GLADIATOR II
THREE AND A HALF STARS An Emperor's son is forced to fight for his life in the gladiator's ring, the mighty Colosseum.
PERIOD DRAMA UK English #GLADIATORII
Starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington
GLADIATOR II is a triumphant return to the grandeur of ancient Rome with Ridley Scott serving an action-packed sequel that lives up to the lofty expectations set by his award-scooping predecessor. A few decades after the events of the original story, the Emperor’s son and/or nephew Lucius (Paul Mescal) is trying to live a quiet life having been banished to brightest Africa. But when Rome invades, he fights. He also looses, becomes a slave and is sold into the gladiator’s ring rather like his Mum’s bestie before him. This stand-in for Maximus hatches a plan to revenge the death of his wife and is aided by his owner (Denzel Washington standing in for Oliver Reed), a self-invested political puppeteer who has plans of his own for Lucius.
Less a sequel and more of a re-tread, GLAD II is is nothing if not visually stunning. John Mathieson’s vivid cinematography uses natural light to create striking contrasts between the opulence of Rome and the gritty, blood-soaked Colosseum: a 1:1 model replete with killer baboons, killer rhinos and killer sharks! The action sequences are breathtaking, featuring larger-than-life battles and meticulously choreographed fights that rival those of the original film. Whether it’s man-eating beasts, man eating beast or duels to the death, the film’s set pieces are truly exhilarating.
Scott’s directorial prowess is on full display, blending intense gladiatorial combat with political intrigue in a way that captivates from start to finish. Meanwhile the screen belongs to Paul Mescal who delivers a, ahem, muscular performance as Lucius, convincingly balancing raw physicality with emotional depth. However it’s Washington’s charismatically Machiavellian Macrinus that steals the film, a politician crackling with charm and menace. It’s one of his best.
All that said, the film isn’t without its flaws. While screenwriter David Scarpa ambitiously weaves his way through multiple subplots and characters, the price paid is emotional focus. Not that GLADIATOR spent much time on the philosopher’s couch exactly, but the beats here are an applied variation from the first movie that adds to a sense we've been here before. Is that a deal-breaker? Not really. Like Maximus, Lucius is pissed off and wants revenge thus we learn nothing particularly new, but then we hardly expect to. We’re not here for heartfelt subtext, we're here for the swords, the sandals, the man eating baboon. This is a grand, sweeping tale of ambition and legacy, a rousing operatic drama that offers tribute to the original and delivers a fresh look at a thrilling story.
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