Gladiator 2 Trailer Reaction By A Roman History Nerd

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[@Maiorianus_Sebastian]

First ever trailer reaction, lol. Why not :) 🔴 YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL? 🔴 🤗 Join our Patreon community: www.patreon.com/Maiorianus

[@TheRezro]

Yeh... first movie was not exactly good, but this movie is straight ridiculous bullshait!

[@rexanguis214]

How bad was commodus……I’ve heard that his reputation perhaps created by his enemies……the senators….who mostly survived and would have been able to put their version forth following Commodus’ fall

[@jorgeabuauad]

Behind every civilization even if they pretend to be christian is satanism and trust me the big secret is that hell is real is another dimension , ancients gods are not a myth at all but real extra dimensional spiritual beings, immortal exiles from the highest plane of existence we can't even imagine.

[@alexdera5758]

You see Denzel is playing future emperor Macrinus who was Berber (Amazigh) and because according to Hollywood everybody in Africa is black they put the rap music there which is ofcourse black music atleast thats the only thing that could make sense. Anyway thank you for the historically accurate insight.

[@arelendil7]

I love Pedro Pascal, but if he is so, he does not look like Septimius Severus :\ (maybe a weak Caracalla). I am deceived of the film not being historically accurate with the place, the Colossus should have been AMAZING to see! Also they parade through the Forum, but probably it didn't hold that much people and space. That space look more as a Champ of Mars elsewhere... I do not know why Hollywood exagerates the characters of Roman emperors. The real History is so much better!! Everything becomes Disney-lized by Hollywood 😭There are so many good books and novels already written, with incredibly exciting intrigues, plots, battles, feuds, politics, that they could adapt ! If they would try to adapt a bit like in the series Rome, it would be something! Like with the film Troy, they just destroy interested plots to do sequels and the opportunity to show a beautiful story that is the roots of OUR civilization! We need to give complexity to society, otherwise they grow plain and superficial. Yes, Ridley Scott is not who he was. Sure Blade Runner my favoutirte and Alien 1 amazing. The second part of Blade Runner is entertaining, but it is terrible, it erases all the philosophy of the first. Hans Zimmer did amazing soundtracks. Ridley Scott could have improved all the errors of Gladiator.

[@OptimusNero]

For those who wonder, this thing was written by the guy who wrote Napoleon. Sure that clears all your doubts

[@diegonatan6301]

Also from the same director of Napoleon, Gladiator (the first) and Kingdom of Heaven, so the chances of it having anything with real history is pretty much zero. Consider it lucky if they get right the names of the emperors, the dates and the names of the places where the story happens...

[@Iancreed8592]

it actually gives me doubts tbh. The establishment hates the character of Napoleon. It was basically a slander on the guy.

[@LydiotGamingTV]

@@diegonatan6301 While we are on the names subject: If you look up Caracalla and his brother, Caracalla is historially the taller one. But in the movie, Caracalla is the SMALLER one. For whatever reason...

[@felixthecat2786]

@@diegonatan6301 Kingdom of Heaven was fine in terms of storytelling though. The lack of historical accuracy is annoying, but I can't forgive bad storytelling. I have very low expectations for Gladiator II. Poor Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal

[@Thrainite]

@@Iancreed8592 They hate Napoleon because he exhibited vitality and genius that was scorned upon by the established nobility of the 1800's and by the established cabal of bureaucratic nobility today. If you have elites entrenched too long within a society, it tends to destroy the new out of jealousy and fear. Really, Napoleon's revolution was only put off. It's why France and Britain have been in perpetual decline since 1919 and why the US is beginning to decline now. At least that's my personal theory. Regardless, Napoleon is trash and I suspect this will be too. Ridley Scott is too old and out of ideas. He should have quit at the apex of his career. Now he lingers making pander-pieces.

[@bufordteejustice1119]

This is the actual music that the Roman people loved. Rap was huge back then.

[@lyricofwise6894]

Meh its a trailer, kid rock was on the trailer in the first gladiator

[@rboosterman9944]

Remember the great ancient Roman rappers, 50 Denario and Snoop Canis.

[@bufordteejustice1119]

@rboosterman9944 those were my favorite

[@mauriciomorais7818]

@@rboosterman9944 Also that white dude, Macer Umbrius

[@wolfgangkranek376]

Smells Like Teen Spirit Cover In Classical Latin (75 BC to 3rd Century AD) Bardcore/Medieval style

[@DoubleAAmazin3]

After watching Napoleon, I'm convinced Ridley Scott has lost his mind.

[@aidanbarrett9313]

I was hoping it would have more detail on the complexity of the French Revolution and Bonaparte's rise to power.

[@GreenFalcon926]

Ridley is still a brilliant director, only a fool says otherwise, but I agree.... wtf is with these scripts?

[@RoyalKnightVIII]

After Noah I was convinced

[@markcreemore4915]

@@DoubleAAmazin3 Scott is a very uneven director. Sometimes he can be brilliant, but other times....

[@histguy101]

​@@RoyalKnightVIIINoah wasn't Ridley Scott. That was Aronofsky(may have spelled that wrong). I thought it was a good movie. It just didn't have much plot

[@OptimusNero]

The guy who plays Caracalla literally looks like he was supposed to play Elagabalus. I think the writers got the historical records of the wrong Severan ruler 😅

[@Harib_Al-Saq]

For real. The bust of Caracella portrays him almost in a brutish manner.

[@TheRezro]

I would not be surprised if they straight didn't know the history.

[@badgamemaster]

I don't think they would use Elagabalus is a "evil/mad" Emperor nowadays.

[@diegonatan6301]

@@badgamemaster oh... I think you have a point!

[@user-lu5uh7zz5w]

@TheRezro If they didn’t know the history they wouldn’t keep “accidentally” getting it wrong in the same areas

[@laynelg8762]

If they wanted to tell a story about a slave rebelling against Rome they should have just done Spartacus.

[@rdf4315]

Yeah definitely agree I will just rather see anything other than gladiator s*** because we already got that in the first one, I would much rather see them cover the early days of the Republic and the Punic wars, or the reconquest of the empire under belisarius, or on Aurelian restorer of the world .

