By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"Gladiator II" is the long-awaited follow-up to the 2000 classic that won Russell Crowe an Oscar for "Best Actor." Though it's been 24 years since the original, this sequel more than delivers. From the opening frame to the final credits, it is a visually stunning spectacle.
Denzel Washington ("The Piano Lesson") stars as the formidable Roman Emperor Macrinus, leading an impressive cast that includes
Pedro Pascal ("The Wild Robot" and "The Mandalorian"), Paul Mescal ("All of Us Strangers"), and Connie Nielsen ("Role Play").
Mescal is fierce as Lucius Verus, the adult son of Maximus (Crowe) and Lucilla (Nielsen). After years of hiding in Numidia, Lucius's life is upended when Roman commander Marcus Acacius (Pascal) attacks, leaving him with nothing. Like his father before him, Lucius is captured and becomes the prized possession of Macrinus, a ruthless former slave turned power-hungry arms dealer.
Macrinus is both captivated and impressed by Lucius's raw strength and resilience. He marvels at Lucius's ability to endure brutal punishment, especially his brutal skills in battle, including a shocking moment when he defeats a baboon by biting it and choking it to death.
Macrinus offers Lucius a grim challenge: survive everything he throws at him, and he will be set free. However, Lucius's trials are far from over. When co-Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn, "A Quiet Place: Day One") and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger, "The Nickel Boys") discover their reign is in danger, they demand a high stakes battle in the Colosseum, with Lucilla's life hanging in the balance.
Everyone in this world is playing their own game, especially Macrinus, who has plans to seize control of Rome. But such power comes at a steep price.
The grandiosity of "Gladiator II" is on full display, with epic battle sequences that are meticulously staged and pulse-pounding, particularly the intense scenes involving rhinos and—yes—sharks.
Ridley Scott, at 87, proves he is still a master of the game. The film’s non-stop action, combined with a stirring score by
Harry Gregson-Williams, makes for an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Leading up to "Gladiator II's" release, Denzel Washington hinted that he may soon retire from acting. At 69, the Oscar-winning actor has built a legendary career, from playing gangsters and Malcolm X to portraying Macbeth and the renowned debater Melvin B. Tolson.
While Washington may explore romantic comedies or more sports dramas in the future, his exceptional performance in "Gladiator II" is yet another testament to his remarkable range and enduring talent.
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Look At This Trailer For
"GLADIATOR II"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
