Gladiator II - movie review

This is my review of Gladiator II. Some of what is in it might be a spoiler, although I tried not to give a lot away.

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Gladiator II begins sixteen years after Maximus died in the original Gladiator movie. In the beginning, we see a young soldier, Hanno (played by Paul Mescal), and his warrior wife preparing to fight an attacking army led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Hanno's sea town fights valiantly, but the force coming at them is too strong and too fierce. It doesn't end well; this battle is in Hanno's city, and General Acacius declares he is taking the city in the name of the Roman Empire. Most of Hanno's compatriots are killed in the battle, but a few are taken as prisoners with Hanno to Rome.

Two Emperor brothers, Geta and Caracalla, command Rome and love to see the vicious and visceral fights in their arena. They are depicted as twins in the movie. Caracalla is an annoying character that most viewers will want to slap because he acts like a spoiled, cruel child with crazy demands and constant tantrums. Geta is more of a politician who controls his emotions and tries to manage his brother. The entire Rome contingent comes off as a perverted group, as do the Senators, except for the head one, Senator Gracchus, Lucilla's old friend.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a sly, savvy, ambitious businessman who buys Hanno for the arena. Many psychological conversations ensue between the two of them.

Hanno, a natural leader, commands the gladiators when they are made to fight. He strategically plans how to win, inspiring them, as he shouts orders while they fend off men and vicious animals, even though they are the underdogs. Macrinus is happy with Hanno's wins in the arena, yet he recognizes Hanno's strong rebellious streak.

General Acacius is married to Lucilla, and they are required to watch the games in the arena. During a tough match, Hanno does something that catches her attention and reminds her of Maximus.

Visiting him later in the gladiator quarters, she calls him Lucius, and he harshly rejects her, saying she is not his mother.

Lucilla is popular with the people and still has some power, but with the crazy Emperor twins, she has to be very careful.

Macrinus (Denzel) is plotting for more power behind the scenes, and the Emperors are fooled into trusting him.

I didn't care for this character that the Academy Award winner plays in Gladiator II. Like Nicole Kidman, Denzel loses himself in his characters, and you rarely remember it is Denzel. In this movie, I couldn't get past his annoying mannerisms. He wore the Roman toga draped over his arms but couldn't stop fiddling with it. Either the costume was getting in his way of moving, or it wasn't wrapped correctly. He continually re-wrapped it over his arm. Seeing this may have just been my critical mind, but it was distracting. Also distracting were the faces he made. You know - that Denzel mouth movement. This movie made him seem more like a caricature of the part he was playing; he was over-acting it. I know many thought he was the reason to see the movie.

Pedro, as the general in the opening fight scene, is lackadaisical, and he is soft-spoken throughout the movie until the movie's last fight.

Lucius (Hanno) finally accepts that Lucilla is his mother and that General Acacius isn't bad. Lucius wants to save Rome from the crazy Emperors and the Senators who mainly do not help the people of Rome.

The movie has splendid sets and is visually rich, with some incredible scenes inside the arena and the city, all out of Ridley Scott's director/producer mind. Since none of us lived back then, we don't know if his imaginative ideas could have happened, but it makes for a great spectacle in the movie.

While the ending is surprising, shocking, and sad, most of it is ferocious and triumphant. Justice comes, and punishment is meted out. Rome will rise again.

The movie is packed with action and is long. I don't give it an outstanding rating, but I'm not sorry I spent the time in the theater watching it. It just wasn't a movie that I am raving about and telling everyone they must see.

Copyright © 12/1/2024 by Andrea O. Corwin

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