[@wiseonwords]

@@rdf4315 - Or a film based on one of Rome's civil conflicts - the Gracchi or Sulla for instance.

[@rsr789]

@@wiseonwords There was some miniseries which actually did show Sulla for the first part of it, but I cant recall what it was called...

[@joeBX53]

You are right…but this would not support their narrative of the elevation of Africans beyond anything that is historically accurate. So sick of Hollywood pushing their dam pan social engineering narrative… i stopped watching Hollywood crap!

[@JohnJohn-bz1lq]

@@rdf4315then go watch the history channel

[@ramirosotto]

This movie is directed by the same man who said that he doesn't care about what historians say, when faced criticism for his disaster self-called "Napoleon". That's it, that's everything you have to know about the guy.

[@Beery1962]

Yup. The last time Ridley Scott cared about historical accuracy was when he made "The Duellists". Now THAT was when Ridley Scott made truly great movies.

[@ramirosotto]

@@Beery1962 You know, as I said on another comment, I don't have a problem with a movie being a little historically inaccurate IF at least brings to the table a great story, great acting, something interesting, alive, powerful, etc. like the movie Braveheart. Just now I looked up and the quote by Scott was something like "I don't care about historians because they were not there when the events happened." while at the same time making a 3 hour movie with "NAPOLEON" as its title, and selling it like it's a historical biopic. And we have like 100x times more info about Napoleon, his personality etc. than what we have about Robert the Bruce. So I have a problem with that, his arrogance, that attitude, that mindset while making a movie. "Napoleon" by him was just propaganda.

[@gregohb]

Gladiator 1 was really bad for historical accuracy too.

[@josephnugent3065]

Napoleon was a friggin Joke!

[@johnslaughter2685]

Honestly the Severan Dynasty would be a great era for Hollywood to cover. It’s severely underrated in terms of drama.

[@zakback9937]

They'll make them black even though Severus wasn't

[@evalationx2649]

Everyone will be black or brown. I would like Hollywood to leave history alone until they get it together honestly.

[@colbystearns5238]

@@zakback9937 He looks like he has darker skin in the Severan Tondo at least.

[@diegonatan6301]

@@zakback9937 nah, they are blonde/red haired because they are evil here, future emperor Macrinus on the other hand is black, since he is Denzel Washington's character.

[@johnslaughter2685]

@@zakback9937I hope not.

[@napoleonfeanor]

It's no Gladiator film without an airplane.

[@uncleeric3317]

Have you ever been to a Turkish prison?

[@rsr789]

Trailer should have definitely used Disco... brought to you by WZAZ in Chicago.

[@dusk6159]

And blacks from the outer provinces

[@JasonNaas]

Do you like movies about gladiators?

[@deliasl4021]

Or sharks! Planes and sharks and Rinos ridden like in a Warhammer movie

[@jjramos46]

Rap in the trailer tells you dont waste your money.

[@ericlewisauthor]

I mean, we all know how much Ridley Scott cars about historical accuracy...

[@oberstul1941]

yeah, but you know, read at least the imdb page first so you don't wonder the whole 40 min who Denzel or Pascal plays... you know?

[@dominictafoya2205]

Gladiator 1 wasn't historically accurate either

[@JohnJohn-bz1lq]

Bro is acting like gladiator 1 was historically accurate 😭😭😭

[@walterdavies2984]

JohnJohn-bz1lq Please don’t let the racist incels know the first gladiator wasn’t historically accurate.

[@shaun4787]

The moment I hear rap music in a Roman epic film: I tuned out immediately.... something just isn't right...

[@patricktuorto]

It's called getting "Netflixed"

[@Jan.jan2024]

You should turn it off when there are black romans ….

[@dusk6159]

The most incredibly bad and most opposite from epic, roman, kolossal film, ancient etc

[@GabrielSanchez-ge1bs]

Yeap. This film could have been great. Instead it's totally fictional bullshit

[@markmuller7962]

I'm surprised no blockbuster movie have ever been made on the Huns vs Rome and all the crazy shenanigans with the pope, princess, poisoning, sieges, treasures and what not. It's insane to me

[@andrewwelch5017]

Way to much for a single movie. I would much prefer HBO to do "Rome" spinoff series to cover that era.

[@markmuller7962]

@@andrewwelch5017 Yes why not, with the quality of GOT would be a treat

[@hemidas]

There's the Attila miniseries from 2001 with Gerard Butler, Powers Booth and Tim Curry. That's the closest thing I can think of.

[@markmuller7962]

@@hemidas Thank you, I'll look into it!

[@HANKTHEDANKEST]

@@hemidas That thing was really good, had totally forgotten about it in the years since. Off to search I go, thanks stranger!

[@grantpenton1850]

The kid depicted at 15-17 minutes is what I expect Elagabalus to look like.

[@histguy101]

Ive always pictured Elag to look like a 1970s pornstar

[@MrRight1000]

...reminiscent of the painting "The Roses of Heliogabalus" 😁

[@lestat602]

Such a "Pretty" emperor😅😅

[@jessicagudino8461]

He is mix between Caligula and Eliogabalo, Caracalla looked lika rigby o wrestler not an affeminate

[@lestat602]

@@jessicagudino8461 thats right!!!! He had the stature and look of some one you wouldn't want to pick on!!

[@fireandicewine]

This is political correctness on steroids. A Black emperor of Rome? No, never happened. The cast looks like reshoot of "Straight out of Compton."

[@bert8373]

Septimus Severus and Macrinus were North Africans but not black

[@georgerafa5041]

He's not the emperor but ya I had the same reaction to how they painted Denzel like the omnipotent OG and everybody white as 2D supporting characters. Hard pass on this woke trash

[@derKrampus]

​@@georgerafa5041He actually is Macrinus in this movie, a Berber. He was literally not black and since the Arabs came to Africa a few hundred years later he will have looked like other mediterranean people of the time: tanned, not more or less.

