Gladiator 2 - I Came, I Saw, I Critiqued

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Go to ground.news/littleplatoon to see through media bias and better understand the world. Subscribe through my link for 50% off unlimited access this month - the best deal of the year!

[@kingcreedo6010]

Wow this movie sucked. Hello Platoon 🖐️.

[@krixpop]

@@kingcreedo6010 you put it quite mildly ....

[@AnonymousNoNayme]

My GF: *Asks me how often i think about Rome.* Me: "Well, about as often as i think about WW2, the 1950's, or July 2, 1964, which isn't any more than i think about any other time in history...unless i'm thinking about the culture war...then they're the only times i think about...so basically at least once a day, since around...ooh i'd saaay...2014😎" Edit: *I'm now single* (this is a joke/fiction btw, just so everyone knows, don't worry i wouldn't ever even be in a relationship with someone if that could ever happen over something so stupid😊)

[@Shitposting_IHMN]

why did you seem to protect or sympathise with musk, when he's nothing more then a trustfund kidult who employs conmen

[@morganseppy5180]

Thank you, @The Little Platoon, for bringing context and nuance to help us appreciate the great stories with much more depth. What lesser ppl might call "padding", I find to be a rich quiltwork of history, literacy, and humanity to wrap up in before your biting analysis. ❤

[@awesomehpt8938]

I can’t believe we live in the timeline where gladiator got a sequel. Especially THIS sequel.

[@tjroelsma]

They had to find yet another movie where they could put that twat Maximus Pedro Pascalius in. Why is that guy in every movie when all he does is play himself?

[@MegaSpideyman]

I thought you were going to say a film that didn't get a sequel when this did.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

People were afraid it would get a sequel, then the fears died down after 10 years. 10+ years later though, everyone was like wait what? A sequel? :/

[@osobad1127]

The dark timeline 😳

[@SweetDeeJay]

Two movies that didn’t need a sequel: 1. Gladiator 2. Joker

[@The_Laughing_Cavalier]

"I'm making another film!" "Yes Ridley, that's very interesting. Now let's get you your Ovaltine and then off to bed."

[@Aristocratic_Utensil]

LOL I laughed far harder at this than by all rights I should have

[@AlejandroFlores-Ibarra]

Hail The Laughing Cavalier!

[@AtlatlMan]

We all look forward to your four hour review of this film, after you finish your Napoleon review in a few years time...

[@The_Laughing_Cavalier]

@@AtlatlMan Oh there is no way in hell I am reviewing this. The Napoleon review is going to be at least three hours long and has taken several years off my life already, lol.

[@jakeviolet2195]

Now that he has made sequels to Alien, Bladerunner and Gladiator, he has successfully erased his entire legacy.

[@mariemeyer]

"You've got to do better, Seneca..." - thank you for that, Little Platoon. I laughed like a drain.

[@Sektor118]

This might be the best thing I've heard all year you are the modern day Oscar Wilde Mr. Platoon

[@NateO123]

It was his pronunciation of “baboons” that just full sent me 😂

[@eliotmccann2589]

Yep, the Seneca pun was utter class.😂

[@JasonX909]

In an AD, glad I didn't skip past that lol

[@Gorbz]

My name is Ridleous Scotio Filmicus, commander of scripts, father to old movies, husband to dieing franchises, and I will have my money.

[@LadyMarigoldWithers]

Maximus being his dad is ridiculous, weren’t his and Lucilla’s sons the same age and they hadn’t seen each other since they’d had children? So he cheated on the wife he loved so much he vowed to spend the rest of his life trying to avenge her? Makes no sense at all.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Pretty much, yep! There's even a line in Gladiator 1 confirming their kids were the same age.

[@origami83]

Its the deconstruction of our heroes, for what reason i dont know. We had a trailer before gladiator 2 about lion king 2, turns out musafa isnt a real king. The same deconstruction again. The same was done in indiana jones 5, star wars with luke and han solo, same in terminator where john conner gets killed and the list goes on.

[@matthiasthulman4058]

The removal of heroes is part of a larger scheme to atomize and deracinate. Get rid of heroes, myth, legend, tradition, shared values and national pride, and you can get rid of a people. Little more to it, of course.

