POPZ-CULTURE Movie Reviews – Gladiator II. (2024)

Genre: Action, adventure, drama

Age limit: 16

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Written by: David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni

Starring: Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington

Panem et circenses

2024 cannot pass without a Ridley Scott movie. It’s long been rumoured that the director was making a sequel to one of his best-known works, and we had mixed feelings about it. We weren’t averse to seeing another tale from Rome’s less glorious era after all this time, and the casting of Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington gave us further reason to be optimistic. However, the memory of last year’s Napoleon is still fresh in our minds, and while it was not without its spectacular scenes, it was otherwise a disappointment. We were also aware of the moderately negative reception of the film, but despite the scandal on social media, we tried not to be influenced about Gladiator 2.

The plot runs on two lines, which later connect in a very predictable way. Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), a Numidian warrior, loses everything and becomes enslaved after a clash with the Roman army. He regains his freedom in a gladiatorial contest in the Colosseum. Meanwhile, General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) grows increasingly disillusioned with the oppressive regime. But those who oppose him could find themselves in the infamous amphitheatre just as much as the defeated.

It would be unfair to judge solely in terms of historical authenticity. There are many characters inspired by real historical figures on screen, but they and the story are also fiction. It was not primarily the inaccuracies that bothered us, but the fact that the plot itself is rather boring. We are sure that after 30 minutes anyone can guess the outcome. Anyway, it’s worth rewatching the first part, because it’s not just small hints that are attached to the sequel.

We expected that the visuals would not be disappointing. The first impression was very convincing indeed. The film opens immediately with a battle scene, which sufficiently illustrated the harshness of the conquering campaigns. However, shortly afterwards, we were confronted with CGI animation that recalled the visuals of early 2000s console games.

The actors save the day. Paul Mescal in the lead role was a good choice, and apart from one rather overacted scene, he played the revenge-driven gladiator in an acceptable way all along. Pedro Pascal had a much harder job, as Accacius was the least complex character in the story. He was noticeably overshadowed. Denzel Washington, however, outshone them all. It’s true that he got the most rewarding role, but without his experience he could not have played Macrinus so well.

Gladiator 2 fits in perfectly among the mediocre sequels to films with long-standing fan bases, such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire or even Beverly Hills Cop 4. There’s nothing you don’t get from the first movie, which is also a visual feast after almost 25 years. It has its moments, it helps pass the time, but it doesn’t live up to the original. Not a Maximus experience, but not… Minimus.

What did you think of the film? What memories do you have of the first chapter? Leave your thoughts in the comments. If you liked our article, share it with others. You can expect our recommendations on both cinema and streaming fronts in December. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty movie and series-watching snack, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.