In the fall of 2023, a popular TikTok trend claimed that men think about the Roman Empire on a regular basis. Whatever you think about the accuracy of that claim, those looking for their fill of the Roman Empire, or just an entertaining few hours, will appreciate “Gladiator II.”
Directed by famed director Ridley Scott, this sequel came after a 24-year hiatus from the year 2000’s “Gladiator” featuring Russell Crowe as former Roman general and now-slave-and-gladiator Maximus. “Gladiator II” begins 16 years after the events in the original movie, as Hanno (Paul Mescal) lives in the African territory of Numidia with his wife, Arishat. One day, General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) leads the Roman army to attack and conquer Numidia, leading to heartache and imprisonment for Hanno.
Eventually, Hanno is bought by the slave trader Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who promises him the head of General Acacius. We soon realize that Hanno’s real name is Lucius, and that he has more in common with his long-dead hero, Maximus, than he realized. Will Lucius follow the same path as Maximus? I say it’s worth watching to find out.
Not everyone agrees with me. As much as Lucius comes to hate General Acacius, audiences seem to dislike the film. An average of Google reviews rates it at 2.9 stars, with audiences and critics arguing the movie lacks originality and is full of historical inaccuracies.
But I liked the movie’s character development, with Hanno’s character arc being fun to watch. Yes, it is very similar to the first movie, but it works. The action is amazing, with my favorite part being a naval battle scene. The villains are menacing and there are some twists I didn’t expect. I don’t get why people are mad about historical inaccuracies rather than enjoying action-packed gladiator battles. If you’re looking for accuracy, watch a documentary.
Compared to the original, the movie has its flaws, as some characters lack depth which isn’t made up by their actors’ performances. However, other actors’ performances are immaculate. Denzel Washington puts on a great performance, but I can’t say too much without spoiling parts. Paul Mescal’s performance enhances the dramatic stakes in the film. He is no Russell Crowe, but he is still outstanding in his role.
Overall, “Gladiator II” delivers an entertaining, historical epic. It is an engaging return to the Roman Empire with gladiator fights that don’t disappoint. While it doesn’t quite match the greatness of the original, it is still a solid epic worth watching for visuals alone.
You can watch “Gladiator II” on a number of streaming services, including Paramount+, AppleTV, SlingTV, and Amazon Prime Premium.
