Are You Not Entertained?

I don’t know whether I speak for a great many of you reading this, but I know for myself that Ridley Scott’s 2001 historic-epic of Gladiator – over time – has slowly become one of my most favoured films to watch over and over again. Upon reflection, it’s safe to say that it’s one the first films I can even remember watching with my family, at the general time of its release, and realising how much my own dad loved the film. Of course, this is for good reason – since Gladiator to this day boasts a clear visual quality that still upholds to todays cinematic standards and forever asserts a poignancy to its gripping and brutal story that most historical-epic adventures dare to even dream of replicating. It’s for this perspective alone which places this aforesaid feature as one of my favourite films…However, does its sequel, in Gladiator II which is also helmed by Scott once again, come close in providing the same level of epic proportions?

16 years after the death of Maximus Decimus Meridius, who died as a gladiator fighting for Marcus Aurelius’ dream of a Rome which was to be ruled by its people, Gladiator II follows its footsteps in Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire and son of Lucilla and Maximus. Now a grown man, Lucius seeks revenge against a Roman Empire that is ruled by a bloodthirsty duo of Caracalla and Geta and fights as a gladiator. With the help of Macrinus, Lucius hastily enacts on his desire for revenge and, along the way, mounts an act to restore Rome from its murderous tyranny into the dream that his father died for…

Out of all sequels and conclusions that have been released for various different films and narratives, I never would have imagined in my life time that we would somehow find a continuation from the events that seemed rather conclusive in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. Indeed, based on the events of the aforementioned first film and how it concludes, you would fathom that there could be no further tale to tell as you would think that Rome, through death and bloodshed, was coming to an era of peace. However, this perspective has proven to be a folly and here we are twenty-plus years later with a continuation that oddly reminds you of how significant and superior the preceding film truly is. I say this since this very sequel rather adopts a narrative structure that not only feels indistinguishable to its first counterpart, in having moments and character decisions that feel familiar from what was seen in the first film, but also adopts a contextual mode of means that initially elevates the stakes that the shown characters are embroiled with. Indeed, as much as there are sequences and character decisions in Gladiator II which unapologetically echo the events that unfolded in the preceding film, with the likes of General Acacius asking the rulers of Rome if he can go home which instantly reeks of familiarity of the first film where Maximus asks a similar request or how the central character of this current film in Lucius undergoes similar trials and tribulations as to what Maximus underwent initially, Scott here does something rather different to that of the norm and rather interjects the perspective of the story between that of Lucius and Acacius respectively. Quite, rather than having one central figure’s journey, the story is brought along from the gaze of two perspectives; one seeking revenge against the said general and Rome for its tyranny and another in the form of Acacius who is plotting against this said rule along with Lucius’ mother Lucilla. As one would expect then from a feature which adopts intersecting stories, and a glance at looking at the picture below, these stories inevitably clash into a sword-clashing maelstrom that provides the said moment with precedent that evokes consequence and an uncertainty as to how the story afterwards will play-out. Rather, when the conclusion of the clash between Lucius and Acacius is brought forth, this is where we see the best of Gladiator II’s narrative come to play as the intersecting story motif comes to a close for a climax that is grand to say the least. There are copious amounts of blood and gore throughout: gruesome decapitations, throat-slashings, and limbs lopped off left, right and centre. One such moment of blood-spurting violence is so borderline comical, you would assume the poor victim to borrow the Black Knight’s “Tis but a scratch” line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. While Scott seemingly makes an effort to derive familiarity away from the aforementioned first film, by introducing a clear intersecting narrative method, it’s equally hard to digress away from how much this films story relies on the principles of the original and doesn’t wholly present a story/scenario that is different. As minute as it is, it’s hard to escape the feeling that some of the characters are half-formed and are very much implemented into an undernourished plot-line that seems to exist solely in conjunction with the original.

Where Gladiator II lacks in its story invention – other than Scott’s attempt in structuring this story rather differently – its greatest strength resides within its performances; most notably of Denzel Washington’s portrayal as Machiavellian former slave, Macrinus, who now profits off gladiators. Whenever he appears on the silver-screen, no matter what genre film it is – ranging from prestige dramas and popcorn action-flicks, Washington delights the audience with his expertise by always emphasising emotion through subtle and grand ways; whether we him in a film like Crimson Tide where Washington brings forth a tough and uncompromising attitude through his delivery and diction or in The Hurricane where his subtle use of expressions eludes to an innocence in the accused African-American boxer that he’s portraying. Similar stature and precedent can be seen in his performance here as Macrinus ignites the screen with lip-smacking lines and palpably revelling in the chance to let rip as a smug, self-satisfied schemer of the highest order. Similar charisma can been see through Paul Mescal’s portrayal as Lucius; a hurt yet strong character that is resolved to carry-out the feelings that he has against those who have wronged him. Effortlessly, Mescal shifts into leading-man territory with this performance, imbuing the character with an innate dignity and steely determination as he rises to gladiatorial fame. Spectacle elsewhere is also seen through the guise of the joint new Roman Emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracella (Fred Hechinger). Not only do they manage to rival Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the original Gladiator in terms of crazed volatility, they also have a distinct whiff of the ultimate mad emperor Caligula about them; think Malcolm McDowell’s notorious 1979 feature. There’s even a hilarious counterpart to Caligula’s infamous beloved pet horse, in the form of Caracalla’s pet capuchin monkey, perched on his shoulder, who arguably has the film’s most startling character arc.

While I could venture into the aesthetics of Gladiator II, in relation to its principle photography and how they seamlessly fuse practical settings and CG effects to compose grandiose settings that feel real, much of what we can see through the many battles and grand monologing are acutely seen in its predecessor. Having said this, to conclude now, is really a testament to how much Scott’s original in 2001 really does stand the test of time. Having watched the first film recently, there was never a moment where you feel disconnected from the film, as all the filmic elements join together to make something that, for me, is a modern-classic. The acting and effects never feel jarring or off-putting; it’s grade-A film-making. While Gladiator II attempts to do the same, and even implements something new in the form of its narrative structure, you can’t help but feel as though this sequel is rather clinging onto the original as to telling its story. Similar story-beats and character moments/decisions make you think of yesteryear rather than what is shown. Where Gladiator II triumphs in victory is the visual spectacle and how the performances of the actors/actresses elevate the stakes and consequences that are presented. At the start I referred to point that I thought I would never have the chance to see a sequel to Gladiator, as the said film ends rather conclusively. Now that we have this recent sequel, still showing in cinemas, the question remains – Did Ridley Scott need to make a sequel to Gladiator?…Well no…However, it’s a rather fun romp to behold and I believe, like its forerunner, Gladiator II will grow in time to be a feature that is adored over and over…

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ – Alex Rabbitte