The sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 hit Gladiator has finally hit theaters, and its star studded cast and accomplished director has fans excited. It seemed like nothing could go wrong, though I felt that wasn’t the case. I found the film to be a clumsy and shallow remake of the original.
The film opens with a well animated opening sequence, which is the first (and possibly only) place the film truly diverges from the original. What follows is a near beat-for-beat remake of the original. A few exchanged set pieces here and there are the only things separating this supposedly new story from its predecessor. Furthermore, the film’s themes of triumph and justice at the best feel forced and on-the-nose. The action is as usual, very well done. Unfortunately, much of the story seems sacrificed in an effort to fit more of this action in, ultimately damaging the impact of emotional moments.
On the subject of acting, I had mentioned the star-studded cast, and for the most part, they came through. Denzel Washington is the clear standout (as always). He captures his character in ways only Denzel ever could, and dominates every scene he’s in. Maybe that’s why I felt Paul Mescal’s performance was such a disappointment. He’s fine, don’t get me wrong, but he doesn’t feel like he brings much in the way of originality to his performance. Other cast members like Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn follow suit, doing just enough to maintain their reputations as quality actors, but never seem to reach the heights they could in their roles.
Overall, for such an exciting project, I felt disappointed at how it turned out. The original Gladiator was an inspiring and original film, and its themes and messages still touch many people’s hearts today. While the sequel isn’t anything egregious, it certainly doesn’t match the highs the first reached.
On the contrary, I believe the film focused heavily on its style and action sequences rather than trying to “do something new” for the franchise and improving the substance of the story. While there were clear flaws in the film, I appreciated it as a remembrance of the original.
I found the similarities between the two films less of a problem, and more of a tribute to the original. I frequently believe that sequels don’t diverge enough from the original, but I thought that this film did a fantastic job of creating new and visually striking visuals. It really gives it a unique feel, and honestly even differentiates from other modern action films.
I also found the acting to be pretty good. It was a difficult task to follow Russell Crowe and Juaquin Phoenix’s Oscar nominated performances. I doubt any of the cast will receive that level of recognition for their performances, but they all did the script, and their characters, well with their performances. I wouldn’t say there was a specific standout, but Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, who played the emperors, evoked the same fear in me that Phoenix did in the original.
One thing I don’t feel talked about enough when discussing contemporary action films is the quality of the writing. I found this screenplay to be very accessible, which unfortunately isn’t common enough. Plot driven as it is, its emotional moments really shine through. I could tell the theater I was in felt it, and their silent sighs and muttered cheers confirmed that.
I really liked Gladiator II. I was expecting a much less exciting, more traditional action sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised by how original and fresh the film felt.