[@gr-8166]

@@origami83the original had the two characters know about their love for one another but because of the class issue Maximus and Lucilla was a secret affair. It’s not really that off that he would have to move on and finds a family eventually. For context the child actor for Maximus was 8 while the Lucius one was 12 so while he did say similar age, it can be understood that both can exist in a reasonable span of time. I personally find this film as odd, mainly because it’s plots are many and its runtime is too small to see its development through throughly. It’s not exactly incredible but it is much more interesting in the way how each role is assumed to play out the same way from the OG showing how some choose to continue in dwelling their lows to get revenge once they are powerful. We’re at a point where Ridley is recapturing his greatest hits moments in his career. This sequel encapsulates all of his most iconic moments that they act as motifs. From religious iconography, sieges, sowing scars, duels, and infighting factions are all in his prior works. Many forget what Ridley said years prior in 1997 or even his many other quotes always wishing to come back to films and create what we have now. Is it all bad? Not really. Unfortunately lots of Ridley’s ideas fall short of being fulfilled because his hired writers are consistently pretty weak. Also on the topic of history. It should be known since Conquest 1492 that Ridley never gave as much attention to history. Even in Kingdom of Heaven, the only realism there was, was three major events: battle of Hattin, Jerusalem and exile. What I tend to love in Ridley’s films is the consistent use of scale in his pictures. They are all incredible and large. Even Gladiator II shares this positive. While I understand why people don’t like this film, I can’t help but admire a lot of Scott’s career so watching Gladiator II was quite enjoyable, especially when I’ve seen every trick of Scott’s book in the last 20 years. My first “historical” film was Kingdom of Heaven and yet it opened up my interest into looking at the crusades. I guess a lot of kids have found that out since King Baldwin IV is found in TikTok edits with his incredible costumes… I still wonder what the Academy was smoking for not giving it an Oscar. Sorry for the rant. The more I look at reviews like this, the more I see it as just a narrative focus review rather than filmic. It’s the reason why I find these more boring…

[@origami83]

@@gr-8166 Haha well thanks for the rant. If you enjoyed it, well thats fine ofc. I thought it was horrible from a narrative, visual and historical context. next to it being a copy from the first movie. Rome has been around for so long and there are countless stories that could be told about it and yet we get this regurgitated mess, such a shame.

[@Martijn_Steinpatz]

Me: Expecting a TLP review on Gladiator 2 TLP: posting an intro essay on the decline of the Roman Empire Me: "Shine on you crazy diamond."

[@mynameiswritinwater]

nice thing about plat is that he does not only states "i don't like this" but elaborates on it, eloquently

[@florencethibodeau9237]

4:02 counter argument: my female history teacher preferred Rome because of the multiple wars. Conclusion: maybe people like Rome because it’s an interesting era of history

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

That's the point of the introduction, really. It condenses so many of history's timeless tropes that it's an eternally fascinating subject. If you find you have nothing to say about it, as this film does, then that is a tremendous failure of imagination.

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

Female? Cringe.

[@justforever96]

That's kind of an understatement. It's the single largest influence on world history, especially Western society. It's the very basis of our world today. It lasted a thousand years and you can cover just about any imaginable scenario using Roman history as an example, and keep them all tied together by a common theme that makes them more interesting. And of course the Romans did an especially good job of recording everything, so we know what actually happened a lot better than Carthage for example. We know nothing about them except what Romans wrote down. They had a huge empire and it was essentially erased. Like from any possible angle Rome is a relevant topic. I do think it would be nice to get more about the Ottomans, the Egyptians, etc, but time is very limited and most kids are lucky to even get a tiny amount of Roman history. Which is well chosen because it _is_ engaging and will catch their attention, when done right. That's how you teach effectively, you incorporate the lessons into the most compelling stories, and most of them won't even feel like they are being "taught" anything, they will be genuinely interested. Enough of that and they may realize the secret that its _all_ interesting, only you have to be interested in it, and then it's never a chore to learn more. If your teacher wasn't familiar with it I can recommend _The Ghosts of Cannae_ which is all about the 10,000 men who survived Cannae and how they were unfairly shunned and banished for surviving, even though they were in no way to blame for the defeat and survived only because they were posted to guard the camp at the time (a great lesson about how cruel democratic government can be when not properly regulated). Also has a good bit about the battle itself and the sheer mechanics of massacring 30,000 men by sword, how Hannibal won the battles for years until he lost the war, partly with the help of the survivors of Cannae who were sent to Africa as part of their exile. Good book, I think I got it for Christmas years ago when I was mostly just reading WW2 history. John Keegan is always great on any era, and Davis-Hanson does Greece very well. His book on the Peloponnesian War is one of my favorites, very thought provoking when you contrast to modern politics, much like Rome. And I used to have _Carnage and Culture_ although I can't remember seeing it in my shelves recently.

