GLADIIOTER: WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES IN ETERNITY

Legendary director Ridley Scott has returned to form spectacularly after 2023’s disappointing Napoleon, with a revisit to the “sword and sandal” genre.

The director of classics such as Alien, Blade Runner and American Gangster gained Oscar success with the original Gladiator in 2000 and has continued the saga with this entertaining and action-packed sequel. 

The story begins 16 years after the events of the first film with battle weary roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) attacking a coastal city in Numedia which lies on the edge of the empire. After sacking the city, the captured citizens are enslaved and the fittest sent back to Rome to be gladiators. 

Among the captured is soldier (Paul Mescal), who carries a secret and a burning rage that makes him a formidable fighter. He is noticed by Macrinus (Denzil Washington) a rich gladiator promoter who has his eyes on gaining political power. 

These two make a pact together and the Colosseum in Rome becomes the means to which both parties can achieve their goals. Added to this are unpopular unhinged emperor brothers, corrupt senators and scheming political fixers all trying to gain the upper hand in the decadent capital of the Roman Empire. 

The first Gladiator movie revolved around the idea of the ‘dream that was Rome”, which consisted of an end to the tyranny of emperors and a return to the more democratic senate. Gladiator II reveals that the dream continues with the character of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) who returns from the first movie as the daughter of good emperor Marcus Aurelius and lover of Maximus (Russell Crowe). Lucilla is now married to Acacius and the two represent the “strength and honour” of Rome. They plot for an end to the evil emperor brothers reign and a return to a republic. 

Gladiator II has a lot of characters and plot twists before Mescal’s secret is finally revealed. These are fun, but the most enjoyable aspect is the action scenes. The trials that Mescal and his gladiator comrades must face in the Colosseum range from giant rhinos, naval battles in shark infested waters and even deranged baboons!! 

These sequences are brilliantly filmed and should be watched on the big screen to appreciate the Glory that was Rome. 

This is where the movie really delivers, and it seems amazing that the entire film was shot in only 50 odd days. 

Although the film has a lot of characters, they all had depth and you really cared what happened to them, which is some achievement in a running time of 2 ½ hours. The acting was top notch, with Paul Mescal’s performance so good that you did not find yourself longing for Russell Crowe. High praise for an actor surely on the way to “big star” status. Ravi (Alexander Karim) and Emperor Geta (Joesph Quinn) stood out in a long list of very talented actors who gave the story real empathy and conviction. 

For me though, it was Denzil Washington who impressed the most. He stole every scene he was in and was clearly enjoying himself playing this complicated and morally bankrupt character. 

The costumes where great, the lighting atmospheric and the sets looked authentic. The script was tight and propelled the action forward, and although not historically accurate it made up for it in its confidence and sheer bravado.

All in All, a worthy successor to the original. I would give it a 4/5 so bring on Gladiator III!!! 

One Comment

  1. […] 3) Gladiator II: I know this might sound crazy, but I have never seen the Russell Crowe original. I didn’t really know what to expect but had the fear that it would be just way too long and a cringy “sword and sandals” soap opera. However, this was a movie with heart and intention, and I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen. Mescal as the hero made the part of Lucius his own and Denzel Washington was simply electric. Oscar glory surly on its way for him and I for one will be cheering him on. For more check out my exclusive interview with Alexander Karim (Ravi) and full review on Over the Shoulder https://overtheshoulder.co.uk/2024/11/20/gladiioter-what-we-do-in-life-echoes-in-eternity/.   […]

    December 30, 2024
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