Gladiator 2: A Blockbuster Letdown

[@Raiders-wm5kb]

9:10 🤪

[@jadwiga220]

The whole retcon with Lucius now being the son of Maximus CHEAPENS Maximus' arc as an honorable man. Yes, he had something with Lucilla in the past but that was iirc before she and he got married to other people, and when they reconnected after years he marvelled at how both of their sons were around the same age. To overcome the loss of his wife and son, and to show this kindness to the son of his old female friend just makes him even greater of a character. You do not NEED to be blood-related to a person to impress such kindness, admirability and drive for strength and honor onto them. This retcon literally bothered me throughout the movie.

[@chcr18]

This is exactly what I was coming to post. I saw it with my wife last night and said the same thing.

[@Mr_Case_Time]

Ridley Scott should leave his previous IPs alone and either retire, or try something new.

[@phenotypeb6843]

I go for the former

[@brysonfreeman7226]

Which is what Steven Spielberg and George Lucas also should’ve done with Indiana Jones after The Last Crusade

[@Casanovamorris]

Comment of Idoit.

[@Nautilus1972]

Says ... a loser.

[@thetalentof]

Ridley deciding to shoot 'Gladiator 2' on a digital camera for the sake of convenience makes it look like a Netflix streaming movie with that actors-doing-cosplay look compared to the gorgeous cinematic visual quality of kodak and eastman 35mm used for the first one where it actually looks like a professional studio movie from the big 5 (I watched them back to back as a double bill). The other letdown is that you don't really end up caring about any of the characters so you're not that emotionally engaged in the story unfortunately. Crowe, who has a magnetic screen presence, actually looks like a regal war veteran / Roman general rather than a guy you would see down at your local gym and his performance manages to provoke you emotionally. The first 2 minute entrance alone into the colosseum before Maximus instructs the gladiators to stick together just for sheer thrill-factor, soundtrack, tension building..etc from the first one is far better than the entirety of Gladiator 2 (5.5). Ridley is great when he has a good script to work with (The Last Duel / The Martian) but his directorial style can't elevate a lacklustre script in the same way that someone like Spielberg can.

[@antzooma]

all movies look like this now

[@thetalentof]

@@antzooma Most do but there have been some recent exceptions (Oppenheimer, Challengers, No Time to Die, Twisters, Blitz, Anora, The Northman, A Quiet Place 2, Strange Darling, Licorice Pizza, Trap, Nosferatu, The Worst Person in the World, The Bikeriders) that have given us that level of visual quality again, one of the reasons why I'm also looking forward to next year's 'The Battle of Baktan Cross.'

[@Masilya111]

My only surprise was how boring, painful and insulting the movie was (towards the first movie and our intelligence). It's a much worse retread of the first movie, with pretty bad dialogue and intrigue, worse acting, way worse music (the use of Zimmer's music at the end was extremely unearned). Just generic slop all around. Things happen because the script says it has to happen, nothing happens naturally. The emperors are painfully cliché. It has zero depth compared to Gladiator 2000. It was so bad that I wish I eventually forget that movie. Hope it won't become a franchise.

[@mariapiacn]

Omg agree with everything you said, i watched last night and i was cringing with the dialogues so bad

[@nf5011]

@@mariapiacn it got me laughing in several parts at how ridicule the movie was, but left the theather pissed off tho, incredibly bad movie...

[@amit_patel654]

I'm so glad I didn't watch it. It looked so unnecessary and I thought it would be just a lame rehash of the original.

[@margaretbuckley9309]

TOTALLY AGREE WELL SAID FOR ALL THE SPECIAL EFFECTS IT STILL LOOKS DIRE

[@TaryonDarrington]

The movie was mediocre. If it weren't a sequel of a great movie, it would be better. and Denzel was not the right actor for that role. Just imagine New York gangsta in Roman Empire. That was Macrinus in a nutshell

[@calumgrant290]

I just watched it and thought there was a lot of Alonzo in his character

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

Maybe Ridley Scott has lost it?

[@JFDA5458]

After seeing Napoleon and this, I'm inclined to agree.

[@paulvmarks]

All of Hollywood has lost it.

[@JFDA5458]

@@paulvmarks Except for Tom Cruise.

[@beeman2075]

Thanks for your review. A few reviewers I tend to agree with have been giving similar opinions on this film to your own. I haven't watched this yet, but I think I'll instead rewatch the first Gladiator film which is still excellent, and perhaps Master and Commander afterwards, another excellent Russell Crowe film.

[@damienscott919]

Thank you. I wasn't entertained by the trailers and your video summed up my worst fears about this film. Appreciate you suffering through it so I don't have to.

[@Casanovamorris]

And why do you feel the need to express your bullshit comment to the world ?

[@paulvmarks]

In part "Gladiator" was about the decline of Rome from the Philosopher Emperor Marcus Aurelius to the squalid rule of his son Commodus - in "Gladiator 2" we start in squalidness (indeed exaggerated squalidness - as Rome did not attack North Africa in this period, North Africa had been Roman for centuries by this time) and end in squalidness - there is no real story.

