REVIEW – Back in 2000, Ridley Scott brought us Gladiator, a thrilling swords-and-sandals epic that not only became the second highest-grossing movie of the year but also swept up Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor. The Best Actor award went to Russell Crowe, who played Maximus, a Roman general whose thirst for vengeance after the murder of his wife and son thrusts him into the brutal world of slavery.

When a film hits it big, studio executives start seeing dollar signs and dreaming up sequels. There was just one issue: Gladiator ends with Maximus’s death, following his defeat of the sinister Emperor Commodus (in a darkly memorable performance by Joaquin Phoenix). But that didn’t stop the studios from trying. Over the years, they’ve pursued Scott for a follow-up. At one point, goth rocker and occasional screenwriter Nick Cave even wrote a script that took a supernatural twist, bringing Maximus back from the dead and somehow landing him in the present day. It’s wild and fun on paper, but it was too far-fetched to bring to life.

Now, 24 years after the original, Scott has finally delivered Gladiator II, a film that initially feels almost like a beat-for-beat remake of the first movie… until it takes a sudden left turn. Without spoiling too much, it’s clear Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa (who also wrote All the Money in the World and Napoleon) are playing a clever game with the audience. They draw us in with familiar beats, only to pull the rug out from under us, saying, “Now that you’re comfortable, get ready for something different.”

But this bait-and-switch tactic isn’t without its issues. While the overly familiar first act is entertaining enough, the surprises in the third act are far more intriguing, leaving us wishing the whole movie had focused on that new direction. Scott and Scarpa could have trimmed down the first two acts and honed in on the fresh twist. Still, Gladiator II delivers a sturdy, satisfying blockbuster experience, proving yet again that, even at 86, Ridley Scott is a master of spectacle who knows how to entertain.

Denzel Washington Is Gladiator II’s True Standout

Gladiator II is set 16 years after the events of the first film, following the tried-and-true formula: a man loses someone he loves, is thrust into slavery, vows revenge against Rome, and rises to become a gladiator. This time, the man in question is Lucius, the young boy from the original film, who is now an adult played by Paul Mescal. While Mescal is solid in the role, his character feels somewhat flat by today’s standards. In the film’s early scenes, Lucius’s true identity is meant to be a bit of a mystery, but since all the promotional materials and trailers have already revealed it, there’s no spoiler here. Lucius has noble blood, but as a child, his mother, Lucilla (with Connie Nielsen reprising her role), sent him away for safety. Lucius built a new life, even marrying, but in the film’s jaw-dropping opening battle sequence, he watches in horror as his warrior wife is killed under the orders of the Roman General Acacius (played by Pedro Pascal). Naturally, Lucius sets out for revenge.

But Acacius isn’t the brutal villain Lucius imagines him to be. Tired of Rome’s bloody wars, Acacius loathes the co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), whose mismanagement has driven the empire into decay. Acacius dreams of a better Rome. Meanwhile, Lucius is forced into the gladiator’s life after being purchased by Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a savvy gladiator broker. Washington’s performance is simply brilliant: he’s a true scene-stealer, and the film noticeably lags when he’s not on screen. Mescal is a capable actor, but in this story, Lucius’s character is the least compelling. A few emotional scenes fall flat, with Mescal’s expressions feeling somewhat detached.

As for Washington’s Macrinus, he initially seems like a minor player – a mentor figure akin to the character Oliver Reed famously played in the first film. But Macrinus has grander ambitions. Always scheming, always plotting, he slowly reveals his true intentions. Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say that Macrinus’s arc is one of Gladiator II’s most compelling elements. No offense to Lucius, but we could use more Macrinus! Washington never overdoes it, yet he commands every scene with a sly smile and a mischievous glint in his eye. Watching him on screen is pure joy.

Gladiator II Is Packed with Grandiose Action Sequences

This sequel brims with twists and turns (perhaps a few too many), but the real draw here is its epic gladiator battles. While the action isn’t quite as pulse-pounding as in the original, Scott pushes each sequence to greater heights. In one over-the-top moment (and this isn’t a spoiler, as it’s shown in the trailers), the Colosseum is flooded, setting the stage for a faux naval battle – complete with sharks! It’s absurd but oddly thrilling. While the inclusion of other bizarre animals may be plausible, and historical accounts do mention the flooding of the Colosseum, the sharks are clearly Hollywood embellishments. At times, it’s so exaggerated that you half expect John Williams’s Jaws theme to start playing.

The animal spectacle doesn’t end there. In one scene, rabid baboons attack gladiators, while elsewhere, a “villainous” gladiator charges into battle riding a rhino. The whole thing feels a bit like watching a video game come to life.

Of course, Scott isn’t aiming for historical accuracy here. Some characters are based on real figures (like the co-emperors), but Scott has said time and again that he’s not bound to historical precision. And why should he be? Scott makes entertaining films, not history lessons. While the original Gladiator won Oscars, it was never intended as high art – it was a brutal action movie that resonated with audiences. Will Gladiator II reach similar acclaim? That’s anyone’s guess, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Washington in the running for Best Supporting Actor.

In addition to Mescal and Washington, the rest of the cast holds their own. Pascal’s role is smaller than fans might expect, but he brings a weary dignity to his character. Nielsen remains solid as Lucilla, and Quinn and Hechinger bring a macabre charm as the ghastly emperors (Hechinger’s character even has a pet monkey to crank up the madness). Alexander Karim deserves a nod, too, as the physician who patches up Lucius’s injuries – a small but memorable role.

Gladiator II Delivers the Goods

Beyond the acting, Gladiator II boasts plenty of solid craftsmanship: the set design is lavish, John Mathieson’s cinematography makes excellent use of natural lighting, the VFX are convincing, and Harry Gregson-Williams’s score pays respectful homage to Hans Zimmer’s iconic original soundtrack. Still, there’s a lingering sense that this sequel leans a bit too heavily on recreating the first film’s magic. It may be unfair to judge a movie on what it could have been, but Gladiator II could have been truly exceptional if it had focused more on its third act revelations.

All that said, Gladiator II does what it sets out to do. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. Scott isn’t out to make a masterpiece here; he’s content to deliver a thoroughly entertaining action flick. Despite the twists in the third act, Gladiator II ultimately keeps things simple – and perhaps that’s its greatest strength. Scott transports us out of the daily grind and drops us into a big, flashy Hollywood blockbuster, complete with a thrilling performance from Denzel Washington as a bonus. At nearly 90, Ridley Scott, like the emperors of Rome, still knows how to keep the crowds entertained with a bloody, captivating spectacle.

– Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-