Was Gladiator II Worth the Wait? A Casual Viewer's Review

When "Gladiator" first appeared in cinemas back in 2000, it captured hearts with its brutal tale of revenge, honor, and the struggle for freedom. Now, after nearly twenty years, "Gladiator II" has hit theaters. So, was it worth the long wait? Let's see.

The Positives

The film takes us back to ancient Rome where costume designs are showcased as well as the activities of ancient life. The film overall looks grand and majestic with the period costumes sublime, and the sets flawless in quality.

The opening naval attack is riveting and entertaining. The film offers coliseum games and gladiator sequences that are exciting and gripping in intensity. Uncommon animals are featured like frightening baboons (or some type of monkeys with sharp set of teeths), a rhinoceros, and sharks! Gone are the pedestrian lions. The film makers obviously spent much on the special effects and production designs, to put it mildly.

The actors are top-notch with fine performances from Pablo Pescal and Denzel Washington. I have no problems at all in this department. General Acacius is played by Pablo Pescal to perfection. Macrinus, Denzel Washington's character, chomps at and steals the scenes in many of the plot points.

The action scenes are exciting and extremely well-done. Bravo actors, choreographers, stunt actors, and everyone else involved. There's gore and grit, for sure.

The Negatives: Spoilers Warning

The story itself reminds me too much of the original, but it does make some sense that the events of the first film are so great that it leaves indelible marks on the people directly involved and who come after the life of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the Russell Crowe character. If the film spent less time recalling and paying homage to the original film, then I believe it would have been better—it would have stood on its own merits.

Lucius, the son of Maximus, is introduced as the protagonist and events transpired to force him to become a gladiator like his father. Suspend your belief for the time being, as stranger things occur in real life. At least, that is what I tell myself.

I would have liked more time spent on the villains, the twin emperors. They could have been fascinating, but they are given only a superficial treatment. Emperor Geta and Carracala come off as dangerously self-indulgent and childish. I see the efforts that the actors put in to make them come to life—definite sociopathic vibes. But what is shown in the movie is not detailed enough to make them more than one-dimensional. Some justice served as they got what they deserved in the end.

However, we have a good villain in Macrinus. It was one of the surprises for me as a viewer (I tried to know as little as possible before viewing) because I didn't know he was a villain until the plot revealed him as such.

Final Thoughts

"Gladiator II" is a solid sequel to a beloved classic. It successfully balances drama, action, and historical depth. While it may not surpass its predecessor, unfortunately by its constant reminders of how great that film was, it offers a rich narrative with impressive performances that should sit well with fans, old and new alike.

My rating: Five stars. High recommendations for the general audience for its entertainment value and its lavish, historical set pieces. The film contains graphic violence and adult themes.