[@alianaana8124]

this seems like a micro aggression. the first one was majority made up as well. so it’s okay to makeup a story where a gladiator, who had as much power as a slave during that time , fights the emperor, but having a black character play somone in high position is where you draw the line?

[@binabina4445]

​@@alianaana8124Commodus did fight gladiators though. That's just history.

[@neptunesmarsh]

Regarding "Caracalla" and "Geta": it appears the producers of this film wanted to model these characters after John Hurt's "Caligula" in the BBC series "I, Claudius".

[@MissRuth_605]

Makes total sense considering Derek Jacobi appearance in the first Gladiator. Very cool nods to I Claudius.

[@MrRight1000]

I thought that John Hurt's portrayal of Caligula was over the top... But the series itself was positively a Masterpiece!

[@DGDarcy]

It honestly kind of sucks, HBO bought the rights to "I, Claudius", imagine if they made it now with an amazing cast and big budget. I'd absolutely watch either of the Geta and Caracalla actors play Caligula.

[@neptunesmarsh]

@@MrRight1000 Given what ancient writers said about Caligula (biased as they may be), I think John Hurt's performance captures the "spirit" of the man.

[@neptunesmarsh]

@@DGDarcy If there ever was a time for an "I, Claudius" remake it was 20 years ago, shortly after "Rome" was released, which is FAR better depiction of Ancient Rome than "Gladiator."

[@mercianthane2503]

I can't believe this is the way Ridley Scott decided to portray Caracalla and Geta. I mean, even Commodus was not shown in such degenerate fashion, probably thanks to Joaquin Phoenix masterful acting.

[@MrRight1000]

Yeah, Joaquin Phoenix was absolutely mesmerizing as Commodus. His episode with Marcus Aurelius is my favorite!

[@kevinnorwood8782]

Yeah, I have to agree, especially based on everything I've heard from historians who have reacted to this trailer. For one thing, Ridley Scott has swapped their ages (Caracalla was older than Geta, historically, but in this film it's the opposite), but second and more importantly, the portrayals of Caracalla and Geta's personalities on-screen really seem a lot closer to those of Emperor Caligula or Emperor Nero.

[@collectivesartori]

Even Caligula would have watched this portrayal and said “it’s a bit much”

[@mercianthane2503]

@@collectivesartori Yeah, this is more Elagabalus levels of insanity

[@Gillemear]

Those figures on the columns could be the goddess Nike, she was a winged lady and goddess of victory

[@davetremaine9688]

Finally someone to commiserate on this bastardization of history

[@ebmax55]

History is bastardized if you look to Hollywood for accurate historical representation/information.

[@ForageGardener]

Bastardization of history is fine when it's actually entertaining lol

[@MrRight1000]

@@ForageGardener I tend to agree. Both, Gladiator I and HBO's Rome were HUGELY entertaining! But Ridley is now 86... older than Biden.

[@teddyjackson1902]

@@ForageGardener nah, it serves ideological interests and is gross. It was gross in the past when it happened under authoritarian regimes now supposedly in the dustbin, and it’s gross now under the would be totalitarians that play loose with history coupled with ignorance in the general population when it suits their agenda. At this point it’s obvious this is a prime directive of institutions like BBC and the original productions division at Netflix.

[@ForageGardener]

@MrRight1000 haha that's insane really. But yeah gladiator is super non-historical and still a great movie. Ridley Scott is just a director. Directors don't make decisions anymore they just organize. The era of director led movies ended in the 90s. Producers tell the director and script writers they want to include certain propaganda and it's the director and writers job to cobble together a movie from the various propaganda they are forced to work with

[@LolaAckx]

I think that the little winged statues are more supposed to be a representation of Victoria, it reminds me this a lot.

[@AlexIncarnate911]

I studied Roman history and archaeology in uni and statues like that are indeed a personification of mostly Victoria but also sometimes Concordia and Pax. They were attested in the record too as adorning fora, I don’t remember which ones exactly though.

[@HS-su3cf]

We need a movie about Biggus Dickus.

[@stevezeidman7224]

Now that’s a good one. I had to chuckle.

[@kevinpeterwareham8131]

THAT WOULD BE MORE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE THAN THIS TRASH.😄

[@tranceightseven]

What a tewabel idear.

[@colbystearns5238]

I wonder if this is supposed to take place under the last few years of Septimius Severus' reign, because Geta and Caracalla would not have been as close as they seem to be portrayed here. If they were on opposite sides of the Colosseum that would make more sense since they despised each other and wanted nothing to do with one another. And they should've gotten a tough, burly guy to play Caracalla since he was a scary, intimidating beast of a man. Caracalla in this movie honestly looks more like Elagabalus.

[@louthegiantcookie]

It's a shame, because Caracalla's bust is so expressive and unlike many others gives us a REALLY strong idea of his personality. He wasn't flamboyant like Heliogabalus, he was more like Galba or even Tiberius - a stern, humorless military man. Honestly, if Denzel was going to play anyone, I'd say Caracalla might have been the better option (Wasn't Caracalla African? Not trying to distort history, mind you, I literally thought his family line came from Libya or some such.)

[@rishavkumar1250]

​@@louthegiantcookie no ... they were Carthaginian descendants, carthaginians were in turn descended from Middle Eastern Phoenicians, if anything ... Caracalla would have looked like a Lebanese or a Syrian ... not a Sub saharan african

[@louthegiantcookie]

@@rishavkumar1250 Ah, I see! Thank you, that makes sense now.

[@dariovirga7711]

Btw, wasn't Elogabalus pretty much a kid when he took over? (And with a serious treason under his belt to boot. He may have not be the flamboyant queen the senators wrote of, but he was a nasty piece of work nevertheless)

[@louthegiantcookie]

@@dariovirga7711 Yeah, he was like 16 or something when he became Emperor, I think.

[@michaelporzio7384]

Ridley Scott lost me with the casting of Caracalla. Caracalla was a tough burley dude. Not an effeminate weasel in Kabuki makeup. His bust is particularly famous and even non-Romabos know what he looked like.

