GLADIATOR II - Therapist and Filmmaker Review (NO spoilers!)

[@aishaalamoudi599]

you guys are becoming my favorite reviewers on KZbin.

[@erickirby7021]

You guys should do Psychology of Hero: Maximus

[@johannastromberg1224]

1000%

[@mpet483]

Nothing constructive to add to the conversation, but I love this channel so I’m commenting for the algorithm!

[@bryt_knee]

Heck yeah!

[@kathryn_dc]

I concur!

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Thanks so much!

[@danielw8776]

I'd give it a 5/10. The more I think about the plot, the dumber it gets. Also Paul Mescal's character really just wasn't great. His speeches were comically bad at times. And he goes from "I HATE this thing!" to "I ONLY CARE ABOUT this thing!" in literally about 1 minute.

[@andwrighting]

Mescal was miscast, and while his character had a story they forgot to give him character.

[@SaucyJTD]

I gave it a 7.5, actually. I totally agree that the script felt very convoluted, and I won't be surprised if some people walk out of the theater feeling a little lost in the plot. The action sequences, Denzel's performance, and Lucius facing his perceived enemy are what made me give that extra 0.5. Plus, I needed some violence after being emotionally wrecked by Wicked 🤣. Great review, guys!

[@sketchygetchey8299]

Most important question: We’re you not entertained?

[@crystalward1444]

"Were" you not entertained?

[@CaleU011]

We are you not entertained?

[@Mububban23]

I was not entertained

[@karinasdreamworld]

I actually have the privilege of working as an intern at the production company that did Gladiator II, so I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Seeing Glicked with my family for Thanksgiving! My mom is a huge Denzel Washington fan so she's really excited.

[@PenfoldEffjay]

You had me at "frickin lasers"

[@rachrocks89]

I work in a theatre but don’t have time to watch the films so… I’m here because I love Cinema Therapy and I trust you guys and you guys only to help me do my job! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Wow, thanks so much!

[@blissstorychannel]

I'm a Classics Grad Student who didn't rewatch the first Gladiator before watching this one to give it as fair as an opinion as possible and I absolutely LOVED IT!!! I was like a giddy little toddler just laughing and having a great time the whole time. The sharks were a bit of a turn off, but as for the rest of it, I was absolutely entertained! Denzel was absolutely the standout, and I loved how his twist/arc played out. Paul Mezcal was exactly what I wanted to see, and although the wife fridging was a bit of an eye roll, I'm glad they had it take place in Numidia so we could see an honest to goodness naval siege. And I'm going to be honest, I went for Pedro and I stayed for Pedro, you could put that man in anything and I'd watch it, but making him sympathetic Roman General? I about died. All around a great bloody time (literally)!

[@laviniasnow4494]

In my opinion this is a sequel that didn't need to exist. Don't get me wrong, if this movie would've been a standalone people would've enjoyed it a lot more. I mean the guy didn't need to be Lucius specifically and also I agree with the plot being convoluted.

[@bryt_knee]

I haven't seen the first Gladiator but this movie is on my watch list because of Pedro Pascal 😘 Now for Alan, Jono and the CT team: holiday break time??? Soon??

[@natl5692]

Honestly. Don't watch this. Watch only the first one

[@amygb]

I waited to watch your review until I had seen it. I genuinely loved the cinema experience of Gladiator 2, I'm a Ridley Scott fan. I think the weaving of the storylines from the first film was well balanced, I'm with Allan on some aspects of the plot. I relished Denzel Washington's performance, the way he used his costuming as an extension of his character was delightful. As with the first film, for me the strongest element was the soundtrack. Absolute ear bliss for me.

[@estack24]

Gladiator is timeless. It’s my all-time favorite movie, so I am extremely biased to the original. My expectations are low for the sequel. Similar to live-action remakes of Disney movies, I sometimes question why sequels of classics are made. That being said, I will check it out. I’m glad you guys enjoyed it to some extent.

[@LiliLilai]

🦈🏟 (for -SPARTAAA- *THE ALGORITHM* !!!)

[@TrekFlower-o7d]

THANK YOU!♥ I watched Gladiator II the other day and I did like it but didn't love it. And you guys explained to to me perfectly why, too main POV not enough focus on the one main gladiator. The sharks killed it for me a little, alligators I would have believed more.🐊

[@MintyBubble]

Great review!

[@andreca90]

When I watched it I thought "well, it's a good movie, but not as good as the first".... but as I continued discussion with my husband about the movie I got angrier and angrier at the fact that they had great cast with Pedro pascal and they just did wrong to him by not giving him a better role or a better story... his story kinda goes nowhere... it's a lot of stories that none really get a satisfying resolution and in the end to resolve everything they just stand on the first Gladiator. Denzel Washington is great but his story was not as central... like I don't know... they had the opportunity to do something AMAZINGLY GREAT and they settled for something barely above average and that's just because the acting, the action sequences and the production overall is superb, but the story detracts from it all. That's what made me so mad. It's not a bad movie, I'd even recommend it but I'm so mad that it could have been THE greatest movie of the year and it just isn't. I even came out of the cinema and tried to see if you guys had posted the review just to see if my thoughts were validated by yours or not haha LOL

[@ASalad]

7/10 is what I’d give it too. Very solid, I wouldn’t say it’s exceptional beyond production values. It’s very watchable and entertaining from start to finish. More strengths than weaknesses. But ultimately nothing narratively or character wise that really touches deeply or will go down in movie history. It feels like a very safe film overall, checks all the boxes and checks them well, but doesn’t really exceed expectations or transcend in any way.

