While Ridley Scott’s 2000 film Gladiator never needed a sequel, Gladiator II directed by Paul Mescal presents as strong a case as possible to justify its existence.

For what it’s worth, Gladiator II ups the ante with its action and intensity. Scott brings a bigger show and even better visuals than the first, even if the sequel largely follows the formula of its predecessor.

Expectations therefore need to be adjusted before the film. Gladiator II doesn’t break any new ground with its story – it’s virtually the same as the previous film – but it feels bigger and is even more visceral.

Gladiator II Review

Years after the events of the first film, Lucius (Paul Mescal) leads a peaceful life with his wife and child in Numidia. One fateful day, Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade their territory.

An epic battle ensues. Despite all their efforts, Mescal and his men were unable to defend themselves. They kill his wife and he is reduced to slavery.

Like his father, Lucius decides to make his way to freedom. Macrinus (Denzel Washington) apparently takes Lucius under his wing after seeing his potential. He promises to help Lucius take revenge on Acacius.

Gladiator II starts strong with the first invasion. It doesn’t take long before Lucius fights again after being enslaved. If one thing is certain, Gladiator II is better paced than two of Scott’s other recent films, Alien: Covenant and House of Gucci, which is a relief.

Scott’s latest film has a runtime of 148 minutes, which to be honest is shorter than The Last Duel, House of Gucci and Napoleon. And yet, it doesn’t last forever.

This is a testament to Scott’s direction and David Scarpa’s screenplay, which doesn’t assume audiences have never seen the first film. Like Joker: Folie à Deux, Gladiator II opens with an animated sequence that explains its predecessor. However, this time a more artistic approach is taken, with a beautiful watercolor taking you through the story of Maximus.

Assuming viewers know the story, at least vaguely, and that brief recap sets up the rest of the film. There are a few flashbacks, but they are used to show the parallels between Maximus and Lucius, in case you don’t recognize them yourself.

Paul Mescal: leading man

While Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Maximus will forever remain iconic, Paul Mescal is cementing himself as Hollywood’s next leading man. If you haven’t seen Aftersun, Mescal’s performance is worth seeing.

But Gladiator II is Mescal’s first foray into blockbuster cinema. This will likely give him a new level of exposure that he hasn’t seen yet. Fortunately, he delivers a fierce but also grounded performance.

Lucius is filled with rage that slowly rises to the surface. You know there’s more beneath his tough shell because he rarely speaks and is wary of his past.

Still skeptical, Lucius questions Macrinus about his past: “Why is my past important if my future must die for you in the arena?”

Nothing will top “Aren’t you having fun?” » But Mescal has a similarly cold line delivery at the end of Gladiator II. It’s not as iconic but it gives it its Oscar moment.

Hopefully, Gladiator will be the biggest franchise that Mescal joins. His talents are perfect for smaller films like All of Us Strangers, but he also has the ability of a true leading man. Many give similar praise to Barry Keoghan or Glen Powell, but Mescal may be better than both.

Denzel Washington and supporting cast also shine

I’m not sure Denzel Washington can give a bad performance, and that streak continues in Gladiator II. A former slave, Macrinus sneaks behind the scenes of the Senate, waiting to take action. He also shares some great scenes with Mescal.

The biggest surprise is the physicality of the role. While, yes, Washington recently starred in the third Equalizer movie, he doesn’t run around with a gun in Gladiator II. Even in The Equalizer 3, his age was starting to show.

There’s a sequence near the end of the film that proves Washington still has it. Whether body doubles were used is another story, but the effort should be applauded. He immersed himself in the role of Macrinus and gave one of his best recent performances.

Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen, the emotional presenters of the film

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius. There’s more to his character than meets the eye, which leads to a surprising twist involving a key character. Although he may have been somewhat misinterpreted, his physical appearance makes up for his other flaws. It has several good fight sequences, especially with Mescal.

The character needs more time to develop than is anticipated in Gladiator II. He’s a somewhat misunderstood character, but the biggest flaw in Scarpa’s script is not giving Acacius more time to shine. It would have benefited from more context instead of exposition dumping in a crucial scene at the end of the film.

The biggest return from the first entry is Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). Throughout Gladiator II, you see how Lucilla is trained by the Emperors. She may have power, but it is easily manipulated.

Nielsen is the emotional anchor of the film. His scenes with Mescal stand out from the rest, thanks to both of their performances. Nielsen’s Lucilla deserves a spinoff film, as a lot has happened since the events of the first Gladiator.

Should you watch Gladiator II?

Then again, Gladiator never needed a sequel. Gladiator II justifies its existence with its top-notch visuals, aside from a few CGI mammals. But that’s what blockbusters should be like, with action sequences that feel real and practical.

Gladiator II is Paul Mescal’s second recent joint (after Aftersun) with oceanside dream sequences. These scenes are just one of many examples of Ridley Scott’s genius, almost borrowing from The Seventh Seal.

And everything in the Colosseum is awesome. From choreography to camera work, Scott does some of his best work in the arena. There is no doubt that it was in his bag during the making of Gladiator II.

The commitment to creating a practical Colosseum works greatly in its favor. Scott never compromises his vision, even though it costs over $300 million.

When they said the guys were thinking about their Roman Empire, they must be talking about Gladiator II. Initially I was skeptical about the prospect of a sequel, but I’m glad it’s here.

Grade: A-

Gladiator II will be released on November 22.