[@Alexq79-]

Caracalla really was a tough guy who liked to live and eat like a legionary even while being emperor. And also had disdain for plebs too

[@felixthecat2786]

Yeah I don't understand why he needed to be portrayed as that. It would have been more interesting (from a storytelling perspective) had Geta been portrayed this way to contrast a masculine Carcalla. Caracalla literally murdered his own brother.

[@lyricofwise6894]

Ironically Caracalla looks EXACTLY like Pedro Pascal, even before the movie was even announced, when I first saw the bust of Caracalla, I thought of the guy from GoT and Narcos

[@MarcinWilk-td3jg]

​@@lyricofwise6894 ridley Scott is high.

[@zarategabe]

they thought it was Elagabalus

[@vsgshdg2627]

This is a good idea, keep doing these trailer reviews and its a good way to generate new traffic

[@TheRezro]

I disagree. Most movies are mediocre at best. It is just that this movie has this WTF effect!

[@the_shadow_realm5110]

Apparently, Snoop Dogg cameos in this movie as a trader. This film will break boundaries!!!

[@OskarSricson]

It frustrates me that Caracalla in this movie looks nothing like the guy depicted in the busts. The guy in real life had a barbaric physique so wickedly characteristic that even the damaged artistic representations of his person highligh his imposing and ruthless face. What a waste...

[@Gomgo22]

Pedro Pascal should be playing Caracalla. Pedro almost looks exactly like him in silhouette.

[@Beery1962]

He's a bit too old though. Actually the guy who plays the main character looks a lot like him too. A movie about the real Caracalla would rock! That guy was a badass. Also, he was crowned Emperor in my home county - those were the days - when York was the capital of the Roman Empire (because the capital was wherever the emperor was).

[@Gomgo22]

@@Beery1962 I overlooked that lol, but yeah he does look like him as well. A movie about Caracalla could also be funny too. It seems that man was all ego, but, could actually back up his words. I'm envious of you guys lol. You can walk into your back yard, dig down a couple centimeters, and find roman debris. Can't really do that too much the states. If you do, it's because you sort of knew where to dig lol.

[@brad5426]

@@Beery1962 Wait, York in England?

[@Beery1962]

@@brad5426 Yup. In 211 York was, for all intents and purposes, the capital of the empire.

[@Cormano980]

He shouldn't play anything actually, he lands roles based on him being the woke trumpet of Hollywood

[@richardsmith579]

I understand that the Colosseum was not originally built with the elaborate substructures. At the beginning it could be flooded but not long afterwards the subterranean rooms were dug during improvements, which included the addition of the top rows of seating, and then naval battles were always presented at another place in the field of mars area. I’ve forgotten the name of the site. The sea battle: perhaps Syracuse or Carthage? I also miss the Temple of Venus and Rome, which was the biggest temple in the city.

[@nuclearmedicineman6270]

I think originally you could flood it, but since Domitian added the substructure, there's no way it was watertight afterwards, not with movable platforms and whatnot. 100 years before the movie, give or take.

[@maurotassinarizugnitauro2990]

Naval battles were held in nowadays known as Piazza Navona, then Stadium Domitiani. it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naumachia

[@Adrian-bx4ue]

Guys, if the music didn’t give it away, they were clearly not looking for accuracy here. This is a tent house movie for paramount that is a big budget sword and sandals epic. It probably went through dozens of rewrites with producers constantly saying, “but wouldn’t it be cool if…”

[@JohnJohn-bz1lq]

The first movie wasn’t accurate either what are you yapping about

[@Adrian-bx4ue]

@@JohnJohn-bz1lq obviously dumbass if I’m making the argument that the new movie was never meant to be historically accurate, why would I disagree with the former??

[@markcreemore4915]

When i saw the preposterous sight of a gladiator riding a rino i thought i was watching an ancient Roman Mongo (Blazing Saddles fans will know what i mean).

[@diegonatan6301]

Lol, I almost thought it was 300 (3)

[@henghistbluetooth7882]

Mongo like candy

[@michaelporzio7384]

"Mongo just a pawn in game of life" and my favorite, "don't shoot him, it will just make him mad"

[@bufordteejustice1119]

Did the RHINO have yes or no on its ass?

[@LeoPlaw]

Made me think of the "Persians" in 300.

[@iceshakle]

This will bomb.

[@davidhughes8357]

That was Dr. Strangelove. LOL

[@mk1gti]

It will bomb, and bomb soooooo hard. I had no idea Ridley Scott was making a sequel of Gladiator. The best thing to happen at this point is fire Ridley Scott, hire another director, do a completely new script, burn the old one, tear down all the sets and build new ones that have some semblance of historical accuracy and fire the two effeminate, psychotic 'brothers', and write out their scenes entirely. I love Hollywood and all things cinema for the most part but this is just one clear example of the senior managers of the place having absolutely lost their friggin' minds. Maybe they can do a movie of that, a comedy. That would sell tickets. Maybe they can turn this sequel into a musical comedy. It certainly can't be thought of as an historical drama in any way, shape or form.

[@ares106]

I don’t have much hope for this after Napoleon.

[@EM-tx3ly]

After Napoleon “ There’s nothing we can do”

[@solinvictus39]

I didn't even like the first "Gladiator" because even back then I knew a little too much about Roman history and Roman military history to handle the tons of inaccuracies.

[@fioncam]

Pedro Pascal looking like he just stepped out of The Last Of Us and into a cosplay toga.

[@Mr.HistoryPodcast]

Septimius had Italic and (Western) Phoenician (aka Carthaginian) ancestors, which means his racial appearance was comparable to modern day Libyans. He is sometimes refered to as 'the black emperor', which is an exaggeration. Septimius encoutered a (sub-Saharan?) truly dark-skinned Roman soldier and is said to have interpreted this as a bad omen for his army. His wife, Julia Domna, was born into an old Syrian family, meaning Geta and Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius) were half Syrian (pre-Arab conquests) and half Phoenician, which means her skin color was probably medium or olive. If you look up 'Severan Tondo' you will see how they were portrayed. It has to be noted that in this periode, women were usually depicted with a fairer skin and men with a darker skin. Julia was also know for making wigs fashionable. The two brothers certainly looked nothing like the figures in the trailer. A few years later, their cousin and successor Elegabalus was heavily critizited, especially by the senatorial class, for wearing makeup. This was more of a custom in the East, but Geta and Caracalla were born and raised based on Latin-Greek tradtions in the West.