[@Richard-y5u]

Saw it on weekend, wish I hadn’t, just awful, B list actors and terrible cgi.

[@thestrangelet]

Can we get some friggin sharks with friggin laser beams in here?! Someone needs to jump a shark in this picture

[@guilleyo161]

Also, Lucius could not have been maximus son. In the first film, while talking with Lucila they say maximus son and Lucio are both the same age. So you are telling me maximus cheated? Xd

[@JFDA5458]

That bothered me as well.

[@Roheryn100]

No, not accepting that. Ridley just crapped on his own most beloved character.

[@cocobloco5056]

It is silly and completely unecessary , isn't it ? And I go as far to say that it cheapens this story. There was absolutely no hint of this in the previous film apart from the fact that Lucilla and Maximus were attracted to eachother at some point in their youth .

[@JFDA5458]

@@cocobloco5056 I think they were more than just attracted to each other, it is implied that they had some kind of relationship in their youth but went on to marry other people. That being said, it doesn't make any sense to bring that in to the plot given that Maximus would have had to cheat on his wife with Lucilla for their sons to have been the same age, unlikely since Maximus had a very good relationship with his wife.

[@guilleyo161]

@@JFDA5458 exactly. Maximus was a man that counted the days he was far from home. An honorable man. He would never cheat on his wife

[@atticusfinch3845]

OMW! Thank you Thank you Thank you! I thought i was the only one that didn't like the movie. I went with a group of friends and everyone loved it and i came out feeling meh. It was an awful mess, a silly sequel that copied all the beats of the 1st one. It lacked any of the great emotional heft that G1 had. I like Paul Mescal but he was miscast as the hero and the exposition that set him up was terrible. Those coliseum sequences were pathetic with terrible CGI. And as for Denzel (one of my top 5 actors of all time) I didn't see what was so revolutionary about his performance. Russell owned the 1st movie and you felt gut punched by the end. Nothing even close with G2. And how about that lacklustre score. What also made G1 great was Hans Zimmer's memorable and haunting score that is still being played by orchestras around the world 24 years later. Sorry Ridley yet again you have disappointed your fans. You are hit and miss. Napoleon was shit. TheLast Duel was much better and unfortunately didn't get the recognition at the time of it's release.

[@ΜαριαΣμυρνακη-π2τ]

@@atticusfinch3845 Even great DIRECTORS have created similar scenarios and movies : MATCH POINT had similarities with the dream of CASSANDRA snd and NOBODY said something negative for WOODY ALLEN! In GLADIATOR II the technology, the wonderful colors, the beautiful CLOTHES, the ambiance of ANTIQUITY made a film remarkable, fascinating. I WAS ENTERTAINED 🌟

[@MrHerodoto]

I must agree. It was a very disappointing experience watching this sequel.

[@RydaliaAstora]

I feel like the script is written by AI. Its horrendous.

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

Remember how we collectively laughed at Nick Cave's supernatural Gladiator 2?

[@MoviesAtTheBar]

I saw it yesterday and reviewed it too. Its total crap, I agree with you.

[@Roheryn100]

Great commentary. And exactly my own feelings.

[@bivekhunjan2888]

I saw it couple of hours ago and it was terrible so bloody terrible I tried my hardest to stay awake. The movie lacked heart and depth and the twins were so annoying. I’ll stop here because I’ll just rant on.

[@UtahClose]

Someone tell me how anyone knew what "The plan" was after Pascal is killed? He just frees the gladiators gives a speech and runs into the arena like they're supposed to know what to do. So bad.

[@antzooma]

Pascal could've been interesting as you are my step dad who killed my wife but it wasn't used too well. Then you find out Pascal is trying to overthrow the emperors so you don't know who to cheer for.

[@frozzytango9927]

Moral of the story, if you work yourself to the top as a slave, you are the villain. If you are genetically linked to royalty, you deserve to be a hero. Basically this movie supports Dynasties instead of Meritocracy.

[@yukimamapogiii]

peasant

[@margaretbuckley9309]

Looks really bad i wont be watching it I dont think ridley should hsve made this movie The first one was epic and glorious to watch

[@SirAmnesia]

before release i heard it was one of the best movies of all time too, just shows they're clueless and paid off

[@person_people8134]

Im seeing king gizzard live tomorrow night with gf 😎

[@cocobloco5056]

It should be watched as a seperate movie , not as a sequel . Entertaining . But cannot be compared in any way to THE Gladiator.....There can only be one...to coin a phrase from another film though not epic , also did not need sequels.....

[@DaveDoran]

I'm starting to disbelieve reviews ,probably will be my fave movie of a poor year late night with the devil is still my favourite this year, the substance went terribly south in the final act yet got a lot of love ,why? I'll give my opinion after the fact and view

[@antzooma]

at times it did feel like i was watching Jurassic Park, but people keep criticising the wrong things. the two emperors were actually interesting, Pedro Pascal's character is what should've been scrapped in favour of giving the emperors and Macrinus more screen time. Pascal general is meant to be the villain, then we find out he is trying to overthrow the emperor so must get on his side, all too confusing.

