Review: Gladiator II

Will you be entertained? … Yes.

Ridley Scott directs the sequel to his 2000 epic, “Gladiator.” The story follows Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen), who was sent away from Rome during his childhood. When Romans attack his new home, Lucius is sold into slavery and becomes a gladiator owned by Marcrinus (played by Denzel Washington). The story’s structure closely resembles that of the original film, which intentionally evokes a sense of nostalgia.

This movie is incredibly entertaining but lacks the original’s heart. Paul Mescal’s performance felt underwhelming; although his physicality was impressive, he didn’t possess the charisma of Russell Crowe, to whom he will inevitably be compared. In contrast, Denzel Washington delivered an outstanding performance as the deliciously despicable villain. You are completely captivated by his every move throughout the film. Another standout performance came from Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta. I would have liked him to have a bit more screen time, but he was exceptional in the role given to him.

With today’s advancements in CGI, filmmakers can recreate actual naval battles that took place in the Colosseum. While I doubt those battles involved sharks, as that seems a bit far-fetched, I’m not a historian. Despite these technological enhancements, nothing compares to the hand-to-hand combat scenes. The choreography is truly captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

“Gladiator II” is an entertaining sequel that heavily draws from the original film. When I stepped out of the theater, I was in awe of its grandeur and immediately said it was one of the year’s best movies. Upon reflection, however, the script is underwhelming, and the lead actor’s performance falls flat. Denzel Washington stands out in this movie and is likely to be the only contender for awards that will emerge from it.