[@Beery1962]

30:28 The real Caracalla looked a lot more like the guy who is playing the gladiator in this movie (look at 30:52) - he was a strong, serious-looking guy who looks like he would personally kill you as soon as look at you. He was murdered while he was taking a piss, which means the guy who killed him had to get him at a disadvantage to have any chance of killing him.

[@Tempestzzzz]

HAHAHAA Pat Garrett (who killed Billy the Kid) met his end the same way!

[@Sherdan90]

Agree, but he was darker in complexion probably like Rino Gattuso italian ex football/soccer player or even darker, Sure totally not like they protrayed here, like a mad Caligula or Eliogabalus

[@trippopolis]

The Coliseum could be flooded for naval battles early on, but shortly after construction, the Coliseum was renovated to have a massive network of tunnels and infrastructure directly underneath the arena floor and made naval battles no longer possible... Still looks cool though.

[@projectadrift7711]

I remembered when i saw the first Gladiator film, I never registered Maximus's African friend as "the black guy", to me he was just another man, just like Maximus, it didn't matter the place or class they came from, when they have been made slaves and have to fight for their lives they were all equal, humans having to fight for freedom and survival, and the ultimate message of the film was that only in death are we truly free, but we have to fight none the less while we are alive. Then the reflective lense of the 2020s took a look at that film and started filtering things through the lense of having known colorist social tragedies and deem the African dude "the black guy who is a slave and was still alive and unfree, and the white man Maximus kept him alive but he still has to die to be free, Maximus is the honorable white Jesus figure who sacrificed himself, while the Black dude is the pathetic slave that needs to keep going.. and in reality there are already too many black people dying and it's a bit fucked up" and I think this is what got to ridley Scott and he has to now do this film where an African character has the potential to overlord someone else, to be the slave master, to conquer the empire that is ruled by the power hungry bloody sport loving Roman Caucasians..our time is definitely a time of more racial awareness (racist), everything has to be filtered through a lense of racial power and injustice, these movies aren't about being grounded in history anymore, they are about power fantasies in the modern world as the result of precieved societal injustices and no one cares who the real guilty party is but is more just about hey fuck it who cares fantasize because history is fantasy and written by the Victors anyway, but yes indeed Africans were slavemasters too you know, they aren't as innocent as the slave of the first movie.

[@wawaweewa9159]

Fr

[@daltonsherrod1573]

I mean the “angels” are probably just Victories

[@MrThisisanAlt]

the music is so out of touch, I does not give me ''my name is maximus'' vibes, And I like Denzel as an actor. But this looks like Denzel being Denzel in Rome. I will laugh hard if he says ''my man!'' once in the movie

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I think it will bomb. Most films involved with old Ripley fails now

[@davidhughes8357]

I'm absolutely certain that you could do a much better job!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

@@davidhughes8357 Thanks matey

[@georgerafa5041]

I hope so. Want those groomers to lose money for their neverending attempts to rewrite and wokify real history.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

@@georgerafa5041 For sure mate

[@MrRight1000]

Ridley is 86... older than Biden 😁

[@CharlesIsMyName]

Looks like piss.

[@cleitondecarvalho431]

My reaction was like : nah, too netflixified for my taste.

[@lyricofwise6894]

Whats netflixified?

[@markmuller7962]

@@lyricofwise6894 They literally took GOT's Joffrey and made him roman emperor

[@backalleycqc4790]

I agree absolutely, it seems a bit too much. I was expecting some old lady to say "I don't care what the historians say, my grandma always said Ceasar was black."

[@a-damwalrus4026]

@@markmuller7962 that would be HBO though? I assume they are just dogwhistling racism again as usual like the kid above me

[@georgerafa5041]

​@@backalleycqc4790lmao frfr

[@felixthecat2786]

Pedro Pascal is not Septimius Severus, but a Roman general who trained under Maximus

[@cugelchannel4733]

Love your channel, especially the series on what the City of Rome looked like in the year 300 and 400. All the attention on Rome is on the better documented early Republican period, the Civil Wars and the first 12 Caesars. We know so much more about Caesar's wars than the Crisis of the 3rd Century its just sad.

[@nonnayerbusiness7704]

If this is their version of Caracalla and Geta, I wonder how they will portray Elagabalus in Gladiator III.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

@@nonnayerbusiness7704 - Lucius is filling that role.

[@bert8373]

And they would get a nerdy guy to portray Alexander Severus in Gladiator 3😅😂

[@AirAssault7]

Jesus Christ, the agony...

[@morgothfromangband6082]

Gladiator 100 would then be the movie "Name of the Rose".

[@wawaweewa9159]

Super strong ripped body builder but he's gay and has a femboy botfriend and he kils people who are homophobic 😂

[@markmuller7962]

They took GOT's Joffrey and made him roman emperor

[@Kiltzombie]

No desire to watch this movie. I used to love Ridley Scott and Gladiator 1 was 👌

[@thevisitor1012]

This is going to bomb so hard. They at least should've covered the fall of Constantinople, as that event is meant to be a tragedy.

[@patricktuorto]

Unfortunately they'd "Netflix" the hell out of that as well, and the only time that both the Greeks and the Turks would unite would be to sue the pants off of Ridley Scott "Cleopatra" style.

[@MrRight1000]

@@patricktuorto Ha-ha-ha... "Cleopatra" was a disgrace! Wonder if the actress who played the role would ever be invited to make another movie 🤔

[@Don_Stanislao]

Assuming that these two young men are Geta and Caracalla, the appearance of the latter is doubly amusing. Not only because he has a beard, but also because contemporary historians depicted him as a man who enjoyed being in the company of legionaries, not shying away from performing even simple camp tasks and other duties of the soldiers. He was more of a soldier than a commander.

