Gladiator II: A Visual Spectacle with a Lackluster Story

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is a sequel to one of the director’s most revered movies, Alien. Wait, that doesn’t seem right. Sorry, it’s actually a sequel to Gladiator, something this movie takes painstaking effort to remind you of. But while Gladiator II is an impressive feat both in scope and execution, it falls well short in terms of its overall story and does not live up to its predecessor.

Set 16 years after the events of Gladiator, Rome, now ruled by the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla (both morons), has fallen to corruption. Those who wish to save the empire from falling will once again look to a gladiator. But with rage and revenge in his heart, he will need to accept his past, and his fate as a leader, if he is to save Rome.

Visually, Gladiator II is amazing. The set design, the costumes, the effects… everything is top notch. It’s obvious the movie has a large budget, and you can see it all on the screen. Ancient Rome truly comes to life in all it’s opulence, whether wide angles of the entire city or Colosseum, or close-up interior shots. It’s all quite wonderful.

The action sequences are similarly impressive. Whether large battles or close combat, everything is wonderfully staged and choreographed. Practical effects and CGI are blended seamlessly (for the most part) to create realistic and visceral action, capturing the brutality of the era. There are a couple times the CGI is a little shaky, but they are few are far between. No one does this kind of epic filmmaking quite like Ridley Scott, and the visuals and action are by far the best part of the movie.

Despite having several fine actors, the acting is a bit of a mixed bag. Paul Mescal is either stone faced or angry, with little in between. Pedro Pascal, similarly, doesn’t do a whole lot with his performance. As the twin emperors, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are over the top, and too thinly drawn as characters to be truly villainous. No one is particularly bad, but the performances did not connect with me. However, I’m not sure if it’s the acting, or just the script and stage direction that is the problem.

Denzel Washington is the true standout (not really a surprise) as Macrinus, a cunning, scheming owner of gladiators, with ambitions that lay outside the Colosseum. He gives his character enough brains, charm and villainy to make you dislike him, yet make his rise through the social and political hierarchy believable. Connie Nielsen, one of few returning actors, also does a fine job, but is not given enough screen time.

What really holds Gladiator II back though, is the story. It just isn’t very good, despite it having a lot of the same beats as its predecessor. It just feels sloppy. The story mainly feels like a series of plot points that need to be reached, with little thought into how and why we get there. Everything feels functional, rather than having a natural flow, causing some scenes to seem either too long or simply rushed.

And that doesn’t account for areas where the plot is nonsensical such as when a gladiator chases a city official while a large Roman battalion watches idly as it happens. There isn’t a ton of character development either. Many characters lack proper motivation for their actions and appear to do just what works best for the script in the moment. It’s all about getting to the next plot point; it doesn’t matter how. It’s a weak script, focusing too much on the spectacle of it all and not enough on its characters.

“Are you not entertained?” is a question posed in Gladiator. After Gladiator II, a more suitable question might be, “Are you at least somewhat entertained?”. And to that I can answer ‘Yes’, but it is no match for the original. If you were a primarily a fan of Gladiator for the fights and visuals, Gladiator II offers up an awful lot to like. If, however, you’re looking for a solid story to go with it, like me, you may be entertained, yet still feel disappointed. Gladiator II is a good movie and worth seeing, but it falls short of being great.

Have you seen Gladiator II? Are you planning to? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.