Gladiator II

As with its predecessor, what elevates Gladiator II in the cinematic arena is the ways its themes and dialogue underpin its outrageous spectacle. David Scarpa's script is also fiercely intelligent.

Gladiator II really soars when it does the unexpected and, for the most part, that only happens when Washington, Quinn, and Hechinger are onscreen. It doesn't make for a well-rounded film, but it does make for an entertaining one. For all its faults (of which there are only a few), Scott is still fully in control of this massive undertaking, letting his contemporary sensibilities bleed into the gravity of the past.

Gladiator II isn’t quite the prestige film the first one, a best-picture winner, was in 2001. It’s more a swaggering, sword-and-sandal epic that prizes the need to entertain above all else.

Gladiator II gets the job done. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and it doesn't have to. I don't for one second think Scott is setting out here trying to make an absolute masterpiece; he's content to simply make a damn entertaining action pic with an pulpy old school sensibility. Third act machinations aside, Gladiator II ends up being rather simple in its construction, and perhaps that's ultimately its greatest strength.

If you loved Gladiator, it’s odds-on you’ll enjoy this too. It’s got all of the same exciting bits – swordfighting, rousing speeches, nasty poshos getting what they deserve. The problem is that’s all it gives you. You want to feel like you’re watching Maximus lift off his helmet and deliver that iconic monologue for the first time again. You want the thrill of a core memory being unlocked. You want to know you’ll be quoting Mescal’s lines to your mates in the pub for the next 10 years. Gladiator 2, piously respectful as it is, can only offer a faded memory of that experience. There was a dream that was Rome – and this is kind of it.

Tension between characters seems to evaporate all too easily, meaning it’s hard to really see any weight in their words or actions. This, combined with the flimsy conceit that a fundamentally corrupt institution can be changed from the inside out with a few good men, means that Gladiator II lacks both the gravitas and simple but satisfying narrative arc which made its foundation such a refreshing epic.

At nearly 2½ hours, the movie is fun to watch until it’s not, and then it becomes a chore.

... and the echo RESOUNDS, with strength as it's own film and honor to the original. COLOSSAL - JAW-DROPPING - HEROIC - MAGNIFICENT I thought the sheer scale of Gladiator was peak... but Gladiator II takes it to a BIBLICAL SCALE. Dare I say... colossal... they just don't make movies like this anymore. A million extras. All in costume. Sets the size of cities. This really connects to the first film. It actually makes it feel as though Gladiator was incomplete, but in a natural way, and Gladiator II carries on the story seamlessly. There were so many reference points to the original film's plot-line, it almost created a sort of pattern... but in a good, ancestor-descendant, follow-in-the-footsteps sort of way. Gladiator II still makes plenty of its own unique plot points. The twin emperors. The gladiator owner with a different motive. The different types of fight scenes and battles in the arena. --- SPOILER ALERT --- A great example is the eluding to Hanno's death throughout with the afterlife scenes, but it's a fresh take that he doesn't die in the end. For such a huge film, the cast is surprisingly small. Mescal and Pascal lead, with Neislen and Washington close behind; Quinn and Hechinger take supporting roles. Mescal is actually the perfect man to cast as Hanno... too much to say, but he's got this face-set-like-a-flint look, and it's perfect. Neilsen steps back into her role confidently, the only main character to return from the original film (ha, because all the other o.g. characters are dead). The twin emperors definitely have the childish Commodus vibe... Quinn brings this wide-eyed, crazed look, while Hechinger has a foolish air about him... but, perhaps too much so. I wanted to see their effect on the empire more directly and their power that has maintained their ruling status for so long. Washington's performance had some moments that felt too modern and casual to be Ancient Rome... he needed to be more... set in the time period to be more believable. Perhaps in this wonderfully overwhelming scale... some of the emotion is lost in favor of more action, more blood. The chemistry between Mescal and Connie as son and mother was just bursting, but felt held back just a bit. Another scene with them could have really anchored this in that emotion from the first film. Even so, Gladiator II still held this... rage and resolve underscoring the whole story; just a different type of emotion. Of course, to address those points (emperors' impact & added emotion) would take up more screen time. But I was so ready for this film to be a solid 3hrs long... I wish it was... This sequel definitely redeemed the cheesy special effects/afterlife scenes from its predecessor. Seeing the afterlife through Lucius' vision was unique from Maximus' perspective, and painfully poetic. ... my main critique was actually the score. I was really looking forward to the score, but I don't think Gregson-Willaims could quite live up to Zimmer's masterpiece. I wasn't sure who was scoring the film until the opening credits, and felt significant disappointment that Zimmer was not returning to score. Speaking of the opening credits... Ridley needs to open ALL of his films like that. Holy crap. That is ART. And the title card? Don't even get me started. This film had my jaw-dropped from that exact moment on. For those of you who missed Dune: Part Two in IMAX/Dolby... DO. NOT. MISS THIS ONE.

Pretty much the same as Gladiator I. Of course nice story (even a bit complexer one), good fights, some good dialogues. But in in end most of that is already known from the first part, which by the way, have a (small) connection to the second part. Also the plot "lost son found - became the hero" like in star wars and so many other movies is a bit shabby.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Literally the same story with new things added. But it's the same recipe. Of course Pedro Pascal has to be in this movie also.

Nach 30 Minuten hatte ich genug. Wirkt ein bischen verpfuscht! Die schauspielerische Leistung und Regie ist unbefriedigend. Ist das Orginal von großen Erfolg gekrönt, sollte es solche Fortsetzungen nicht geben.