[@natl5692]

We haven't watch the same movie

[@ASalad]

I certainly don't have an issue with people disagreeing with me, whether they think it's better or worse.

[@WG55]

With regard to the number of coincidences an audience can handle, I would say that it depends entirely on how they are presented. A single deux ex machina might be too much if clumsily executed. However, a movie that is a long string of coincidences can be entertaining if done right, for example, "Pulp Fiction."

[@maratusart6583]

So happy Jono got a mic :))

[@scottibrown3274]

I plan on seeing this the day after Thanksgiving. My mom hasn’t seen the original Gladiator but when we saw the trailer for Gladiator II, she was all on board when she saw that Denzel Washington was in it! If y’all were to do a Cinema Therapy on Gladiator, Psychology of a Hero for Maximus and Villain Therapy for Commodus

[@Linnellen]

Agree completely with Alan, and SO happy I'm not the only one who thought about the laser beam-sharks 😆

[@johannastromberg1224]

Maximus would be a fantastic choice for psychology of a hero and Joaquin Phoenix for psychology of a villain! Am I right? Let’s make this happen y’all! Drop a comment if you agree with me.

[@Meli_Miel8]

Not sure if you will review this movie but I would love your opinion on The Substance. It is by far my favorite movie of the year!

[@Jopsyduck]

Queue Russel Crow ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?

[@sarawagistrom]

I didn’t like it enough for the sharks to REALLY bother me, and that’s saying something because they were ridiculous. It was fine, I will definitely recommend people to go see it. I had a good time, but I doubt I’ll ever see it again tbh

[@Mububban23]

The visualisations of ancient Rome were amazing. Beautiful. Acting - meh. Leading man was not engaging. Script - meh to poor. Some core characters and their motivations not properly fleshed out/clarified sufficiently. Half-baked ideas introduced then we're moving right along. I've rewatched Gladiator, but never plan to ever watch this movie again. I don't hate it, it's just not worth spending 2.5 hours of my life on it, a second time. 4/10

[@brittanywilcox7377]

I loved it!

[@crystalward1444]

Convoluted...Rome in a nutshell. How based in actual history was this? The first movie had some historical errors in terms of Commodus (his sister was actually a villian)

[@JdeeGeekyGao]

I love these therapist & film maker reviews from you two. I haven't seen the 1st movie and I probably won't, but not because it's bad. I trust in my HS bestie, My bro and my other bestie of 20yrs when they say the first was a damn fine movie. But I lost my HS Bestie and even just trying to watch the 1st movie I end up balling before the opening credits finish. Heck even writing this I feel like I've hit that #cryingwithalan moment because I know if she was here, she would be dragging me to this movie going "It's Denzeeeeeellllll *wink wink nudge nudge*" >_

[@shinjiikari1989]

side note with Alien Niel Boolmkamp was going to make a sequel to Aliens, I think. Would you add this to Cinema Therapy

[@santos8468]

I would love to hear them talk about the first movie.

[@reese9290]

Random question: Do you guys get to write off all your movie theater tickets on your taxes? 🤔

[@JonathanDecker]

Yup 😊

[@tjnguyen8546]

@@JonathanDecker You, Sir, are gaming the system and living the dream. We should all aspire to your ingenuity.

[@connor-g4r]

In terms of sequels, I'll take Gladiator-ll over the entire Star wars sequel trilogy any day of the week, month or year!!!!

[@klvfu]

+1 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@connor-g4r]

@@klvfu Now were two!

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Fair enough!

[@katietoole8345]

I've always thought the first movie was the epitome of "Must be a guy thing." Every guy I knew loooooved it, and I thought it was meh. So, I probably won't bother with this one.

[@Noneyourbusiness18]

It was entertaining. Not that good. And I still feel Marcus's story could be more compelling than Lucius's if they had developed it as it deserved. And sequels usually have that problem. The first ones are really simple and straight forward. The next ones are too full of plotes and none of them is properly worked.

[@natl5692]

I am pissed. This had no right being this bad.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

Thanks for the review. I won't watch it.

[@vivas555]

That was bad. I would say it was absolutely horrible, the CGI felt so so so so dated and rushed. Denzel was just playing the same character as always, no nuance, same with Pedro Pascal. Historically the movie makes no sense (I can let it slide), the actions of the soldiers do not make sense (can let it slide too) but the "reveal" about the main character was so unnecessary, it broke one thing that made the first one good. And again it is so ugly

[@JBeeship]

I think I'm going to stop watching your guys reviews. Almost all of them have been so far off base from I think the vast majority.

[@Uncle_Smidge]

Something something not an airport

[@WG55]

"Vast majority"? Gladiator II currently has a 71% critic , 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Cinema Therapy Reviews isn't a crazy outlier.

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Thanks for stopping by!