Movie Review: 'Gladiator 2' (Recap 2024)
"Gladiator 2" introduces a new protagonist and offers a fresh perspective, retaining continuity in the story while honoring the original film.
Also, Denzel. Washington. Period.
It took twenty-four years for director Ridley Scott to make a sequel to "Gladiator" from 2000. Finally, it's here! Of course, Scott knew his new Gladiator movie would be one of the most anticipated films in 2024, and the long wait was worth it. Let's not forget that Denzel Washington is in the film (more on him in a bit).
Sixteen years after the death of Marcus Aurelius' death, Rome is still a dumpster fire and governed by (kind of) identical twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) with his pet monkey Dundus. If Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) from the first "Gladiator" had a dual personality and split up, that's the best way to describe the co-emperors in the film.
Of course, bad governance and corruption still plagued Rome until the film's protagonist, Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal), Marcus Aurelius's grandson and Maximus Decimus Meridius's son, came into the picture. Lucius was destined to complete what his grandfather and father started in the original film. Inheriting the challenge of freeing Rome from evil rulers, is quite daunting for Lucius.
He's also morally conflicted between bringing justice to his wife's death at the hands of General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and accepting his destiny rooted in his Roman bloodline. Introducing a new protagonist in "Gladiator 2" offers a fresh perspective, retaining continuity in the story while honoring the original film.
Power, revenge, and loyalty are explored throughout the film. Ridley Scott made the right decision by making the stakes in "Gladiator 2" as high as the original movie. While the first Gladiator focused mostly on personal vengeance within the confines of a Roman Coliseum, the sequel expanded its scope, digging deep into political intrigue, moral struggle, justice, and Rome's corrupt yet decaying leadership, giving the audiences the whole picture of how the empire feeds off on exploitation and power.
Gladiator 2's action sequences remain a major draw, a core to the original from 2000. While they may not be as emotional and bloody as Maxumus's battles in the first movie, the gladiator fights remain visually stunning and intense in the sequel. The choreography in the fight scenes focused more on strategy and psychology rather than pure brutality, a welcome change that's still in line with the expanded themes tackled in the film.
The cast did an incredible job in "Gladiator 2", especially Denzel Washington. Paul Mescal was a very compelling lead in the sequel. He brought depth and vulnerability to his character while exploring Lucius's Roman bloodline and its legacy. Also, the supporting cast performances were spectacular alongside Mescal.
Denzel Washington showed his absolute brilliance and stole the show as the cunning Macrinus, weaponizing his political ploy to control the empire. This was evident when Macrinus stealthily manipulated Caracalla to betray his twin brother, Geta, which led to his demise. He then decided to eliminate Caracalla in the latter part of the film after chaos broke out in the Coliseum and his grand plan went south thanks to Lucius.
Connie Nielsen, who reprised her role as Lucilla in "Gladiator 2," didn't miss a beat. She was the anchor in the emotional moments of the movie.
While the film was impressive and visually stunning, it does have a few flaws. The switch between political intrigue and gladiator bouts has somewhat affected the movie's pace. The film also relied heavily on tonal shifts which audiences may find jarring, reducing its emotional resonance that made the first "Gladiator" movie powerful.
Overall, Gladiator 2 is an entertaining film that pays homage to the first movie and is indeed a worthy successor. Ridley Scott did manage to deliver a broad-themed sequel and captivating visuals albeit missing some of its unfiltered intensity like the original. Old heads who have seen the first movie will be very much pleased with the new characters and continuity of themes in "Gladiator 2," while a new generation of fans will be fascinated yet intrigued with its introduction to ancient Rome's politics and brutality.
