Gladiator II

Gladiator II
Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington
Directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott's epic film "Gladiator" debuted in 2000, making a household name out of its star, Russell Crowe, and earning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor to name a few, and seemed like a one-and-done movie, even though rumors flew in the decades past about a sequel being made. Anyone who saw the film was rightfully skeptical, wondering how a film of this caliber could do a sequel, but eventually Ridley Scott returned with "Gladiator II." While it's nowhere near the legend that the original was, I was surprised in how well it was crafted, performed, and told - a movie that had to prove to me its existence and, unlike "Joker: Folie a Deux," it managed to do just that.

After losing his wife and land to Roman General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Hanno (Paul Mescal) is sent to Rome as a slave to participate in the gladiator battles after being purchased by former slave Macrinus (Denzel Washington), not knowing Hanno's true lineage. He was sent to Egypt after his father's death in the gladiator arena, sent by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the wife of the Emperor. When Lucilla sees Lucius fighting, she recognizes his mannerisms that belong to his father and sets out to free him and keep him safe, but Lucius seeks revenge against Acacius, who's Lucilla's new husband, and plots to change Rome and free it from the tyranny of brother Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), while Macrinus has plans of his own.

"Gladiator II" has as much intrigue and suspense as the original, featuring plans to overthrow the tyrannical governmental hierarchy that's subdued the working class in Rome and does so with gusto, giving awards-worthy performances with intense gladiator action sequences that keeps the nearly three-hour runtime not drag on, but also doesn't make it as epic as the original. It's a highly suitable sequel, a film that proves its own existence, and is done with the talent only Ridley Scott could deliver. Some people might see it as a cash grab idea to make a one-and-done film a franchise, but you can sense Scott's heart that he pours into the project, spending over $250 million dollars to see it come to pass.

The movie does rely heavily on the memory of the original, as anyone playing a drinking game when the name Maximus is mentioned would be sent to the hospital with alcohol poisoning an hour into the movie, but it does make it its own in the form of Paul Mescal's Lucius. He plays the role with quiet strength, never wavering in his determination to not be anyone else's puppet, and to see the Roman government fall. He has the physical strength and intellectual know-how to get it done, and the power of rage to see it through. The action in the Colosseum is intense and action-packed, even if the CGI is a bit distracting, it's better than seeing a modern-day gas cylinder used to turn over a chariot.

Apart from Mescal, Connie Nielson also gives a great performance, being only one of two actors in the original to reprise their role. As Lucilla, Nielson exudes power and privilege but also showcases a loving mother's touch when she realizes who Lucius is, and sets out to free him and end the rule of the emperor brothers. Pedro Pascal isn't given a lot to work with, and its Denzel Washington who steals the show and deserves a Best Supporting Actor nod for his role. He plays the former slave-turned-ruler with reckless abandon, chewing the scenery and supplying a standout performance.

Driven by strong performances and intense action sequences, "Gladiator II" proves itself worthy of its successor even if it's not going to be as memorable as its predecessor.

The Score: A+