Nearly 25 years since the five-time Oscar-winning movie Gladiator, director Ridley Scott is back with an equally brutal sequel. After the first movie was nominated for twelve Oscars, winning across five categories including Best Picture and Best Actor, expectations have been high for Gladiator II (oscars.org).
Gladiator was released on May 5th, 2000, eventually earning its rightful place in the list of Ridley Scott’s most iconic films alongside Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma and Louise. The first film is set in 180 AD. It takes place in Ancient Rome, following the story of Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) and the betrayal he faces at the hands of the emperor’s son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Chaos ensues as Commodus orders the execution of Maximus’ family, where he is later enslaved and trained as a gladiator. Maximus, seeking revenge, slowly makes his way to the Roman Colosseum where he ultimately comes face to face with Commodus in an intense duel. The film is filled with themes of loyalty, wealth, fame, revenge, and bloodlust as Maximus seeks retribution for the murder of his wife and son (britannica.com).
Ramapo Biology teacher Mr. Hudak comments on the first movie, saying, “I recall watching Gladiator in the theater when it originally came out. At the time I was impressed with the cinematography and came away with the feeling that it was a must-see movie. I think that Russell Crowe was perfectly cast for the lead role of Maximus. To me, the story is a timeless one, that of an underdog seeking revenge against a powerful oppressor. I do wonder if the movie has stood the test of time? Perhaps it’s time to watch it again and see if it still ranks as a must-see.”
On the other hand, Gladiator II, coming to theaters in the United States on November 22nd, brandishes a new star-studded cast, with Paul Mescal as the lead, and Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn as co-stars. The only two original actors from the first movie to reprise their roles are Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Commodus’ sister, and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, respectively (bbc.com).
This new sequel takes place about a decade after its predecessor, with Rome now being ruled by two twin-brother emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Pedro Pascal’s character, General Marcus Acacius, conquers Numidia with a fleet of Roman battleships, taking countless lives in the process. Among the survivors is Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), who is captured and taken to Rome to be a gladiator. Lucius, grappling with his loss, seeks vengeance against Acacius. He is mentored by Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave now reveling in noble life, as he trains to fight in the Colosseum (hollywoodreporter.com).
Eirica Feehan, a Ramapo sophomore, offers her view, saying, “I definitely thought the plot of the first Gladiator movie was unique and entertaining. Prior to watching it, I had never really been interested in this type of movie, but the way the story was crafted really made me love it. Despite how long it was, I thoroughly enjoyed the first movie and I can’t wait to see what they’ll do with the story next.”
Since Gladiator did wonders for the sword-and-sandal genre, it is expected for the sequel to fall a bit short. Regardless, Gladiator II has still performed fairly well so far, earning $87 million at the international box office (variety.com). It has already sparked talks of the making of a third movie, with Ridley Scott telling Total Film, “I’ve already got eight pages. I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint” (deadline.com). So watch out, there may not be a long wait for the next installment in this epic saga.
