The latest from Matt’s Movie Reviews, a review of Gladiator II:
Legacy and fate take centre stage in Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel that features Ridley Scott in fine form and Denzel Washington at his electrifying best, as the arenas of the senate and the colosseum clash to epic bloody results.
“Are you not entertained?!” was one of the infamous quotes from the first Gladiator movie, and if that is the criteria then Gladiator II delivers.
Featuring the return of original Gladiator director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is a legacy sequel that is never able to free itself from the looming shadow of its predecessor yet is also better than most sword-and-sandals movies released since then.
A big reason why Gladiator II is not able to create its own space is lead actor Paul Mescal, who while delivering a muscular performance isn’t quite able to replicate the kind of star making turn that Russell Crowe did 24 years prior. It is a high bar, yes, but such is the challenge when taking on the lead role in a sequel with blockbuster and awards-race aspirations.
Read the full review.
