Everything about the Ridley Scott directed Gladiator II is magnified. The cast has more star power, the sets are bigger, the violence bloodier, and warfare is carried out on giant naval ships across continents. Capping out at two and half hours, the epic saga starring Aftersun standout Paul Mescal as Lucius delivers on giving audiences even more action than before. There is not one horrifying emperor to root against but two bloodthirsty twin emperors ruling a fractured Rome that is increasingly susceptible to corruption. Scott’s film is a solid popcorn movie that will keep an audience entertained with the action, a gorgeous cast, and huge set pieces. However, this sequel doubles everything but the heart and emotional gravitas of Gladiator (2000). 

It has been twenty-four years since the release of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, a film that has stood the test of time and remains one of the best iterations of Roman history. Winning five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Lead Actor for Russell Crowe’s performance as Maximus–the general turned gladiator. The historical epic is a nearly perfect film, and learning that a new film was coming more than two decades later appeared shocking to most. Gladiator II starring Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielson returning as Lucilla, the unexpected sequel is sure to see the most success out of the last few films Scott has released–much of that can be attributed to the immense and loyal fanbase of the original. 

Gladiator II takes place 16 years after the end of Maximus’ story, centering around Lucius, the son of Lucilla and grandson of Marcus Aurelius, who escaped Rome to hide for his safety. When Rome sacks the country he now calls home, his wife is killed in action by General Marcus Acasius (Pedro Pascal), and Lucius is captured. Soon he finds himself choosing between dying as a slave or being bought to fight for the entertainment of the Roman people and Emperors. Quickly Lucius proves himself to be worthy of being a gladiator and is purchased by Macrinus (Denzel Washington) to fight in the games set to honor Acasius’ conquering of Africa. The Prince of Rome vows revenge against General Acasius and the Empire that has taken everything from him, following closely in the footsteps of Maximus in the Colosseum. To strip the plot of Gladiator II down to its bones reveals nearly the same plot as Gladiator.

Despite this most likely being the strongest outing for a Ridley Scott vehicle in the last decade, Gladiator II spends too much of its run-time reminiscing the impact of its predecessor. There is little to no separation between the two films, making the Paul Mescal-led narrative seem weaker due to Gladiator II‘s constant comparison to Russell Crowe’s story without much to differentiate besides the set pieces and budget. Marcus Aurelius and Maximus are directly referenced over a dozen times and several flashbacks from the original film are inserted to the point the original characters become missed in this film more than they should be. Ridley keeps the audience at arm’s length from the characters. He does not allow for a strong emotional connection to be established between the audience and the characters we are supposed to root for. It reads as if Scott is asking the audience to rely on their love for the old characters and their stories to invest in this new iteration, instead of showing the audience why the characters deserve their own story; making the point of the sequel appear more disingenuous. 

The highlight of Gladiator II is Ridley Scott’s exceptional skill at executing battle scenes and huge set pieces, and the richness in all visual aspects of this ‘new’ Rome. Gladiator II shows just how immense Scott’s imagination is and how technological developments in CGI only make him better. Due to these advancements, Scott can recreate the famous naval battles performed in the Colosseum when the Romans filled the arena with water. Twenty years ago, technology would not have allowed for this to be executed. Costume designers Janty Yates (Gladiator) and David Crossman (Napoleon) create dozens of exceptional looks that add personality and complexity to this world. Washington’s costumes are amazing, setting him aside from each character as he drips in golds, silks, and dyed garments, and is adorned with more rings than he has fingers. The craftsmanship will not go unnoticed as it is one of the best costume designs of the year. Here is where the film shines, showing how incredible, yet barbaric the Roman Empire was and thrilling audiences with these battle scenes and stunning visuals.

Even with rich visuals and the star-studded veteran cast, it isn’t enough to hammer home the heart of a movie that is not reliant on its own character’s stories. Mescal is a fantastic leading man who proves himself able to hold audiences in his hand no matter how large or small the film is. Almost every role Mescal plays ends with emotional devastation, leaving him no stranger to conveying complex emotions and heavy storylines. It is a shame that he isn’t put to use in this film and Scott keeps him incredibly surface-level and a bit too archetypal. Connie Neilson returns as Lucilla, and her plotline almost repeats itself, except the stakes feel lower. Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Washington are all great, really the performances are not lacking, it is the script and underdevelopment of their characters that are lacking.

There are instances in the film where the tone felt off, an insert or piece of dialogue felt abrupt or out of place, cutting the tension in scenes that could have had a larger emotional impact. Part of what draws audiences to historical like those of Roman gladiators to for the excitement felt watching stories and scenarios that are only told about in ancient texts and history classes, people want to question their morals and challenge what they know. Gladiator II stays predictable and veers away from making the audience question its characters and moral gray areas. 

 It’s a good movie, but the biggest fault the film has is its own reliance on the first Gladiator forcing audiences to compare the two instead of showing why this story, Lucius’s story, is so important to tell. Scott’s love for Roman gladiators and the Roman Empire is evident in this movie, and that is something to behold alone. Gladiator II promises action, a classic hero’s journey, and a return to a world that is beloved by many. Although it is not the strongest film of the year, it will be entertaining nonetheless.

Gladiator II is in Theaters on November 22nd.

Score: 3 out of 5

I enjoyed my time watching Gladiator II, but it just made me want to rewatch the first one. It’s difficult when the film is well-acted acted, directed, and has great battle scenes, but doesn’t carry the emotional weight that coincides with the setting. As much as I enjoyed it as a huge fan of the 2000 film, I just did not walk away with a gut feeling that I as a viewer was challenged. Scott has the ability to make audiences think and feel big emotions, but this time felt very calculated and formulaic with little payoff. There were inserts that felt a little odd and disrupted the tone of scenes and kept me off the edge of my seat. Yes, this is a sequel that most likely was a cash grab, but I wish it strayed away from the plot of the original and forced me as an audience member to question my relationships with these characters.