GLADIATOR II

If we were ever going to get a sequel to Gladiator, it was always my thinking that only Ridley Scott could make it, even after all these years. It's easily one his finest pieces of work and now he brings us Gladiator II, a sequel that I had trepidations about yet it blew them away to become a sequel worthy of the name.

Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Put all your historical inaccuracies aside and strap in for a historical epic only someone like Ridley Scott could deliver this day and age. Gladiator II is a blistering epic that forges its own path in the shadow of Maximus' legacy, the story of a man who came from aristocracy now fighting his way up through the city he once called home to help free it from tyranny. Yes, it may sound similar to the first however, enough is done to stop this feeling like a carbon copy of its predecessor - Peter Craig and David Scarpa writing a thrilling story where both gladiatorial and political action clash with spectacular results. It may not possess the pure emotion of the original film, and that holds it back from being as good or better, but Gladiator II more than makes up for it in other areas.

Just like the first film, we get to see plenty of action in the Colosseum, as Lucius leads a band of gladiators against adversaries riding rhinos or sailing into combat on ships across shark-infested waters. It only adds to the idea that this feels like a different beast and delivers some bombastic action sequences that will leave you very much entertained, even with some iffy visual effects when they go up against a vicious group of monkeys.

The up close and personal moments of combat deliver as well, the much marketed sword fight featuring Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal bringing a level of ferocity the film really needs. With that in mind, the closing stages of the film deliver that in spades, upping the ante in the process, and seeing the film out in such a satisfying manner.

Leading the charge in terms of performances in Gladiator II is Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, who proves here that he can take control of a major blockbuster and give it a true emotional core to root for. Mescal has the ability to portray such an emotionally charged character while dealing with the physical demand of the role too, ideal for the lead role in a film of this ilk. There's a whole host of performances alongside Mescal who make this such compelling viewing too; Connie Nielsen's Lucilla impressive amidst all the machismo on show and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, one half of the Emperor duo who rule Rome with such rashness, rather aptly feeling straight out of a pantomime.

It wouldn't feel right to write about the performances without singling out Denzel Washington and dedicating a paragraph to the acting giant. It's no surprise that Washington delivers on a whole other level to those round him again, but his turn here as Macrinus is easily one of his best performances in years. He's working at such a level that it all just feels effortless, the playfulness he brings to proceedings as well as the scheming nature of his character makes for such a dynamic relationship between character and actor.

In a world where people are usually against endless sequels and reboots, Gladiator II should be seen as a win opposing those exact thoughts. While it clocks in at two-and-a-half hours, it's absolute flies by and proves that sword and sandal epics have their place in today's cinematic landscape - Ridley Scott being the man who knows how to do them best.

Verdict: ★★★★½