[@TheNoonish]

To me it’s fascinating because it predates a relative Dark Age. Because Rome was organized and had such an enduring legacy, we have numerous records of the last days of the Roman Republic, the rise of Caesar, the civil wars that ended up with Octavian becoming the First Citizen. Despite it happening so long ago, there’s sufficient material to know something of the personalities and quirks of Julius Caesar, Cato the Younger, Cicero, Pompey, and Mark Antony. While the details change, and it’s foolish to frame historical values through an overly modern lens, it’s awesome to see the underlying shared humanity. The Romans were very different in the particulars, but also not really so different in essence.

[@SioxerNikita]

@@justforever96 Arguably the Greeks had far more influence, as they were quite significantly more innovative, and far more diverse, and is the basis of a lot future improvements, as well as the basis of the Romans as well. Frankly, I'd even argue a far more interesting period in time as well, but it is simply not one we have covered as much, especially as the Romans had more immediate impact on history closer to us today, hence more European writings about them.

[@awesomehpt8938]

Commodus is a much better written villain than anyone in this film. Every cruel act he does has sound reasoning behind it. He takes over the empire because he thinks his father’s plan to restore the republic is a recipe for civil war. He has Maximus and his family killed because Maximus poses a threat to him because Marcus Aurelius made him his heir instead of Commodus. And Maximus rejected Commodus offer to serve him. He hosts gladiatorial games because he knows it’s the best way to get on the good side of the Roman people. He threatens his sister and imprisons senators because they’re plotting to overthrow him. He tries to handle the Maximus situation by having him killed in the games and trying to destroy his reputation and then try to defeat him in a fight without making him a martyr. Because he continues to threaten his power. From a certain point of view Commodus was a hero who tried to do what’s best for Rome and was able to make the tough decisions. What are the villains in number 2 like? They’re mad power hungry people for just reasons.

[@osmanyousif7849]

It's also note to Phoenix's performance, as well as several rewrites from the script, that saved this movie. Commodus in the original draft had zero depth, was a one-note villain, sounding like a poor imitation of Scar from The Lion King (Which is ironic considering the story parallels within both movies. Heck Hans Zimmer did the music in both too.). Commodus's "virtue monologue" with his father wasn't even going to happen originally. But I believe it's inclusion is very crucial, due to the fact that not only does it make Commodus just a little human (ONLY A LITTLE....), but it goes to show how some villains can never let go of their hate simply because nobody taught them to. Had Marcus Aurelius been more involved in his own son's life instead of favoring someone who wasn't his own blood, perhaps he wouldn't have turned out the way he did.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

They rightly match his actions but without his motive. And given his defeat led to their rise to power, you could argue the movie (partly) redeems him. Which is wild.

[@johns.1854]

Commodus did nothing wrong!

[@sarahb.7175]

IMO one of Gladiator's best features is how it injected just enough humanity and vulnerability into all of the characters, even the most violent and depraved, to make them feel real and understandable. As terrible as they are, I can't hate them completely, and I feel a little sympathy for them.

[@corundum_cat]

I realize that it is important to separate Commodus-the-Movie-Character from Commodus-the-actual-son-of-Marcus-Aurelius-in-Real-Life because, holy damn dude. Real Life Commodus had been co-Emperor with his father for several damn years, and Aurelius was not a man whom had *anything* good to say about the former system of Republican Democracy in his extensive writings. If your elderly father suddenly says "son actually I think we need to abolish the system of Imperator and have another 30 years of civil wars what like led to the rise of our dynasty in the first place" then you accurately surmise he has gone senile and seize power.

