Gladiator II

⭐7/10

Glicked is here, and so now it's time to watch the movie that was made with my demographic in mind! I liked the first but didn't love it, so I can't say I'm especially loyal to this series, and I can confidently say now that this movie didn't really need to exist. I don't think they really had a great idea for this movie, and so similar to Star Wars or other big franchises, it felt a little slapped together in the name of a billion dollars. 

I think there were definitely some good qualities. I loved this depiction of ancient Rome. I'm not quite the variety of white guy that thinks about Rome daily, but maybe I will become one! There's clearly a ton to explore here, and it kinda made me sad that all we really get to see is a highly sensationalized or fictionalized fighting. Maybe we'll get a true Roman Assassin's Creed?? Anyways, now in 2024 with a big budget, we get this beautiful, realized Rome, even if it is silly and not accurate all the time. 

I also really liked Denzel's arc. I'm not sure I loved him in this movie necessarily, as he doesn't try to do the accent at all, and feels pretty out of place, but the story behind his character is pretty rad and way cooler than the main character's. He, along with the inbred emperors make for some pretty great background characters. 

As for the main guy, I have a lot of emotional equity in Mescal, but for whatever reason he just didn't do much for me here. I think he's a talented actor, but I'm not sure this is the role for him. Kinda makes you appreciate Crowe. Pedro Pascal is... I dunno, fine? He has his moments, but I just don't think these characters were written all that well. 

For those wondering about the female characters, I'm afraid I can't remember if there was one. Actually, I thought it was hilarious that there is a hot wife who is hanging up laundry in the opening scene and you know instantly she will die. Ridley Scott, you can't do that scene anymore! That's a memeable offense! The only other woman is Pascal's wife, and my instant thought was - oh she's old, I thought all main character's wives had to be young and hot, even if the men aren't? And then I remembered she was in the first and thus was kept around. I'm not trying to do the white knight thing, but it really made me sad that we so seldom get middle aged women in movies.

Anyways, the action in the movie is pretty good, but I say this often: much of this isn't the same in a post-Thrones world. I feel like all of these medieval-like gritty action movies are held to that standard, and the stakes just never feel the same. When I watched Pedro walk into the ring, I'm like, oh ya! I've seen this before! The Red Viper! And that instantly just make me think less of this movie because of how much more I felt for a character who honestly didn't have THAT much more screen time. And along with the action, the macho hero stuff like the speeches and battles all felt a little hollow to me. 

I feel like this is a pretty negative review. I liked this movie just fine. I wasn't expecting to be blown away, and I wasn't. This movie didn't do anything new, and indeed tried a little too hard to make us remember the old one. Let the past die! I wanted Gladiator II, not Gladiator: Revisited!