“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
Twenty four years ago Ridley Scott gave us one of the best movies of the modern era in Gladiator, the story of a general who became a slave only to rise again as a Gladiator and set the Roman Empire onto its true path forward.
We were given a true epic in every sense of the word, with a host of memorable characters, moments and recognised with a raft of awards for all levels involved in its production. Gladiator was truly a masterpiece and a complete story that has left a lasting impression in cinema.
The announcement that a second was in production came as a surprise and I held little hope of it living up to the lofty heights of the original. After all, was there more story to tell after such a memorable ending? Were we just rebooting another movie from my younger years for the sake of a new generation’s dollars? I went into Gladiator 2 without any preconceived ideas on the story and was ready to see what Sir Ridley had in store for us this time around.
Gladiator 2 is set 16 years after the events of the original. Rome is once again in the grips of tyrannical leadership with twin Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) demanding their armies travel further and conquer more civilisations in a bid to become the farthest reaching empire that has ever been seen.
General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) is the tip of the spear and central to Rome’s push into further territories. We see that Marcus is troubled with the madness shown by the Emperors and seeing the effects his actions are having on more and more peoples is weighing heavily on him.
It is on one of these far off campaigns in the kingdom of Numidia that we meet Lucius (Paul Mescal). After the Roman invasion and subsequent occupation Lucius is sold into slavery. Here his abilities with a sword catches the eye of the scheming Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who promises Lucius vengeance for the death of his wife.
Marcus’ victories in Numidia set in motion a return of the games in the mighty Colosseum setting the stage for the rise of Lucius to his rightful place amongst Roman royalty.
Ridley Scott has been a somewhat polarising director having made some of the very best movies of the past 40 years, while simultaneously releasing some of let’s say questionable direction. You never really know which Ridley Scott style epic you are going to get going in.
Thankfully Gladiator 2 is one of his best. The intricate world he has created of the ancient Roman Empire is once again showcased in all its beauty and brutality. The Colosseum is again the wondrous centerpiece primed for bloody battles between man and beast. Seeing this great arena once again overflowing with people is awe inspiring and we thankfully get a chance to see it filled with water for a ship battle, complete with man eating sharks.
The story of Gladiator 2 is a familiar one that holds many similarities to the original with enough changes to make it a sequel that will also stand on its own. The stunningly talented Connie Nielsen reprises her role of Lucilla and forms an integral part of the overall story once again holding all the pieces in place. She is constantly in the background trying to return Rome to the rule of the senate while looking to her past to better find the answers to the future of Rome.
Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger’s performances as the mad Emperors are frightening while at the same time leaving you feeling pity and disgust towards them in equal measure. There is quite obviously something very wrong in their minds but it is offset by the somewhat childlike qualities of Caracalla that hides the madness just underneath. Pedro Pascal once again shows that at the moment he can do no wrong playing Marcus from many different views all tied up into a complex character he portrays with ease all the while Denzel Washington seems to just be having fun with Marcrinus, scheming his way through the senate pulling the strings to his ultimate end goal almost ad nauseam with the ease at which he is working.
It is ultimately Paul Mescal’s shoulders the entire movie rests upon and rightly or wrongly his performance and portrayal will be compared to that of Russel Crowe. Thankfully the two are very different characters and Mescal does not miss. Lucius had to grow up quickly after being forced from his home and had made a life for himself. Never shying away from the brutality of war he was never fighting for riches or wealth but for life and the lives of those around him. A trait he showcases throughout even as we find out his origins and get more of an insight into his destiny.
Gladiator 2 is as big, brutal and beautiful as its predecessor and an almost perfect continuation of the story. Ridley Scott has once again gotten the best out of all departments he was directing creating a vibrant world that is mesmerising in its detail. At 2.5 hours in length it may scare some of the more flash in the pan type movie goers, but it never once overstayed its welcome. Pacing throughout makes you forget you’re in for an extended time with a complex plot unfolding that never once confused or made us question what was going on.
Gladiator 2 is releasing this November 14th in cinemas everywhere, this is the big summer blockbuster we’ve been waiting for so see it on the biggest loudest screen you can.