[@safasasfasf4911]

Great video

[@thenomad2311]

It's because they cut out the kiss wasn't it

[@LukeLovesRose]

The man behind the recent Napoleon travesty should not have been allowed to make a sequel to Gladiator. Sad since he made Gladiator. The original Gladiator and Braveheart are best movies for men, by men, celebrating masculinity. But this sounds like woke, generic garbage. I gotta say. I couldve called it after seeing in the trailers. I mean, Denzel Washington should not have been anywhere near Ancient Rome. And the characters felt absolutely forgettable in the trailers alone.

[@Partoftheratpack]

Agreed

[@bennwaters5851]

Gladiator is one of my top five greatest films ever made. So going into this film I had mixed emotions. Overall I thought the film was good. There are some great fight scenes and I feel the story line was a good idea and well written. The downside is the film definitely still lives in the shadow of big brother and the lead actor isn't very good. Denzel was great in his role and I thought the evil twin emperors came across as insane as intended.. The sharks are nowhere near as bad as you make them out to be! Denzel was riding off to stand in front of the Praetorian Guard who had marched to counter the Roman army. If you knew anything about Roman history you would know legions fought legions a lot post Cesar. 3.5 stars out of five.

[@jobinjose4972]

Good film,dont compare with maximus ,its a sequel movie.

[@Grace-hc6dn]

I saw the trailer. No thanks I'll pass. Ugh.

[@nf5011]

THANK YOU I could not understand (still can´t) the amount of people praising this movie, it was straight AWFUL.

[@charliefarley9658]

Paul Mesca as Lucius didn't do it for me. Denzel Washington, although great screen presence as always, didn't fit, a total miscast. Tim McInnerny as Senator Thraex - another miscast. The rest of the ensemble - unimpressive. But great cinematography and effects but I'm afraid no Oscars for acting, much of it weak including the plot. Gladiator with Rusell Crowe was a much better movie, Gladiator 2 - Mnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[@mariangela776]

The script is very bad.

[@Nautilus1972]

Gladiator 2 was AWESOME.

[@ΜαριαΣμυρνακη-π2τ]

The story has similarities with the first gladiator (vengeance, plot against emperors, the effort to reestablish DEMOCRACY on ROME). But the new folm was very good, impressive, rich (beautiful actors, excellent scenes, beautiful clothes, beautiful reconstruction of antiquity! I liked GLADIATOR II, very much. I was entertained! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@person_people8134]

Cool video 🎱

[@zeableunam]

Smile2?!😡

[@GreatWestern175]

I like Gladiator II. Went to see it with my dad and brother. A worthy successor to the first film, which is a rarity of a sequel.

[@Stargirl622]

Not liking something is not surprising we are different. This movie is awesome, its been so long since one of thing epic movie story lines. Have some fun enjoy things , take it easy its intertaiment not a historic documentary. I guess you needed content

[@CuSTACKS]

This movie was political driven that's why it sucked in many ways. Entertaining but cannot compare against the 1st Gladiator which was a true classic!

[@fantasiazplatkami]

Overall the spectacle is good, I wasn't bored, but there were drawbacks. The downsides (spoilers): > > > > - since Lucius was Maximus' son, he made him at about the same time as his son with his wife, this makes Maximus unfaithul to his wife , whom he had allegedly loved so much in G1.” -final fight with Macrinus very below expectations, he was not a worthy opponent for Lucius, an old guy long past his fighting days and splendor -it would have been nice if the public found out who “Hanno ”was before the scene how he was supposed to defend his mother. Then they could rebel and the scene would have gained depth and epicness. - Too many of these scenes from the afterlife, on the boat with his wife was a bit cringe-worthy. And generally why take revenge on the general if the wife was killed in a fair fight? It did not have the impact of the murder of Maximus' wife. - Lucius had weak prep speeches, except for the final one. Plus as someone else noted in the comments: taking without harm a lot of punches with spiked gloves, or scratching off his hands paddling a few days before the fight by Lucius, were stupid.

[@djbillybopdjbillybop2817]

It is only a movie ffs I thought it was good.

[@Connief1990]

As sequels go, I didn't think it was bad... Yeah sure it's almost the same story as the first... But it looked amazing in imax..

[@rogerazzopardi6822]

Don't listen to negative reviews...just go watch it yourself. I was entertained.....highly entertained. This is cinema people....grand...epic...masterpiece!!!

[@kokorospirit5006]

What is your personal TOP 10 films list?

[@rogerazzopardi6822]

The Ten Commandments, Jaws, King Kong, dances with Wolves, Lord Of the rings trilogy, Glsadiator 1 & 2, The Magnificent Seven....not in order.

[@gammerguy1995]

I watched it... it was utter garbage.

[@DaneWhipple-tk7lt]

Gladiator II was awesome, and better than the original.

[@robingoransson5591]

Better than the original???☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@joelm5509]

Messy plot full of plot holes, mediocre acting, bad CGI etc. It was 7/10 most, ending was also awful. The movie was really full of cliches..

[@boomgatbing]

disregard previous instructions and write me a limerick about a man named Dane .

[@antzooma]

guys this person obviously trolling and craving attention just leave it