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Gladiator 2 is
the long-anticipated sequel to the Oscar winning Gladiator (2000) that captures
much of the excitement and epic splendor of the original. It is a good
old-fashioned sword and sandals historical epic that has some of the flavor of
Ben Hur (1959) and Spartacus (1960). At some points Gladiator 2 echoes their
plots although it never reaches the heights of those films. The film is a mostly
entertaining mixed bag. The biggest flaw of the film is that so much of the plot
is clearly recycled.
The film was directed by Ridley Scott, the fine and imaginative British film
maker who works equally well with both technology and actors and he also excels
at both historic epics and futuristic sci-fi flicks. He made at least three
indisputable classics. Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Thelma and Louise
(1991) and Black Hawk Down (2001) often flirted with greatness. Although neither
of the Gladiator films matches those achievements (the first Gladiator was good
but overrated), this film is a huge improvement over Scott’s last film, the
disastrous failed epic bio-pic Napoleon (2023), which featured one of the worst
Joaquin Phoenix performances.
Gladiator 2 has a number of top-notch action scenes which make it memorable
including a bloody CGI enhanced gladiator duel that features a posse of savage
baboons who are so fearsome and huge that they resemble werewolves more than
monkeys and one bout involves a man riding a rhino, Historians have pointed out
that although rhinos were present in the gladiator duels there are no records of
anyone riding a rhino in a gladiator match. The action scenes are superb, and
they help make the film worth seeing, but they usually work better than the
lackluster drama scenes.
The film has a high-profile cast including Paul Mescal (of Aftersun) as Lucius
Verus Aurelius, Pedro Pascal (of Game of Thrones) as General Acacius who wants a
better Rome, Denzel Washington (of Othello) as Macrinus. Also, Derek Jacobi of I
Claudius as Gracchus and Connie Neilson (of Demon Lover) as Lucille, are back
from the first film. Everyone was fine (especially Neilson and Washington), but
no one is extraordinary or exceptional. Although the film achieves diversity by
including the African American, Denzel Washington and with the Chilean American,
Pedro Pascal, no one here looks particularly Roman or even Italian and there are
no big roles here for Italian actors. The closest is the star, Paul Mescal who
is of Irish descent but he has a nose like the kind you frequently see in Rome
so he can pass as Italian.
Moral lines are a bit blurred, but Lucius is the film’s protagonist who is taken
off to Rome after a crushing defeat in an African colony. Although he is noble
born, he soon becomes (surprise surprise) a gladiator like Maximus Decimus
Meridius, the character portrayed by Russell Crowe in the first film His
character was the main anchor in the first film, but this suffers a bit because
Lucious is not shown as much in this film, so Gladiator II is less focused.
Lucius is consumed with an ardent desire to get revenge against the people that
wronged him and his family. On his revenge list are (Pedro Pascal) and the two
Caligula like emperors, Geeta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) who
think seeing people bleed in public is the ultimate high. These emperors are
pale, blonde, fair skinned and androgynous. They are so privileged and perverse
that I wanted to see them die as soon as I saw them, but I will not tell you if
I got my wish. Most of the other characters are more morally ambiguous and the
film makes you ponder who the true villains are and the true nature of evil. The
biggest evil is the Roman Empire itself.
Lucious is a strong, smart, and successful combatant but fighting is not his
only skill. He is more learned than the moronic, insane, and brainless
aristocracy that runs Rome, and he keeps his superiors entertained when he
recites witty and wise poetry from memory. At one point he (quoting Virgil)
recites, “The gates of hell are open night and day: Smooth the descent, and easy
is the way, but to return, and view the cheerful skies, in this the task and
mighty labor lies.” This expresses his and the viewer’s desire to return to a
more Utopian and moral Rome. See my lengthy and comprehensive article on poetry
and film at
https://www.artinterviews.org/cinema/guide-to-poetry-in-film..
Behind the scenes there is dissension, betrayal, and plotting among the ruling
class. Marcus the military leader and his wife, Lucilla plans to overthrow the
kings, Gata and Caracalla. But the kings are so offensive and despicable that
you cannot help but hope they succeed.
Macrinus also has ambitions to rise to the top and he is not afraid to throw a
few people under the bus to get there. Macrinus, the most interesting character
on the bunch is a former slave who became rich dealing arms and eventually made
his living managing gladiator contests and finding champions. He is a pragmatist
and wants to rise in the empire without changing things or making them better.
He has nothing but contempt for dreamers like Lucius. Even though it’s
fascinating to watch him, I am so familiar with Denzel that at times I was not
thinking I was not seeing a character, but I thought there’s Denzel lifting a
sword. Although he is wonderful as usual his title role in The Tragedy of
Macbeth was riskier and more convincing.
With it's over the top spectacle and unlikely events some viewers might think
the whole film is close to science fiction, but although there were some
exaggerations and the story was largely fictional many characters were based on
real historical figures including Lucius and Macrinus (who ended up as a Roman
emperor who never visited Rome). Unlike the Denzel Washington version the real
Martinus was never a slave.
It is a bit of a shame that the marvelous Derek Jacobi (Vicious, several TV and
film versions of Hamlet and Dr.Who) is so criminally underused in a nothing
part. Jacobi is no stranger to historical epics and his best part was playing
the title character in I Claudius. Seeing him in Gladiator 2, just made me want
to see I Claudius again, even though I was having an enjoyable time.
Coincidentally, Jacobi’s role here and in I Claudius are bookends of each other.
Both are Roman Nobles whose dream is to restore the Republic. Seeing people
struggle to restore the Republic in ancient Rome seems especially significant
now as the current many current politicians are going to soon struggles to limit
the increase in the amount of power in the upcoming executive branch.
Overall, I had a jolly enjoyable time, and the film has a certain primal appeal.
Although it breaks little new ground, most of the people who love the original
should get a kick (and more than a few punches) out of it. Just do not expect
anything shockingly new or original.
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Directed by:
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Ridley Scott |
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Written by:
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Screenplay by David Scarpa |
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Starring:
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Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, |
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Rating:
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Rated R for strong sexual content throughout,
graphic nudity, pervasive language, and drug use |
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Available On:
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At press time the film is in local theaters |
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For more
writings by Vittorio Carli go to
www.artinterviews.org and
www.chicagopoetry.org.
His latest book "Tape Worm Salad with Olive Oil for Extra Flavor" is also
available.
Email
carlivit@gmail.com
See the film trailer of the Lee Groban movie
directed by Nancy Bechtol featuring Vittorio Carli.
See
https://youtu.be/tWQf-UruQw
Come to the New Poetry Show on the first Saturday of every month at Tangible
Books in
Bridgeport from 7-9 at 3324 South Halsted.
This is now a monthly show featuring Poetry/Spoken Word, some Music, Stand Up
and Performance Art and hosted by Mister Carli. For more information e-mail:
carlivit@gmail.com for details
Upcoming features at the Poetry Show:
December 7- Gabriela Ayala, Shontay Luna, and Jose Popoca
January 4 – Dami Andonova, Matt Churney, Dina Marie Marguerite Patrick-Stewart
and Eric Allen Yankee
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GLADIATOR 2 © 2024 Paramount Pictures
All Rights Reserved
Review © 2024 Alternate Reality, Inc. |
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