I’ll admit right out front, I didn’t think this would work. ‘Gladiator II’? The term “jumped the shark” did come to mind. But then, that crazy genius Ridley Scott goes and ADDS sharks to the coliseum. And murderous foaming-at-the-mouth baboons. And most importantly, a psychotic he-hasn’t-been-this-deleriously-deranged-since-‘Training Day’ Denzel Washington.
Put it all together, add a chariot full of determined ambition, and this blood-soaked sword and sandal sequel is a beauty. Perhaps not the masterpiece its predecessor was, but a ridiculously entertaining epic that reminds you that, when filmmaker like Scott has an appetite for old fashioned cinematic mayhem, the result is a big time crowd pleaser.
The movie opens 16 years after the events of the original, and it’s a pretty decent kick off; a naval assault on Numidia, led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Displaced Roman Lucius (Paul Mescal) is captured defending his adopted home and, along with some of his mates, old to Macrinus (Washington) as a gladiator. And bent on revenge….yes, the scuffle does mean a casualty very close to Lucius….he does quite well with his new gig.
If you’re thinking this all sounds familiar, it’s really a very similar story arc to the first ‘Gladiator’, with predictable threads that’ll have you navigating the twists quite effortlessly; the first glimpse of Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, the only returning cast member from the original, makes it all-to-easy to figure out where Scott is headed. But man, what a ride! Mescal, a favorite on the indie scene, makes for a picture perfect hero….he can lop off competitor’s heads, but somehow remains a likeable dude….while Washington, as the conniving, mentally unbalanced snake of the plot – well, if the man isn’t up for another Oscar, film fans should demand a recount. He’s that good!