GLADIATOR II
Starring: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington
Director: Ridley Scott
NICK
With the way that Gladiator ended, Gladiator II is here to offer another shot at the redemption of Rome – its Rocky II, so to speak – and does so admirably. There are some challenges, mainly a bland score and a miscast Paul Mescal, but the latter is merely a case of the wrong man for the job rather than a bad performance. Plus, it’s evened out by a supremely interesting and magnetic Denzel Washington performance. Is it as good as the original? Not quite. But, it’s a worthy successor and has me invested in a continuation of a franchise I had long closed the book on.
ADRIANO
In what’s a massive step-down from the first, Gladiator II is... another Ridley Scott movie. From a production standpoint, it's well put together, with excellent set pieces, and the coliseum sequences are sick, even if it mostly ditches the first film’s viciousness for silliness. Plus, Denzel Washington having the time of his life means me having the time of my life. However, the script has none of the first film's heart, the story failed to capture my interest, Paul Mescal is miscast, and overall, the movie just felt thematically dull. So, for the most part, I was not entertained.
KATIE
Gladiator II is everything I hoped it would be. Stuffed with ludicrous spectacle, bloodthirsty violence, non-stop thrilling action, incredible performances, and compelling political themes, there is no denying its outrageous entertainment value. It strikes the perfect balance between melodrama and almost-camp in its extravagance, and whilst the script doesn’t quite achieve the dramatic impact of its predecessor, the performances make up for it. Paul Mescal uses his subtle emotional intensity that helps him thrive in smaller roles to elevate his otherwise brutish character, and Denzel Washington relishes each line in a scene stealing performance.
AMARÚ
Ridley Scott clearly has zero qualms about what others think, because with Gladiator II, he chose to follow up the award-winning original with a blockbuster that’s more epic, if less prestigious, than the Best Picture winner. Scott basks in Roman lavishness, utilizing grandiose dialogue, Harry Gregson-Williams’ booming score, and a melodramatic screenplay as vehicles for each impressively executed set piece. Pieces driven by a naturally heroic Paul Mescal, and an utterly delicious Denzel Washington. There’s no doubt the film is missing its predecessor’s weight, but Scott packs it with ambitious style, and dammit if I wasn’t entertained.
PAIGE
The gods have spoken, calling Gladiator II a solid and adrenaline-fueled sequel. Although its emotional beats may not be as strong as its predecessor’s, the action is certainly next level. This sword-and-sandals epic is more brutal and bloodier than the original, proving that director Ridley Scott is still capable of creating grand spectacles. While I do wish Paul Mescal’s character had more to do than just feeling like a plot device, his and the rest of the cast's performances are still great, so I believe most will find the film as entertaining as I did.
PRESTON
“Artificial” is the best word to describe Gladiator II. Everything from the extras constantly fist-pumping in the background to the Praetorian guard turning their bows on the crowd feels unreal and laughable, not to mention the f’ing sharks! Denzel Washington is an amazing actor, of course, but why is he here?! His unaccented speech and mannerisms are all wrong. I mean, “hose him down” is an actual phrase he uses in the film. The "creative license" defense is inexcusable since the original is used as a touchstone throughout. The historical inaccuracies, hollow storyline, uninspired writing, terrible casting, and unnecessary length make for a summarily disappointing experience.
QUENTIN
Gladiator II feels like someone asked Ridley Scott to remake his Oscar-winning original, but in the style of Troy or Oliver Stone's Alexander. Gone is the prestige and gravitas in exchange for campy ridiculousness and a rushed storyline. On top of that, it doesn’t seem like there was any consensus amongst the cast as to what kind of movie this is supposed to be. Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn are chewing all the B-movie scenery while Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal are taking everything very seriously. Perhaps I would be more forgiving if it didn’t have the Gladiator legacy attached to it, but ehhhh.
