Gladiator II is nothing short of a tragedy infused with madness. The film combines Ridley Scott’s philosophy of The Dream of Rome and a classic tragedy on the possession of power. Power is a prominent theme with conflict and succession acting as the main tellers of this story. It also features several renowned Hollywood actors including Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, Connie Neilson, and Joseph Quinn.
The motion picture focuses on Lucius Verus Aurelius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla. Lucius flees from the empire as a young boy after the death of his uncle, Emperor Commodus. When the Empire of Rome takes over the city he has given his loyalty to, Lucius is sold into slavery. As he begins his Gladiator career, Lucius gains a large popularity among the crowd. As his true identity is revealed, the young gladiator must take charge and make a difference for the Empire to survive. Corruption, power and greed all hold a place in this thriller. Seeing the first Gladiator movie is not necessary to understand this one. This movie is for anyone interested in deep love stories, edge of the seat action, and hard to believe history. However, watching the first movie is recommended because it elevates the plot of the new version and gives further insight to their world.
High expectations for the emperor of Gladiator II led to interesting twists by Scott. A formidable rival arose in the first movie, one that is hard to beat—arguably one of the most memorable performances of the first film, Joaquin Phoenix as Emperor Commodus. Loveable and hateable at the same time, Commodus was a ruthless ruler who laughed in the face of rebellion. However for Phoenix, this was just another film. To live up to this performance, Ridley Scott doubled down with a pair of Twin Emperors, Geta and Caracalla. Mirroring the attitude and nonchalantness of Commodus, Geta and Caracalla oppress several characters. They prove their case to the audience through humor, style, and intimidation. Geta, the older of the two, seems to take a more official role in the conversations. Caracalla, on the other hand, has a deep lust for power and is often seen making crude jokes and relatable references to the side. We later learn that Caracalla has a mental illness that slowly causes him to go mad.
The costume design is elegant and contrastingly characterizing. The distinction between commoners and true wealth is prominent, especially in the forum. Elegant swaying robes dawned by royalty is a red herring towards the fact that power is only temporary. A more modest look worn by the senate creates the idea
that they are on the viewer’s side. Fierce yet stylish looking armor worn by soldiers and generals alike form a sense of neutrality in the mind of the audience.
In short, Ridley Scott’s latest addition to the Gladiator saga is nothing short of a wonder of the movie industry. No matter what genre you go for, this movie
is for you. The film is more than proof that Ridley Scott is one of the greatest directors of all time. Maybe if we are lucky, another movie from this series will be produced. No complaints, no critiques. As for now, let us eagerly await another from Scott.