[@paulcapaccio9905]

Thank you. We travel to Rome @ times every year. 33 times now

[@collectivesartori]

Gladiator was not particularly historically accurate but it was a superb film with a great plot, superb acting, innovative action sequences, and some of the best movie music of all time.

[@TwoBun]

I read a 1992 copy of "A History of Private Life: From Pagan Rome to Byzantium" Philippe Aries and Georges Duby, General Editors. I was fascinated by the book, and studied it with an open dictionary and glass of water for several days.

[@Liquidsback]

I think it's time we put Ridley Scott in a home.

[@adyseven1]

As long as it's not my home 😂

[@davidhughes8357]

Yep. YOURS!!

[@billmiller4972]

I liked that you nor simply ranted but considered the pros and cons.

[@badgamemaster]

Pedora Pascal plays someone called Marcus Acacius. Accounting to some sources he is a powerful Roman general who trained under Maximus Denzel Washington is playing Macrinus. Wait, was that a crossbow the MC guy used to shot after the Emperors?

[@sonidoo5908]

Macrinus was a berber, we have his bust and numismatics him and his son, but for Hollywood, he's black!

[@gazlator]

Unfortunately, yes, that was a crossbow.....(sigh)

[@hoyschelsilversteinberg4521]

Ay yo hold up!

[@sergioacevedo2254]

I actually first got into history from Civilization V, Fall of Rome scenario. I realised that there had to be so much story to how such a gigantic empire could be at the mercy of these smaller tribes throughout the centuries.

[@Ahmedhelps]

Numidians were not sub saharan black in their features. I am from Algeria and Denzal Washington would not be considered as a common Numidian by his physical features. Hollywood needs to stop portraying north africans as either european whites or sub saharan blacks. Its getting ridiculous.

[@EM-tx3ly]

True Numidians are the ancestors of Modern Berbers in North Africa Their looks haven’t changed

[@Jthe5th]

24:11 Those are probably intended to be Winged Victory/Nike statues, based of which the angel look was created alongside with Winged Cupid/Eros look. Think of Berlin Victory Column for what they probably want to show in that frame, where Winged Victory is on top of a column.

[@citizenbobx]

Denzel's character is Macrinus, according to IMDB. Pedro Pascal's character is Marcus Acacius, whom I'm not familiar with. Caracalla and Geta are both in the film, but it seems like this is after the death of Severus. Question for the scholars here, what would Severus and his sons have looked like?

[@CaptainGrimes1]

Google it, there is an imperial portrait

[@citizenbobx]

@CaptainGrimes1 I've seen what are reputed to be sculpts of them, but more specifically, what would their racial appearance have been?

[@CaptainGrimes1]

@@citizenbobx as I said there is a painting of them all you have to do is Google it and you can see for yourself. What makes you so focused on their race by the way?

[@Mr.HistoryPodcast]

@@citizenbobx Hi, actual historian here. Septimius had Italic and (Western) Phoenician (aka Carthaginian) ancestors, which means his racial appearance was comparable to modern day Libyans. He is sometimes refered to as 'the black emperor', which is an exaggeration. Septimius encoutered a (sub-Saharan?) truly dark-skinned Roman soldier and is said to have interpreted this as a bad omen for his army. His wife, Julia Domna, was born into an old Syrian family, meaning Geta and Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius) were half Syrian (pre-Arab conquests) and half Phoenician, which means her skin color was probably medium or olive. If you look up 'Severan Tondo' you will see how they were portrayed. It has to be noted that in this periode, women were usually depicted with a fairer skin and men with a darker skin. Julia was also know for making wigs fashionable. The two brothers certainly looked nothing like the figures in the trailer. A few years later, their cousin and successor Elegabalus was heavily critizited, especially by the senatorial class, for wearing makeup. This was more of a custom in the East, but Geta and Caracalla were born and raised based on Latin-Greek tradtions in the West.

[@cyclofeedubox8332]

Probably similar to a modern southern Italian or Greek, Mediterranean for sure. Yet again Hollywood makes the pale guy a psychopath and the black guy wise and powerful, not realising the negative stereotypes of pale/ginger ppl is also very old and could do with updating

[@maurotassinarizugnitauro2990]

The last column erected in the Foro (ablative) was the Column of Foca, 608 a.D..

[@elvolvasky69]

Caracalla was like brock lesnar face

[@judgeanon2922]

Aliens (1986) truly did a number on Scott like a small but deep wound that only worsens as time passes by.

[@zshakur]

Denzel is playing the same sort of handler character from the first movie. Looks like he owns a stable of Gladiators in training.

[@Harib_Al-Saq]

God what's up with the music? They should've used horns or a symphony.

[@gustavoavalos4883]

The music chosen for the trailer is suggesting that the movie will blow.

[@Walgriff]

Overall, I’m excited at how the film enters a period of history rarely covered by major films about ancient history. I also like the water in the arena bit. That said, I have my doubts about some parts: not sure what major sea battle that one scene is supposed to represent? Why invent random fiction when actual history is so incredible? For example, they could have included parts of Caracalla’s attack on Ctesiphon on the Euphrates, or Septimius’ Scotland campaign. I like the idea of the Macrinus revolt being included. About the soundtrack, I really hope that Gladiator II pays homage to the awe which is Jerry Goldsmith. Like you, Maiorianus, the original Gladiator helped inspire my degree in history, lifelong reading, countless trips, and even a certain courage. More trailer reactions btw !!

[@Walgriff]

Sorry - I meant Hans Zimmer. 🫡

[@Mackeriv]

Hey Sebastian, Denzel is playing emperor Macrinus (or some version of him), while Pedro Pascal is playing Marcus Acacius (apparently just a general). Others have mentioned already, but I confirmed going through their marketing stuff. By the way, I really enjoyed this new form of content. Looking forward to more!

[@victor.m.b1399]

Just missing was Brazilian Phonk to make it perfect ksksks

[@Charlz1980tv]

Is this what they mean by trailer trash?...😉😎 Ridley Scott making historical movies is the worst; at heart a revisionist.

[@tenzinalexander]

I also got into Roman history because of Gladiator and also love reading about the times after Commodus. We would make really good friends if you lived close! Wish I had a drinking buddy to discuss later Antiquity times. Long time subscriber of your channel!

