Gladiator II (2024)

Score: 3.5 / 5

Gladiator was never one of my favorite historical action epics, though I do harbor a soft spot for the genre. And it's not for any real reason except that I personally don't care much for Russell Crowe's acting and I have always been annoyed by the overwhelming praise for it. But it's a solid film, one that should be watched multiple times if at all, so when an unnecessary sequel is announced over twenty years later, we were all worried.

We needn't have been. Ridley Scott -- all hail -- is as much at the height of his powers as ever. We shouldn't have been worried; even though the master of the historical epic (and of filmmaking in general) is nearly 90 years old, he remains vivacious and visionary. Here he takes what worked best about his original classic and revs up the energy, adding about 10% more complexity and 40% more spectacle for a sequel that will either be half as good as the first or half again better, depending on what you like in your historical epics.

Nominally about Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Crowe's Maximus, doing basically the same thing his father did previously, the film retreads the same ground, adding almost nothing by way of ideas or plot. As such, and although there are many callbacks to "the past" and "legacy" yada yada, this feels more like a remake or reimagining of what has come before. I don't think it would work well as a companion piece, because they are just too similar. Even the insanity of the Caesars, the villainized sexuality of Romans, the strange pseudo-heroism of the slave owners, all are hitting the same notes now as before. It's not unlike The Force Awakens and subsequent sequel trilogy in the sense that it took established lore, set up camp in the midst of it, and reworked it for new audiences with a glossier finish. Sure, it's lovely to look at, but isn't it also a bit cheaply underbaked?

Ideas aside -- and trust, it's a hard pill to swallow -- this is a really fun movie. If, like me, you enjoy the politics and "slice of life" bits of the original, you'll get that here too, though it's not quite as compelling. Helped by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, drama here lies primarily in the realm of palace intrigue, as Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, gaining supporters to rise up against the childish and syphilitic co-emperors Geta and Caracalla. In her train are husband General Acacius (Pedro Pascal), a loyal warrior who has become disillusioned with his warmongering empire and Senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi, thankfully) returns as well, though now in a sadly diminished capacity.

But the film soars -- and I do mean that -- when Denzel Washington graces the scene. It's been many long years since he's delivered a real, raw, and daring performance in any film, and I've started losing respect for the safety in choices he's made professionally. Not so here, as his character Macrinus is one of the most original, engaging, and delightful creations of his career. Insistently chewing the scene every time, his mannerisms and voice are just off what we expect of Washington, consistently surprising us with little tidbits of quirkiness and menace. Macrinus is the gladiator handler this time, and his attention to Lucius's rage fuels his own grandiose schemes for climbing the political ladder. His Shakespearean Iago is miles ahead of the co-emperors, who really should start a morning talkshow called "Incel Incest" for all their characterization manages to convey. The gladiatorial games this time, as before, are a ploy for power, but this time, those in power aren't aware of the game of thrones until it's too late.

Ah, yes, the games: did you think I'd forget to mention? While before the most exotic part of the games were the live tigers brought into the arena, true to form for a big-budget sequel, this time we get a menagerie of threats in the Colosseum. Rhinos, baboons, and sharks -- yes, sharks -- are brought into these games in increasingly laughable ways. Making for a fun viewing experience, it does broadcast a certain desperation to fulfill the promise of entertainment rhetorically asked by the gladiators. And these scenes, even including flooding the Colosseum to reenact a naval battle, serve best to distract from political intrigue and dramatic heft rather than offering thematic insight. Thankfully, for the most part, it looks fantastic (the baboons are a bit too Jumanji-esque for me) and you can barely tear your eyes away from the spectacle. Maybe that's enough for some audiences.

Personally, I'd have liked a bit less CGI and a bit more practical effects in the arena itself. I'd have preferred the screenplay not sideline its own hero: Mescal is just as (if not more) captivating in his performance, but the character just isn't as interesting the second time around. I'd even have liked more a focus on Washington's character, who will stick with me for some time yet. Pascal offers some surprisingly affecting moments of dynamism despite having a smaller role, while returning stars Jacobi and Nielsen are sidelined and not used nearly as much as they should be. If the point of this film was to remake the original, it succeeds. If the point is to complicate and expand the original, with the screenplay only slightly edited, they should have focused on Washington's character, turning the film into a meta-commentary on the nature of power behind the scenes -- behind the games -- and the corporate cost of personal ambition. But, for what it is, I'll just be glad to have another Ridley Scott blockbuster and eagerly await what comes next.