Does Gladiator II Live Up To Expectations?
After much hype and anticipation, Gladiator II finally releases in UK cinemas this month, taking us once again back to the grandiosity of Ancient Rome. Paul Mescal (Normal People) lands his first big blockbuster role as Hanno, who is captured and must fight as a gladiator in order to be free. Alongside him are Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger– but how does it hold up against the much-loved original?
It’s been 24 years since Gladiator arrived in cinemas and instantly became part of pop culture, as a throwback to the grand epics that were popular in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Russell Crowe would truly become a star with his role as Maximus, winning an Oscar, and lines like “Are you not entertained?” and “I am Maximus…” being much parodied. There is, of course, a lot to live up to for this new instalment, which was met with a fair amount of scepticism. Ridley Scott once again directs- but after he revisited the Alien franchise with Prometheus and Alien Covenant, and released the epic Napoleon in 2022, all to mixed reviews- it’s been harder to predict how a Gladiator sequel, nearly a quarter century on, would turn out.
It does fall short, not quite reaching the emotional heights and compelling aspects of the 2000 film. It retreads familiar ground, and while Washington, Pascal and younger actors like Mescal and Quinn turn in fine performances, the turns of veterans like Oliver Reed and Richard Harris in the original gave it more gravitas. But that’s definitely not to say it’s not a good film in its own right, and it delivers on being an enjoyable swords and sandals drama full of spectacle. Mescal and Washington in particular deserve the praise, and it manages to stand on its own without using the original as a constant crutch.
The film manages to stand on its own without using the original as a constant crutch.
It retreads a few elements of the first, with Mescal’s character, like Maximus, captured and made a slave before being trained as a gladiator, and dealing with a tyrannical empire. Mescal is pretty far from Connell in Normal People here and acts voice and expression-wise very much in the mould of Crowe- unsurprising considering he is revealed to be Maximus’ son, though he doesn’t want to admit it. His wife is briefly glimpsed at the start before being killed off in a devastating siege of his home. Taken prisoner, Lucius eventually catches the notice of Macrinus, a gladiator owner and trainer, played by Washington. As a fan of Shakespearean dialogue and acting, Washington has a lot of fun as Macrinus and is probably the stand-out performance in the whole film. He instructs Lucius on how to best survive as a fighter in the Colosseum and beyond- but always seems to keep his cards close to his chest.
The cast and the characters
Lucius fights against men, rhinos, baboons and even sharks, but he’s keen to get revenge on three people: General Acacius (Pascal) who invaded his home and killed his wife, and the Emperors who ordered it, Geta and Caracalla. The brothers rule Rome in tandem and are happy to conquer as much as possible, preferably with lots of blood spilt.
Pascal is good, though slightly underused, and Quinn and Hechinger both play the unhinged emperors with aplomb.
Pascal is good, though slightly underused, and Quinn and Hechinger both play the unhinged emperors with aplomb, and are different enough from Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix’s villain from the original. Connie Nielsen reprises her character of Lucilla, who once she discovers the gladiator named Hanno is her son, appeals to him to stand up for the future of Rome, though he’s dismissive of this.
There are also some smaller roles from a few recognisable British faces: Sir Derek Jacobi returns as Senator Gracchus from the original, though is only seen fairly briefly throughout. Tim McInnerny plays Senator Thraex, who is easily manipulated by those around him, and easily corrupted. Matt Lucas also appears and is a lot of fun as the Coliseum’s master of ceremonies and announcer, heartily commentating on the battles below.
There are also some smaller roles from a few recognisable British faces.
The Verdict
The fight scenes are where the film shines, and probably what most paying admission are coming for. In a sense, there’s more actual Gladiator-ing in this one, and Ridley Scott maybe 87 later this month, but he still knows how to put on a show. Mescal proves a deft action star, smashing and crashing around as he fights not for glory but for survival and his own sense of justice. There are some downsides, with some quite obvious and creaky CGI on the aforementioned baboons, and a slightly underwhelming final battle sequence, but largely it’s a good time. The CGI and effects used to create the backdrop of Rome however works very well, and you certainly get a breathtaking sense of the ancient city that was so fundamental to the building of our world.
Visually, the film isn’t as striking as the first, but there are a few stand-out moments, particularly Lucius’ vision of the afterlife early on after his wife is killed. Black and white, with ominous shadowy figures in the distance, it’s reminiscent of the classic Bergman film The Seventh Seal and proves the man who made Alien and Blade Runner can still make incredible visuals.
