The smell of popcorn fills the air, and the theater is packed to watch the sequel to the beloved classic, “Gladiator.” When sequels are released, many people go into the theatre wondering if it will live up to the original.
At the start of “Gladiator II,” Lucius lives a relatively peaceful life with his wife, Arishat, in Numida. However, their lives change when their city is attacked by a fleet of ships from Rome, devastating the kingdom. Lucius’s wife is killed, and Lucius is brought back to Rome as a slave.
The introduction to the story told in“Gladiator II” is a direct parallel to the original “Gladiator.” These similarities are because in both movies the main character has their family killed and then they are sent off to become a slave in Rome. Some could see this as a problem, as it may be perceived as a direct copy of the original. Although the backstory could have varied more from the original, it contributes to the feeling of nostalgia.
Another thing about this movie that improves the viewing experience is Paul Mescal’s portrayal of Lucius. His character is very reminiscent of Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus Meridius in the first film. For instance, Lucius encapsulates rage and vengeance as he tries to find freedom and avenge the death of his wife, just like Maximus Meridius did in “Gladiator.” Lucius has many similar traits to Maximus Meridius, such as his voice, stoic character, and even a similar backstory.
With this excellent pick for the lead, Lucius makes the Gladiator Games exciting. The games improved cinematically from the first film, primarily with the naval game. In this game, the two groups fight on boats with each other in the Colosseum, while sharks lurk in the water below. This scene looks very realistic with the Colosseum being full of water. This is impressive since it can’t be done on a movie set. The high stakes of both this scene and the other fighting scenes greatly emphasize the movie’s action.
The movie’s action is apparent, as all the Gladiator games show fighting from every angle. They do a good job of making sure that the background characters are engaged in their fight to emphasize the crowded arena, as well as doing a very good job with the realism of the fighting.
With as much action as this movie has, it is bound to have some violence, especially given its R-rating. Many people throughout this movie are killed in brutal ways, which means a lot of blood is shed. Gore sensitivity is definitely something to consider before watching this movie, since the action scenes can be intense for audiences.
Although there’s lots of action and violence in this movie, the plot isn’t sacrificed. The story gets into the politics of the Roman Empire and shows conflict there, even though it isn’t entirely historically accurate. Also, the plot continues the story from the original film which keeps the series alive and makes for a great sequel. It is apparent how much work was put into this movie.
Overall, this movie is action-packed and epic, but some might be blinded by nostalgia and say that it is an unnecessary sequel to a classic. This sequel lives up to the original.
