"Gladiator II" - A Movie Review

November 22, 2024 - Gore galore is the overriding aspect of "Gladiator II" which is now showing in movie theaters nationwide. A long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" which was released twenty-four years ago, "Gladiator II" makes heavy use of themes typically featured in male-oriented movies such as revenge, filling the little-known late father's shoes, and honor through fighting. While those topics can sound interesting in and of themselves, in "Gladiator II" these themes are recycled with very little originality. And the script of the movie, which was written by David Scarpa based on a story he wrote with Peter Craig, seems to have basically consisted of "Scene I - fight, Scene II - fight, Scene III - fight, Scene IV - fight . . . . ad infinitum". The main uniqueness present in the film was the variety of ways the fight scenes were choreographed to try and keep them from being overly redundant. Such as one fight scene featuring baboons that were obviously computer-generated images, a fight scene with a rhinoceros, and a fight scene featuring a recreated naval battle in the Roman coliseum.

Starring a former Gaelic football player who was known for being physically strong, Paul Mescal. The film opens with Mescal, who portrays Lucius in the film, exchanging the Roman wedding vows of "Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia" which means "Where you are, there am I" with his wife just as they are preparing to battle the Roman legion which is landing on their shores in Africa. Making good use of the Roman military tactic of the testudo on their ships, the Roman legion is able to protect themselves with their shields from the arrows and other weaponry that Lucius and the locals use against them. And in the process Lucius' wife ends up being ferried across the River Styx. Filling Lucius with rage at the Roman General who led the invasion.

As a captive now of the Roman Empire, an empire that applies the concept of "Vae victis" or "Woe to the conquered", to its captives; Lucius soon finds himself sold off as a gladiator to the politically ambitious Macrinus, who is portrayed by Denzel Washington. And while Denzel Washington is being lauded by critics for his role in "Gladiator II", the most impressive acting comes from Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger. Both of whom portray the sickly and rather despicable two brothers who were both the co-emperors of Rome, Geta and Caracalla. In a film where the acting is largely lacking in the type of feeling that emanates off of the screen into the skin of the audiences, Quinn and Hechinger very convincingly make one cringe at the mere sight of the emperors Geta and Caracalla.

Probably the most important feature of the storyline in "Gladiator II", although not overtly stated, is the lesson as to why vengeance is of The Lord. Since Lucius does get his chance to seek revenge against the Roman General who led the invasion of his African home, but unbeknownst to Lucius, the Roman General actually risked his life to try and save Lucius at the request of Lucius' mother, Lucilla, who is portrayed by Connie Nielsen. Indeed, Connie Nielsen's presence in "Gladiator II" is unique since she is the only main character from the original "Gladiator" film to make a presence in the sequel. And while she was remarked upon for her elegant portrayal of Lucilla in the original "Gladiator", twenty-four years later, in spite of the passage of time, her elegant and sophisticated portrayal of the late emperor Marcus Aurelius' daughter, Lucilla, is only enhanced and all the more impressive in "Gladiator II".

While historians debate as to the origins of the gladiator games, the indications are that some of the earliest ones were held in 310 BC by the Campanians to celebrate their victory over the Samnites. With Julius Caesar using 320 gladiator pairs in silvered armor for his gladiator games that spared no expense in showmanship or expense. Being often captured slaves who were forced to fight to the death, gladiators had relatively short lives, although, they trained on a high-energy, vegetarian diet consisting of barley, boiled beans, oatmeal, ash and dried fruit. Due to Ancient Rome being essentially a landowning military aristocracy, the gladiator games lasted for nearly a thousand years. As the games fulfilled a dual purpose in ancient Rome since the ancient Romans felt that the gods fed off of the energy of bloodshed and the games helped innure the populace from the horrors of continual war.

It wasn't until the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome that the popularity of the gladiator games began to wane. With Tertullian condemning the attendance of Christians at the games since the fighters were murderers and witnessing such was spiritually and morally harmful since the gladiators were an instrument of pagan human sacrifice. And seeing the injustice done in forcing the gladiators to fight to the death and kill even people they know, one can only leave the movie theater after watching "Gladiator II" with the impression that Tertullian was right.

"Gladiator II" is rated "R" primarily for the nonstop violence present in the film. And there is very little feast for the eyes in "Gladiator II" in spite of its two hours and a half long running time. As while during the golden age of Hollywood movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor, the young Tyrone Power, Viven Leigh, and Clark Gable, were visual works of art; the casting in "Gladiator II" seems to have applied the more modern trend in filmmaking that uses actors who look like the common person with the belief that the average movie attendee can then relate to them more.

In short, "Gladiator II" is not an exceptional film. The nonstop continual fight scenes grow to be monotonous and "Gladiator II" is unlikely to sweep the Academy Awards like the original "Gladiator" directed by Ridley Scott did twenty-four years ago. However, "Gladiator II" does provide some insight into the times and customs of the ancient Roman empire. And it can be worth watching from the viewpoint of seeing some of the differences Christianity has had on society. For otherwise, we might still be suffering under the concept of "Vae victis".

Luisa Reyes is an attorney in Tuscaloosa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Judson, a master's degree in library science, and a law degree from Samford's Cumberland School of Law. She is also a piano instructor and vocalist.