“Gladiator II” Movie Review

BORING. That is what someone who did not watch this movie would say. Renowned director, Ridley Scott, strikes again. Over 20 years after the first Gladiator movie, fans received a sequel to the film that inspired, excited and moved the cinema industry. With a star-studded cast, the audience is gifted with some of the greatest acting this year.

16 years after Maximus gave his life for the people of Rome, the Empire finds itself in more strife. Following the events of the first film, corrupt leadership and blood lust continue to poison the people of this strong nation. As the story begins, the viewers find themselves alongside one of Rome’s opposition.

The events of the first movie show the tyranny of one empire falling with hopes of a better world. Unfortunately for Rome, greed and deceit take control to fill its place. The throne is now split in two, and the perceived manifestation of conquering remains strong. Revenge becomes the motive for our main character, Hanno, as he turns the heads of Rome’s most influential figures.

The film is a realistic nonfiction depiction of a soldier turned slave. One of the “myths” that was asking to be busted was the sea battles. Many viewers were satisfied with the movie but were thrown back by what they knew about the Roman Empire. This installment gave the audience a glimpse at what is not always shown in movies and books.

Although many of the scenes were glorified, Scott’s portrayal of the games kept the audience on the edge of their seats. This was not Scott’s first backlash from history critics, but it is best to go into the movie with an open mind on history and understand that this movie is paying homage to the messages and significance behind the story.

Over the years, the movie industry has evolved in many ways. Ridley Scott’s camera work in this movie is unlike most movies. This film used eight different cameras to give the opportunity to see it in every frame.

This choice was beneficial in the long run. The film gave perspectives that were optimal for the scenes’ developments. The viewer could see the attention to detail for the sets. It felt like the use of all these cameras was to tastefully show off how accurate they were to history. All in all, this choice gave the crew more options to receive what they knew they needed to better the project.

Any sequel is fighting an uphill battle to top the first. The first “Gladiator” received many awards and can be found in the hearts of many movie lovers. The second film, by itself, will chalk up to be one of the better movies that came out this year.

One of the problems with this movie was the limits of history. Paul Mescal can not run into the sunset and say Rome was fixed for good, but the conclusion was fruitful in other aspects. It's safe to say moviegoers will be entertained by the performances of the actors and the attention to detail throughout the entire film.

Rating 4/5

Scott Moorhead is a fifth-year majoring in communications. To contact him, email srm5943@psu.edu.