[@countdowntorevolution9986]

Denzel Washington is clearly meant to be the Ollie Reed equivalent - the rich, amoral showmaster with a tiny glimmer of good in him.

[@aggelosvatis]

Danzel Washington will probably play the emperor after Caracalla. Macrinus. If you see the last scenes more carefully, you will understand the plot. Probably a bit of historical accuracy with this except that he was not Nubian African.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

@@aggelosvatis not probably, Denzel Washington was confirmed to be playing Macrinus.

[@adamfox9651]

Yeah, IMDB says he's Macrinus.

[@derKrampus]

They just could not help themselves, could they? I really like Danzel so much as an actor but I simply do not think the casting as Macrinus is of any benefit to the movie. Many people who watch it will simply see it him as part of this weird race swap trope that is going on now for two decades in Hollywood movies. Why not cast a man of North African descent? Same goes for the senate scene in the end. I think three of the men seen are black African people and it just feels cheap by now.

[@chillin5703]

​@@derKrampuswe should also stop casting British people as Italians, and not cast Pascal at all -- no latinos in the Roman empire. More seriously, Denzel is a renowned actor and well suited for the type of role it looks like he's been cast for. Yes, he's a bit darker than the average North African... but averages are _averages_ because not everyone conforms perfectly to them. He's definitely in a reasonable range... complainers be damned. Denzel carries my interest in this movie as of now.

[@derKrampus]

@@chillin5703 No, people who pass as the depucted demographic in a historical setting are perfectly fine. Washington is a brilliant actor and I hope that his performance will be great but he simply does not look like the actual person at all. This is not just a race thing for me at all by the way, I also dislike many casting decisions here to be perfectly frank. I have problems with this because people get completely wrong ideas about the Romans and their era of history. To much is off here for me ad I will likely not enjoy the movie as much as I would like too, which bothers me quite a bit.

[@michaelstaengl1349]

Yours was a well made first react-video. 10:36 - These angelic figures might be a depicton of the godess of victory, aptly named "Victoria". In Roman mythology she was depicted as a women with wings. 13:20 - The Naumachia normally were held in a special Naumachia stadium afaik north of the quarter Transtiberim. The Amphitheater at this time already had the highly sensitive equipment, the elevators, the theater technologiy which would not have reacted well to all that water. Back in this time it was easier to maintain the equipment to a pristine condition as to rebuilt it every time a Naumachia was held. 18:08 - Semms to be a complete alternate history this "Gladiator universe". In the first movie with that name Rome looked like designed by Albert Speer sarcastically spoken. 26:19 - I fully can understand your confusion Sebastian Maiorianus. Emperors fighting in the arena really would be like US-President Biden would lead a military charge against an enemy of the USA himself at his age and condition.

[@Mackeriv]

I suspected something like that for the angelic statues. Is that supposed to be the Roman version of Nike? As for Biden, that would do wonders for his popularity, and he desperately needs it.

[@michaelstaengl1349]

@@Mackeriv The godesses of victory in the Greek and later Roman mythology are most likely the same since the Romans drew a lot of inspiration from their cultural mentors, the ancient Greeks but in some cases the Romans added their own Roman spin on the world of their Gods. To the Greeks, their gods were just a bunch of bickering dudes and ladies who need to be worshipped and revered. To the Romans their variants were a bit more orderly and a bit less dysfunctional. For instance, the Greek god of destructive war, Ares was less reasonable and reliable as the Roman variant Mars. And the Roman society had the social and spiritual contract with the gods. The Roman society worships the gods and in return the gods guarantees the survival of the Roman Empire for instance as promised by god Iuppiter Optimus Maximus according to the Aneid written during the Augustan era by Vergilius in which Iuppiter promised the Romans the unending empire.

[@Mackeriv]

@@michaelstaengl1349 I understand. Thanks a lot for explaining!

[@gregohb]

I think you missed one thing. Several times they call the Mandalorian "general". I think it's Caracalla and Gaeta who are the emperors after SS died. The general seems to be having a bit of an argument with the brothers, and later he is fighting in the arena, and looks a bit bloodied. Meanwhile the young guy mentions revenge against the general, who probably read the sea assault on his town that killed his love interest. It seems to be that these guys face off at the end in the Flavian amphitheater. At one point I think the General is called "Acacius" - probably a fake name like Decimus Meridian Maximus was.

[@BonanzaRoad]

You can see the cast of characters, who each actor is playing, on the Gladiator II Wikipedia page. Pedro is not playing Septimius Severus. He’s playing some general. It would be awesome if one day you can actually visit Rome and Istanbul in person and walk us through Roman history like a tour guide!

[@histguy101]

Coliseum was only flooded before the hypogeum was built underneath the arena. There was a lake there where the Colosseum was built, afterall, and if the arena was meant to be flooded, it would have to have been a feature that was built into its construction. Also, "hollywood exaggeration" in this case is a taming, as the sources on Commodus depict him far worse than Gladiator did. Geta and Caracalla will probably be toned down also, albeit still made to be psychos.

[@solinvictus8093]

I am the same like you Sebastian when you say the first Hollywood Gladiator movie got you started on Roman (and Greek) history. A bit like the classic Ben Hur movie from decades ago. After watching the trailer to the new Hollywood movie here I am going to say I will definitely not watch it. The wonderful soundtracks were replaced to "contemporary" trash as is the whole movie I believe. No, thank you I am sticking with the old legendary movie. Don't want to waste time to watch this cheap Hollywood trash which is just as boring as all the other stuff they produce there today... Looks like the glorious time of movies made in Hollywood are over. At least for me as a European! 😂

[@yasukegoromasamune4911]

They view to the coloseum is from the steps to the palastine hill! It is the view from the emperors palace! The uniforms of the battle in the coloseum are from another time, because it is a reenactment of a famous battle like rom vs cathargo!

[@chriscresta5322]

Looks like 2 minor figures from the reign of Caraclla are made to look more important then they were in Roman history with Geta and Macrinus being prominent in the trailer.