[@thatguywesmaranan]

"what we do in life... is gonna get a stupid sequel..." - maximus, probably -

[@GeordieSwordsman]

What we do in life echoes in the sequel.

[@Jakov-or7fp]

​@@GeordieSwordsmansometimes it dosen't even echoe in the sequel

[@lintzy398]

I remember a time when plagiarists had a sense of shame (only when caught, but still better than nothing). But now, not only do they plagiarize openly, they also have the gall to call you an ist or phobe when you reject the slop they try to force-feed you. It is truly a decline and fall-not only of this movie and Ridley Scott, but also of broader culture.

[@kato5980]

I think Scott has lost his magic. Time to retire.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

@@kato5980 That time was a long time ago, I fear.

[@frankowalker4662]

Plagiarist definition : A plagiarist is someone who presents another person's ideas, language, or expressions as their own original work. Redley Scott plagiarised his own film. I'm not sure it counts. LOL.

[@qZbGmYjS4QusYqv5]

​@@frankowalker4662self-plagiarism is nevertheless a plagiarism

[@qZbGmYjS4QusYqv5]

@@frankowalker4662 self-plagiarism is nevertheless a plagiarism

[@ThreadBareHope1234]

This video actually revealed a huge issue in my own writing. If you want a character to respond to suffering, have it happen to them and not just the people around them. And give them a moment betrayal, pain or realization at the start

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

I'm happy to hear so! It's not a cast-iron rule. There are ways to, for example, keep protagonists in denial. But the denial has to be the point, and the realization is therefore essential and takes on additional weight.

[@billjacobs521]

@@TheLittlePlatoon Silent Hill 2.

[@bl8388]

I still get pissed with the betrayal on the first film against Maxiumus's family. They ran his kid down like a rodeo clown. Such an epic film.

[@Shibboleth_0]

@@billjacobs521 I'm sure Mary and Angela will be fine, just fine

[@levongevorgyan6789]

Caracalla was the perfect evil Emperor, a hard, brutal killer who massacred cities, conducted a Red Wedding, and killed his brother. He should have been the main villain. A more real, visceral soldier tyrant to the larping Commodus.

[@billjacobs521]

True. Real Commodus wasn't even that bad, overall; he was a great big child who liked games, not a bloodthirsty tyrant, for the most part.

[@bubastis6306]

It’s obvious that they made Caracalla into Elagabalus, and even took some parts of Caligula (him making the monkey consul is similar to the story of Caligula making his horse a senator).

[@Shibboleth_0]

@@billjacobs521 Well, bad enough that a wrestler strangled him in the baths. He was planning to kill his mistress, after all. At the very least I'd say that's quite rude. Also he fed people to animals, killed the Qunctilii just because they were rich, and depicted himself as Hercules -- which to Romans might have been considered blasphemous, and at best would have been seen as a sign of his growing megalomania. There were definitely worse and more evil emperors, but Commodus the big child was still very, very bad.

[@Pepesilvia267]

These directors were only good when they knew that one bad movie would ruin them. They had to pick and choose what to pursue and cut anything that wasn’t of value. They wouldn’t make a crap movie because they were close to bankrupt. Now these directors are old and failure upon failure doesn’t destroy them so they cut nothing, polish nothing, refine nothing and care less. These visionary directors from decades past are done and useless these days

[@weswolever7477]

On second thought, let’s not watch gladiator 2 It is a silly movie

[@Bmezzo1]

“I got that reference!”

[@daegon1985]

It’s not even silly… it’s just lazy

[@GH-ub7qz]

the 1st one was logically silly, but fun.

[@cbhlde]

Your eloquence makes me glad that I understand English well enough to appreciate it. Thank you from the dark forests of Teutoburg. :)

[@DeetotheDubs]

The fact that Scott even entertained the idea of bringing Maximus back shows how far he has fallen as a storyteller. So much for that legacy, huh?

[@thequietman95]

Wasn’t his Robin Hood supposed to be a reincarnation of Maximus at some point in the story development?

