In the era of sequels released over two decades after their predecessors, it is increasingly rare to find a story that feels fully realized. Top Gun: Maverick set the benchmark pretty high with its incredible overall production value and audience appreciation. Gladiator II may not surpass or reach that benchmark, but it sure as hell swings for the top seats of the Colosseum! I will admit that not everyone will like it, but bare with me to find out how it succeeded for me and where some others may have issues with it.
Admittedly, the world-building elements at the start of Gladiator II could easily stir feelings of disappointment within fans of the original film. Witnessing Rome in a state of chaos and corruption is very counterpoint to all of the hope instilled by the end of Maximus Decimus Meridius’ story. The free Rome dreamed of by Marcus Aurelius was never even remotely realized after Maximus’ death. This is why the first 40 minutes (roughly) of this sequel could easily leave many viewers feeling sour… as was the case for myself. I felt as though they were dishonouring the greatness of Gladiator and the noble sacrifices endured by the great Maximus. Despite this initial gut reaction, I kept an open mind and allowed myself to be thrust into the arena of the film. I refused to submit too early. The film slowly managed to redeem itself quite respectfully by the time the end credits rolled. The story was able to come full circle to reinforce the themes and epic nature of its predecessor. This was one of the only times I can recall watching a film where such a drastic change of opinion occurred within the borders of its runtime.
A common question many may ask is whether it is necessary to watch Gladiator before seeing the sequel. The short answer is, no. There is plenty of backstory reference material offered to help establish the key connections for those who have never watched the original. For those who haven’t watched the first film in a long time, there is a beautiful artistic montage of key events during the opening credits to help ease you back in. I decided to rewatch the original beforehand and I do highly recommend it. The “Coles Notes refresher” at the start of Gladiator II just does not provide the same immersive experience as getting every little detail refreshed. I was actually brave enough to do a back-to-back marathon with my home copy of Gladiator just before going to the theatre to see Gladiator II. That totals just over 5 hours of deep immersion.
One big element of this production that could swing viewers heavily in either direction is the use of multiple antagonists. Most frequently used in superhero films, having multiple villains has never really fared well structurally within a single narrative. In much the same way, Gladiator II could fall victim to this same criticism. The inherent problem with this trope is that the viewer is unable to concentrate their feelings toward one specific element of opposition. When Commodus is defeated in the first film, the viewer has that clear moment of shared catharsis with their hero. This purging of emotions never feels as potent when split amongst the vanquishing of multiple antagonists, especially if not all are vanquished with the same blow. So, this definitely dilutes the emotional impact upon the resolution of the conflict within the film. However, I found that using multiple antagonists in Gladiator II had a far greater impact on helping to establish just how much Rome had fallen apart since Maximus’ story. I felt that it actually helped towards better understanding just how dire the empire was in need of some drastic change. This is where Gladiator II distinguishes itself from Gladiator. Gladiator was chiefly about Maximus and his revenge. Saving Rome was a secondary concern within the plot. Gladiator II ends up being chiefly about saving Rome. The protagonist’s revenge may begin as a driving force for the narrative, but ultimately it is of secondary concern within the plot. This film ultimately becomes about returning to the dream of a free Rome. This is why I find Gladiator II to be such a successful addition to the franchise. It strongly ties back to Marcus Aurelius’ initial vision instead of trying to be a continuation entirely about Maximus.
Although Gladiator II isn’t about continuing the story of Maximus, there are still strong ties binding his story to this one. The strongest and most obvious ties being Lucilla and Lucius, the daughter and grandson of Marcus Aurelius who were featured strongly in the first film. Connie Nielson returns as Lucilla and is the perfect bridge to help connect the two films. It’s like she never left Rome in the 24 years since Gladiator was made. Her portrayal is perfectly balanced with the Lucilla we already knew and loved. Paul Mescal is also exceptional as a grown-up Lucius. How he handles the perspective of a Roman who had the chance to see the culture of his youth from outside its walls as he matured is focused and measured. Another aspect of his performance is his contrasted approach to Russell Crowe’s Maximus. Both characters are faced with the task of their revenge. Both characters run the gauntlet of the Colosseum. Maximus remained very stoic and resolute while relying mostly on his soldier skill, whereas Lucius isn’t afraid to express or use his anger to guide him through battle. This definitely helps keep a somewhat familiar plot between Maximus and Lucius from becoming stale or repetitive.
Overall, the entire cast did exceptionally well. Nobody felt like they didn’t belong in Rome. Some enjoyable standouts though? The twin Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Their “spoiled snivelling brats now in charge” performances were spot on for this story. They reminded me of lighter versions of Joffrey from Game Of Thrones. You love to dislike them, yet they don’t go so far as to make you absolutely hate them. They manage to remain influential within the story while still maintaining themselves as mostly inconsequential. On the other hand, a performance that establishes itself strongly and firmly plants itself as extremely consequential is that of Denzel Washington as Macrinus. Denzel Washington has historically been a mostly stoic performer. He is rarely animated within his performances. In Gladiator II it looks like he is having the most fun he has ever had on a film set. It’s such a strangely unique energy compared to any character that I can recall seeing from him, yet it works so seamlessly within the atmosphere of this Roman empire. Through Macrinus, the viewer gets a chance to allow themselves to enjoy a bit of the chaos in Rome. It was easily the best performance of the film.
Gladiator had some fantastic action sequences. In that category, Gladiator II certainly lives up to the spectacle and even surpasses it on occasion. Some of these sequences are definitely a strong reason for seeing this film in theatres. The big screen will really make a significant difference in the scope of what you experience. In my studies of theatre history over the years I have read about the insane entertainment that Rome was able to create within the walls of the Colosseum arena. At times, I’ve even tried to imagine what some of that grandeur would look like. Well, they certainly overshot my imagination when making this film. The trailers do spoil most of what I am referencing regarding the Colosseum scenes, but I’ll remain spoiler-free for the growing demographic of people who avoid trailers nowadays. Just trust me when I say that one Colosseum scene in particular left my jaw agape for the duration of the scene.
Gladiator II is not a perfect film, by any measure. As with most 2+ hour films, there are some slower moments that can make it feel like it is dragging a bit. However, it is definitely an entertaining film that pays excellent tribute to its predecessor while remaining consistent with its own established universe. The action definitely surpasses what we might expect from a sequel of this nature and the performances are all enjoyable. A real benefit for any viewer though would be to go into it with a “bigger picture” mentality. Look past the multiple antagonist trope and accept that this story is about more than just the protagonist. It is about Rome while connecting to the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius. I suspect that word of mouth will have Gladiator II uttered in the same sentence as Top Gun: Maverick over the coming weeks. It is easily the 2nd best “20+ year sequel” to have been released since Hollywood began exploring the trend.
