"Overall the film fails to reach the heights of it's predecessor with the exception of one or two scenes"

Twenty four years after his epic Gladiator, Ridley Scott returns to bring us Gladiator II. An entirely forgettable, uncalled for sequel that trashes some of the narrative of the original movie in order to set up the plot for this 2024 follow up.

With the original classic ending on a note of optimism and hope after the betrayal, treachery and fighting leading to the final defeat and death of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) by Maximus (Russell Crowe). This film begins on a note of pessimism with the young Lucius (the nephew of Commodus) now heir to the throne of Rome under threat because of a power vacuum created by the death of Commodus, which was never eluded to in the original film.

This leads us in to the sequel with Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) helping her son; the young Lucius escape from Rome in fear of his life, with the events then picking up some twenty years later where Lucius (Paul Mescal) is now happily married and living in the North African province of Numidia.

However their lives come under threat when the ever expanding Roman Empire attacks Numidia. The attack is led by the Roman General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and sees Lucius captured and enslaved after his wife dies in his arms during the battle.

We see some familiar beats as the anger, bitterness and hatred of Marcus Acacius along with the Roman Empire that Lucius harbours, as he embarks on the familiar slave to gladiator journey, under the guidance of Macrinus (Denzel Washington) Lucius embarks on a gladiatorial path that eventually leads him to Rome and the Colosseum.

Macrinus a former slave and gladiator turned owner of gladiators and purveyor supplies fighters to the Roman Empire and he has his own political agenda. A master manipulator, he seeks power and influence using Lucius as his instrument.

In Rome, Marcus Acacius returns as a hero, but he has grown tiresome of battles and increasing the size of the Roman Empire. As well as the people he’s also welcomed back by his wife Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) the mother of Lucius.

We find Rome is now under the command of two brothers; Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). The latter is mentally unstable. Marcus Acacius informs them that he no longer wishes to fight for the Empire, but he’s told he doesn’t have a choice.

By the time Lucius and Macrinus arrive in Rome, the gladiatorial games have begun. Marcus Acacius and Lucilla are caught plotting and Marcus is demoted and relegated to now fight for survival in the Colosseum as a gladiator, to the entertainment of the masses.

In many ways Gladiator II feels like a derivative of the former film with flashbacks to fill in the plot. It fails to capture the spirit or heart of the original. Overall the film fails to reach the heights of it’s predecessor with the exception of one or two scenes.

A stand out character worthy of praise in Gladiator II is Macrinus as played by Denzel Washington; his performance as conniving former slave and gladiator with a manipulative agenda is delivered sublimely. To date it’s one of Denzel’s best performances and the one true selling point of the movie. He excels at playing the villian.

Another notable point to mention is the construction of a replica of the Colosseum, which adds to the spectacle and action, combining practical and CGI effects. This also meant the action ante was raised above it’s predecessor. However not always successfully.

The characters feel lackluster. Those which return from the original film get relegated to the sidelines. Paul Mescal isn’t in the league of Russell Crowe and lacks gravitas. Some characters aren’t given enough back story or aren’t even fully developed.

Fun? yes to a minor degree. Quotable? No, forgettable. “Are you not entertained?” Meh.