Gladiator II – Dir: Ridley Scott (13th Floor Film Review)

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Gladiator II: A Rehashed Sequel that’s Equally Empty and Epic.

Starring: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen 

Gladiator was a cultural phenomenon. But will Gladiator II, the much-anticipated sequel, get a thumbs up or a thumbs down? Set 15-years after the events of its Oscar-winning 2000 predecessor, Ridley Scott returns to direct. To call Gladiator II a “sequel” is a stretch. The film is a soft-remake. A repeat. Penned by David Scarpa, who collaborated with Scott on All the Money in the World and Napoleon, Gladiator II traces the same familiar narrative beats as its predecessor.

Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), son of Maximus and Lucilla, lives with his wife in Numidia, Northern Africa. Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), invade and conquer the province. Lucius’s wife is murdered, he’s taken as a slave and forced to become a gladiator.

Vowing vengeance against Marcus and the teetering Roman empire, Lucious after impressing in the arena is bought by gladiator manager Macrinus (Denzel Washington). He conspires to overthrow the tyrannical co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) by using Luscious as his “instrument.” Sound familiar? Sure it’s not a carbon-copy of Gladiator but you can guess what happens next.

One difference between Gladiator and Gladiator II is the levels at which their titular gladiators are operating. Mescal is a shadow of Russel Crowe who’s rugged charm and brutal efficiency saw him become a darling of the Colosseum and its rabid mob. Normal People, Aftersun and All of Us Strangers is proof of the Irish-actors talent. But in Gladiator II Mescal is miscast.

He doesn’t command the film’s savage action scenes of which there are plenty. Despite his physical transformation you don’t feel the weight behind the thrust of a gladius. Harrison Ford kept popping into my head. In Indiana Jones, he’s not pure muscle, but whether a tussle featured fists or firearms he made on the screen violence real. Mescal does not.

The star is not helped by the mythology of Crowe’s Maximus which is heaped upon him in spades. Mescal is given no room to make Lucius his own. Thankfully, when Gladiator II focuses on the grand spectacle of the Colosseum it’s thrilling. Just ignore the anachronisms. Who cares if historians call the film “Total Hollywood Bullshit.” Scott certainly doesn’t and neither should you. A masked gladiator rides a two-horned rhinoceros onto the blood soaked sand of the Colosseum. Warring ships do battle in the flooded-out arena as sharks circle below looking for a spot of lunch. It’s awesome popcorn flick fun.

Gladiator II is no Spartacus or Satyricon. It’s a pale imitation of Gladiator. But I was still entertained. Somewhat.

Thomas Giblin

Gladiator II is in cinemas now. Click here for showtimes and tickets. 

 

Thomas Giblin
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