, however, makes the film also feel unbalanced purely because Washington is so magnetic. Macrinus is a fleshed out character due to the work by Washington and the script. Both leave enough to the imagination that the mind can work out where this character came from. You can practically see images from his earlier years play in your mind as he sits and talks to Lucius. Devilish, and hilarious when he needs to be.
Imagery and sequences from the original stick in the mind too. It’s a shame that Gladiator II won’t be the same, instead feeling like something that will disappear quickly from both screens and memories. Considering the director and cast involved, Gladiator II proves to be more disappointing than anything else.
Gladiator II is still in cinemas at time of writing.
Matthew D. Smith likes to overshare his views on movies and TV shows whenever and wherever he can. Indulge him, and follow him on Twitter or enjoy the podcast he co-hosts with Leslie Wai.
