Review: 'Gladiator II' is a thrilling, worthy spectacle despite its familiarity
The plot recycles a bit too much from the original "Gladiator," but the action more than makes up for it
Ridley Scott has returned to the Colosseum, and while it’s not quite a perfect return, it’s still a spectacle worth seeing.
"Gladiator II" channels the same sweeping grandeur of the 2000 original with its jaw-dropping battles, brutal combat, and a world so intricately crafted you can practically smell the blood and sand. Clocking in at 148 minutes, the film is as sprawling as Rome itself, peeling back the layers of lore in a way that feels both epic and familiar.
That familiarity, though, is partially what holds this sequel back. Paul Mescal’s Hanno is, for all intents and purposes, Maximus 2.0. A tragic backstory? Check. Family killed under a tyrannical emperor? Check. Sold into slavery? Check. Rising to stardom as a gladiatorial bloodhound? Check.
Turns out, that’s because he basically is Maximus 2.0. “Gladiator II” adds a new wrinkle to the original film revealing that Mescal’s character is actually Lucius – the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and an unseen father in “Gladiator.” Mystery solved: the baby daddy was none other than Maximus himself.
Sixteen years after the events of the first film, Lucius is all grown up, but living in Africa under the name “Hanno” after being forced to flee Rome for safety following the deaths of Maximus and Commodus. But Rome comes to him – unintentionally – as General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) leads an assault on Lucius’ city, sacking it for the Empire’s gain and killing Lucius’ wife in the process. The defeat leaves Lucius broken, alone and captive, sold into the fighting pits and on a path back to a corrupt Rome on the brink of collapse – and a reunion with his long lost mother.
While Mescal delivers a strong and brooding performance, he doesn’t quite channel the larger-than-life magnetism Russell Crowe wielded like a weapon in the original. Lucius is quieter, more introspective, which works for the character but doesn’t always feel big enough to fill the gladiator sandals he’s stepping into. But when it comes to the physical embodiment of a gladiator, Mescal is more than enough. His brute force and imposing presence dominates any combat sequence in assertive fashion.
Thankfully, when Mescal’s solemnity lags, Denzel Washington strides in like a cinematic colossus. Playing Macrinus, a schemer with enough charm to sell sand in the Sahara, Washington is having the time of his life. His ability to shape a signature “Denzel character” within the swords-and-sandals milieu is astonishingly fun to watch, and every scene he’s in is instantly elevated. If nothing else, you’ll find yourself loving to hate his sleazy yet captivating climb to power.
Pascal’s involvement in the marketing led many (myself included) to expect him to be a major player, yet sadly, his General Acacius is relegated to the background. A disappointing choice, considering Pascal’s undeniable charisma and current status as a star, but his character is there to serve a specific purpose and not much more. Once his job is done, so is his screen time, leaving the film with a missed opportunity to infuse even more energy into the narrative.
When it comes to action, simply put: Ridley Scott hasn’t lost his touch. The opening sequence – a land-and-sea battle – sets the stage with visceral chaos and cinematic flair. Once the film narrows its focus to the arenas, though, things get even more wild. “Gladiator II” makes the tigers in the Colosseum look like child’s play. This time, we’re getting rhinos, monkeys, sharks, and the much-advertised naval battle inside the Colosseum. The marketing hyped this spectacle, and it absolutely delivers. It’s thrilling, inventive, and a feast for action junkies.
The film also weaves some intriguing new threads into the original’s lore, particularly the previously mentioned revelation that Lucius is the son of Maximus and Lucilla. While it adds an emotional twist, it also muddies Maximus’s character a bit, casting a shadow on his once-pure devotion to his late wife and son. Depending on how much you cherished Maximus’s legacy, this reveal might land as a shock – or a buzzkill.
For all its highs, "Gladiator II" doesn’t quite reach the status of its predecessor. The emotional weight isn’t as heavy, and the plot often feels like a remix of the original rather than a wholly new tune. But as a standalone piece of epic cinema, it holds its own. The attention to detail in world-building, the jaw-dropping action sequences, and Denzel’s masterclass in scene-stealing are all reasons to venture back to ancient Rome. Grab your popcorn and prepare to be entertained.
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5
“Gladiator II” releases in theaters November 22.