(may contain spoilers)
Douban rating: 6.4
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal
Douban Comments: “Everyone can probably understand that Gladiator 2 is unlikely to have the same impact and emotional resonance as the original did for us. The film tries to recapture the glory and brilliance of the first one in many scenes. Under Ridley Scott’s direction, action sequences like the opening naval battle and the arena duels are gripping, exciting, and exaggerated, still full of curiosity. The intricate and dignified details of the Roman Empire are also portrayed in great depth.
Perhaps Ridley Scott realized the heavy burden of so many characters and the scattered plot points, which is why a lot of the time, the film’s original score is used to enhance and connect the scenes. However, it still struggles to build and elevate the emotion in the same smooth way as the first movie, making the protagonist lose much of the story’s focus and power, and the acting is fairly average.
With every character lacking depth and the political intrigue feeling weak, the plot doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. That said, I didn’t expect Gladiator 2 to surpass the original. The film carries the legacy of Ridley Scott’s style, and for that reason, it makes for a decent sequel. But it’s still 24 years away from being a masterpiece.”
“I watched the premiere in Sydney, and the plot is richer and more emotional than the first film. The performances are all fantastic, and Paul is great as always. Denzel has a real comedic talent and adds a lot of funny moments to the story. Personally, I didn’t find it bloody at all. There’s a lot of exciting fight scenes, and the ending is emotionally rich with many touching moments.
This is a film based on historical events, so there’s no need to obsess over its originality. It has nothing to do with replicating the script of the first film. People say they want a sequel but don’t want it to be too connected to the original – this is a contradictory stance. If you insist on seeing a completely different story, we might as well call it an original script. The core of Gladiator 2 is rooted in real history, and the two emperors and the politician Denzel plays actually existed. Some of the gladiator movements are even based on historical events. So when you say it’s a lackluster, uncreative remake – come on, that’s just funny. You can critique the adaptation, but if you’re not happy with its originality, feel free to rewrite history books.”
“The story structure is exactly the same as the first film, and this narrative style might feel outdated to modern audiences, especially given the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s theme-park style storytelling over the past decade. Ridley Scott’s filming style has also evolved; the lighting and cinematography feel much rougher than before. It seems like there were multiple cameras shooting at once, capturing wide shots and close-ups from various angles. There’s an industrial feel to it, but the level of precision and refinement in the shots is lacking. For example, in the first film, many indoor scenes used firelight to cast dramatic shadows on the faces of characters. Now, the cameras are so advanced that everything is clear and visible, and the director no longer spends as much time perfecting the details of lighting and shadow.
That being said, the film still has its enjoyable moments. While watching, I found myself counting how many times Paul Mescal touched the faces of background male actors. I enjoy seeing actors add their own touches to their roles.”