[@Constantine_IA]

Bro you missed 'Obama' in Rome played by Denzel who plays Macrinus(who was wasn't a sub saharan african btw )

[@marcusgarvey5876]

Is Denzel a sub-Saharan African does he look like a typical sub-Saharan African?

[@Don_Stanislao]

18:27 Regarding the naval battle shown in the trailer, it is most likely a battle during the civil war, because it is hard to imagine a city siege involving a fleet in the context of Rome's wars with Parthia due to the conflict occurring in territories east of Syria. Apart from sporadic skirmishes on the rivers of Mesopotamia, fleets were mostly used there to transport provisions for the Roman armies during campaigns in the region. Contrary to what you said, it was precisely during the reign of Septimius Severus that we are dealing with a civil war following the death of Pertinax. After all, at the end of the first century, Septimius Severus, Clodius Albinus, and Pescennius Niger were simultaneously proclaimed emperors, and only after eliminating the two rivals could Severus enjoy ruling the entire Empire. I believe that this battle involving the fleet comes from this period (admittedly, I do not remember if such a battle indeed took place). Best regards!

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

They did the same thing for another Rome-set series, 'Those About to Die'- with Sir Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian - a rap song... in Ancient Rome, like- really...? Maybe you could look at the trailer for it, as it actually dropped a few weeks before this- I initially thought that the movie had been renamed- but, nope- it's a separate project.

[@AK-hi7mg]

Why CANT THEY JUST MAKE HISTORICAL ACCURATE MOVIES ABOUT ROME ??? WHY DO THEY THINK THEIR VERSION OF HISTORY IS BETTER THAN REALITY ??? it baffles me. Why not be as accurate as you can ? When youtubers know more then the advisors on the set then thats a cultural FAILURE AND A SIGN OF SELLING THE PEOPLE SHORT.

[@flaviusaetius8042]

What do you think about the "Those about to die" Trailer? The premiere will be this week. I'm very excited in seeing the Flavian Emperors on screen, because i don't think there has ever been a film or show about the Flavians. I hope it will be more accurate than Gladiator II. At least Anthony Hopkins' appearance as Vespasian is very accurate.

[@briefcaseblues6061]

Reminds me of how I was upset with the trailers for a Knights Tale in 2001. They were singing Queen's We Will Rock You. I was like "buuuulllsh*t"and refused to watch it because of that trailer. Years later I actually gave it a watch, it was an awesome movie. This reminds me of that.

[@Coleorton7]

You should react to Dovahhattys Unbiased History of Rome series, I think you'd really enjoy it! Each episode just compounds & gets better & better & better, thanks!

[@MarikHavair]

Dovahhatty's videos are like if the 'town crier' from HBO's Rome made a history of Rome, whoever's in power gets embiggened and then denounced next episode. That is to say I absolutely loved it, true Roman propaganda for true Romans, very fun.

[@justingraddy6465]

Im so glad that Gladiator was released so long ago. People today would just tear it apart before it was even released.

[@gregohb]

the movie Alexander had an advisor who was a Cambridge professor and expert and supposedly that movie is highly accurate.

[@justingraddy6465]

@@gregohb that would matter if a film is trying to be historically accurate rather than just a film. Nobody is claiming that this movie is historically accurate. It's a film.

[@TonyFontaine1988]

No they wouldnt because it wasnt woke

[@Spoonmancometogether]

Was hoping you would touch upon the fact that the trailer showed sharks swimming in the filled Colosseum and whether or not that was a real thing that occurred or was an embellishment of past records.

[@andrews.5212]

Geta and Caracalla famously of punic and syrian descendence..with mediterranean features and dark locks Ridley Scott: JOKER makeup with Orange straight Hair!

[@tma2001]

I've always said Ridley was a hack without a good script.

[@davidhughes8357]

I know that you could do much better work. HEEHAW

[@tma2001]

@@davidhughes8357 you _might_ want to read all the other posters here about just that, my lame little troll.

[@dylanjones7485]

Exited cant wait Majorian 🎉

[@kelvyquayo]

It’s logical. Everyone liked the Commodus character. So now they make 2! EST PERFECTO!

[@user-pc9hr3tp8l]

The author of the blog, in Rome all the statues were colored, i.e. they were painted. You yourself don't remember what Rome is.

[@TheRealASN]

Dang now I feel old

[@-NovaRoma.]

Maiorianus where are you from ? I ask because I i am curious and I want to learn what history education you got in school

[@TaeSunWoo]

I think he’s central or Eastern European

[@-NovaRoma.]

@@TaeSunWoo I mean considering that he learned about ceaser in school it would make sense for him to be from eastern or central Europe but my guess is that he is from Spain or France

[@reneszeywerth8352]

Germany - the info is on the channel.

[@rdf4315]

I'm more curious about his hair I mean he doesn't look that old for his hair to be Snow White .

[@Ciech_mate]

The music from the first movie is so iconic that I distinctly remember the socially inept girl from my class asking the teacher to sing the class the song! So I am surprised that they have not gone in the same direction here. They are missing a trick. Ps. The teacher was a flamboent music teacher and he let her sing. It cut into my break time!

[@BootsMcGee3]

Cast list Denzel - Macrinus Pedro - Marcus Acacius You called Geta and Caracalla spot on

[@jandavidson7093]

The big, fat elephant in the room, Denzel Washington as Macrinus? There has never been a BLACK Roman emperor!

[@ruufusdeleon1264]

Don't judge Gladiator II too harshly. Remember that Gladiator sparked your interest in Roman history despite it's inaccuracies.

[@Alexq79-]

It may or may not be a good movie. We’ll see

[@arielquelme]

Gladiator I not II

[@Maiorianus_Sebastian]

Was that harsh? I thought I was being quite friendly compared to other reactions XD Yeah, the movie could be good, no question about it. It sure will be entertaining, and I really hope it will bring in new people into Roman history.

[@arielquelme]

​@@Maiorianus_Sebastianits not harsh.. I absolutely agree By objecrive historical perspective... Ridley Scott already butchered Caracalla and Macrinus