In 2000 , Russell Crowe ’s Maximus Decimus Meridius entertained audiences with his magnificent swordsmanship and illustrious speeches inGladiator , Ridley Scott ’s Oscar - winning historical epic . Twenty - four years later , Scott turn back to the arena with a new hero inGladiator II . Paul Mescal stars as Lucius , the Word of Maximus and Lucilla ( Connie Nielsen ) , who left Rome as a child to run blackwash attack . Sixteen eld later , Lucius is subsist in Numidia when Romanic forces top by General Acacius ( Pedro Pascal ) invade his place , bolt down his married woman , and sell him into slavery . drive by rage , Lucius trains to be a prizefighter and embarks on a vengeful quest to wipe out Acacius and tear down the entire Roman Empire .
Denzel Washington being the best part presents a problem
In the least surprising news , Washingtonis far and away the best aspect ofGladiator II . Washington has more science in his little finger than 95 % of Hollywood . Macrinus will charm your windsock off with his freakish smile and flamboyance . Yet he ’s a killer at heart with no qualms about ferocity and bloodshed . Washington ’s Macrinus combines the ferocity of Frank Lucas fromAmerican Gangsterwith the cockiness of Alonzo Harris . Macrinus is the creature master key drive by the thirst for power , a mindset he never blank out . Washington chews up every tidings of dialog and has anyone who listens , include the audience , in the decoration of his manus .
Washington is too good to a faulting . That ’s not his job , though . His genuine line is to give the best execution by impart the word on the pageboy to life on screen . It ’s a story and script problem . Lucius is the protagonist ofGladiator II . He ’s the character on the hero ’s journey , and he completes his arc by the ending of the film . But anytime Lucius is on CRT screen with Macrinus , the lines of who to take root for are slur .
For the entire motion-picture show , the interview is waiting for the other brake shoe to knock off with Macrinus . He ’s clearly scheming to bleed Rome from the get - go . However , it ’s easy to back up Macrinus ’ rise to power when two foolish emperors do like tike . Until he shoots an pointer through Lucilla ’s heart , how can you not root for MacrinusandLucius ?
Gladiatordoes not have this problem . The lines are clearly draw from the beginning . Gladiator’sstory structure start and terminate with Maximus , the history ’s true paladin . Below him is the inherited drama with Lucilla , Commodus , and Marcus Aurelius . Then there ’s everything else , like the Roman Senate . InGladiator II , Lucius is the agonist on a path toward repurchase . Once he buzz off to Rome , his seeking weirdly takes a back seat to Macrinus ’ dodge and Lucilla ’s political crusade . Where is Lucius ? Well , he ’s in a cell under the Colosseum for most of this drama when he should have been actively participating in more of the story .
CGI animals are distracting
Gladiatorfeels like one of the last blockbuster motion picture to not feel like a “ CGI fest . ” The CGI superhero and fancy revolution would come soon after withSpider - Manand Harry Potter . Obviously , CGI is used inGladiatorin its depiction of Ancient Rome and sure scene with Oliver Reed ’s Proximo , who go bad during production . withal , the battle scenes in the Colosseum are exquisite . It ’s pulse - pound natural action whenever Maximus pluck up a sword and competitiveness for survival . The chariot battle , where Maximus lead his fellow gladiators to victory before giving one of his iconic speeches , is a masterclass in block , filming , and executing a battle sequence . These fight still bet as visceral and as bleak as ever 24 years later .
The same ca n’t be said forGladiator II . After an effective warfare sequence between the Numidians and Romans , the movie shift toward CGI opponents — baboons , a rhino , and shark . Scott ’s theme for include baboon makes sentiency . He wanted Lucius to become an alpha by transforming from aprisoner to a prizefighter . Why could n’t that have been done fighting another gentleman’s gentleman ? As weird as the baboons appear , nothing was strange than seeing sharks ( ? ) in the Colosseum . It ’s so distracting that it takes the audience out of the scene . Using a naval battle to highlight Lucius ’ leadership and armed combat skills is a effective idea . The sharks , however , are a huge swinging and a miss .
Speaking of deal - to - hand combat , the near fighting scene inGladiator leash the conflict between Lucius and another warrior at the senator ’s political party . It ’s a gritty and grounded fight with life history - or - death stakes . It showcases the strength and physical artistry needed to be a gladiator . That ’s all an interview penury . That shortsighted fight view details the character ’s motivating more than any scene in the Colosseum . Lucius ’ refusal to tell his name shows he will never do this version of Rome . Macrinus cook the emperor at every round to stay in their good graces . Emperor Geta ( Joseph Quinn ) and Emperor Caracalla ( Fred Hechinger ) are overindulgent and underqualified fool . Gladiator IIneeded more of this and less ofDr . Evil ’s sharks .
Lucius is not Maximus no matter how hard he tries
It seems unfair to say that Lucius is not Maximus . Mescal , a antic vernal player with a brilliant vocation forward of him , could never exist up toCrowe ’s career - delineate performance . It does n’t mean Mescal ca n’t deliver the goods an Oscar and be like Crowe . Maximus is just a better fiber than Lucius . Maximus is the honorable general who will finish at nothing to avenge his dead wife , child , and mentor . He conduct himself with the lordliness of a Roman hero , with quintessential speeches to take his traditional knowledge to another stratosphere .
Lucius is the son of Maximus , but he does n’t have his father ’s front . No matter how hardGladiator IItries to make Lucius its Maximus , it fall just unforesightful . Maximus always hump his goals : restore order to Rome and kill Commodus . What does Lucius desire ? He in the beginning wishes to kill General Acacius . Once Acacius is out of the mental picture , then what ? Lucius says he wants to implement his grandad ’s dream for Rome . But that ’s the ambition of Lucius ’ father , mother , and grandfather . It ’s nothisdream .
Lucius ’ speeches do not have the same impact as those of Maximus . Mescal ’s best speech is before the concluding battle in the Colosseum , where he recites the “ we are not where death is ” occupation from his time in Numidia . The most of import line from that oral communication is when Lucius says , “ I am not a general . ” He ’s good . Lucius is a solider ; Maximus is a general . Both are still compelling persona . One is just a little higher in the pecking order .
Gladiator IIisnow in theaters .
