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OUT NOW Gladiator II

Added to Calendar: 11-22-24

PRAISE: The first Gladiator film is one of my all time favorites. I've always thought it of the movie being on the same level as classics like Spartacus and Ben Hur. The sequel makes some good attempts to be on the same level as Gladiator. I was more than happy that one of the story threads didn't go down a path that would have been completely unbelievable. With that out of the way Director Director Ridley Scott and writer David Scarpa try to keep things interesting in this story about Lucius all grown up and ready to embark on his own journey. Paul Mescal takes on the role of the older Lucius and at times brings the right amount of intensity, humor, and unflinching nerve to the role. Denzel Washington steals every scene that he's in as Macrinus owner of gladiators and he is fun to watch as he grasps for power sometimes viciously as i could see him working things out in his mind as he uses people like chess pieces. Alex Karim is also quite good as Ravi i almost didnt recognize him.The battle scenes, that take place on water and in the coliseum with man vs man and beast are fun even though a bit abrupt. There's blood spilling galore as various gladiators are put through deadly paces. I did laugh at some full on displays of insanity moments.

PROBLEMS: The cast is full of big names including Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn,but their characters may have a couple of strong moments they feel underdeveloped. Some other characters i couldn't take seriously or maybe i wasn't supposed to. Familiar and similar beats that are "borrowed" from the first film made this movie feel like a repeat button was being pressed over and over again. A couple of times i found myself asking how is this even possible?
The CGI looked a bit choppy in a few scenes

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7
 
Decided to see it tonight since there weren't any good seats tomorrow

Story wise the movie was bad. There was a lot wrong with the story IMO. And it got annoying with how many of the phrases they just copied from the first. Hell it got annoying with the scenes that were copied

Action wise the movie was good

His rise to the top of the gladiators also felt really rushed where in the first one it had a good pace
 
It was always going to be an uphill battle to reach the gravitas of the first Gladiator film and from that aspect it failed but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy this film. The action scenes delivered (though them baboons didn't look like what I consider to be baboons lol). Paul Mescaline was an excellent lead and Denzel commanded every scene he was as the true antagonist of the film. The way his character maneuvers his way to the top is cunning

⭐⭐⭐½
 
Lucius motivation in this film becomes irrelevant halfway through the film lol. Hes driven by revenge and his desire to kill the general only to be convinced not to in the middle of the battle against him in the Colosseum
 
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