[@defeqel6537]

He wanted that right after 1, so it appears he was always poor with scripts. Of course, it's not like a more fantastical story couldn't be told, God of War basically took the idea and ran with it, but it requires a whole different tone.

[@AJ-HawksToxicFinger]

The 'Twins' look like they belonged in Dune not Gladiator.

[@WitchoftheNight]

They remind me of the cringey vampire dudes with the robes from twilight

[@AJ-HawksToxicFinger]

@@WitchoftheNight lol, good call

[@AC-hj9tv]

This is the best comment lol

[@muznick]

Friends of Dylan Mulvaney.

[@ElegantUsuper]

House Harkonen time traveling lol

[@LordVVar]

“But as he stood watching Carthage burn, Scipio reflected on the fate of this once great power. Overcome with emotion, he cried. His friend and mentor Polybius approached and asked why Scipio was crying. "A glorious moment, Polybius; but I have a dread foreboding that some day the same doom will be pronounced on my own country." Scipio then quoted a line from Homer: "A day will come when sacred Troy shall perish, And Priam and his people shall be slain." Scipio knew that no power endures indefinitely, that all empires must fall.” ― Mike Duncan, The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic ---- On his tomb, historians have alleged that Scipio Africanus wrote, “Ungrateful fatherland, you will have not even my bones.” He was buried in Liternum, not Rome. Yes, I think about this from time to time.

[@Shibboleth_0]

I think about the Horatii and Curiatii at least once a week, sue me

[@ajthewildwolf]

1:32:11 Aqueducts were recently discovered in the colosseum that allowed water in and could be plugged up to keep it from getting in later. They also had 4 (I think) very large drains only one of which now is still functional. They discovered it when after a large rainstorm the colosseum was filled with I think it was a foot of water and drained out full on its own within a few hours. When all of the bits were opperational, the colosseum could've been filled in the morning and then drained later in the afternoon within a couple hours. Animals were stored outside the colosseum until the afternoon when their cages would be placed on pully system machine that used man power to turn cranks that would lift the cage up to a secondary platform that would release the animal to the trap door in the colosseum's floor.

[@Shibboleth_0]

All that innovation to watch people die -- just imagine what else they had that has been lost. But hey, you're not supposed to be interested in Rome, you filthy sexist!

[@elnurgling]

A foot or so of water flooding the Colosseum's arena isn't far-fetched - Romans were decent enough with aquaducts to be capable of doing that. Filling the Colosseum with enough (salt) water to allow for naval battles involving large ships and giant, healthy sharks gets a tad silly though.

[@ajthewildwolf]

@elnurgling Oh for certain. They used freshwater

[@johncannon3411]

gladiator made me feel sadiator

[@AC-hj9tv]

Denzel as Macrinus reading an ancient Roman newspaper: Hey what it do, my gladiatah?

[@audioauracle-dsyswpwanl-]

😅

[@AC-hj9tv]

​@@audioauracle-dsyswpwanl-lol I'm cringe

[@Ezio999Auditore]

Ayo my n___ Roman bruthas how it do?

[@JimmyFoxhound]

Making Maximus Lucius' father DESTROYS the first movie for me. It ruins the character of Maximus. Why is Hollywood actively destroying our heroes of old? WHY????

[@WayneBraack]

Because writing in Hollywood has gotten simplified. What's happened over the last decade or so where else did for young progressive people. Young people have no experience in life they have less of depth of thought because of a lack of experience and therefore you end up with stupid movie plots like this that a 12-year-old would pick

[@dorn0531]

Because they hate heroes, men & moral goods. Modern Hollywood is EVIL. Thus it cannot create good things.

[@okcoolbro3]

Because this was probably just a cash grab to keep the rights or something.

[@Shibboleth_0]

​@@WayneBraack Tarantino was 24 when he wrote True Romance; it's not necessarily age, but I do believe you're right about it being a lack of experience -- though I would add 'with a heaping helping of stupid'

[@LevanEvan]

"Rome has many subjects. She must feed them." "They can eat war!" Now I'm no dietician, but I think an all-war diet might be bad for the gut.

[@kaelkirkby9191]

I tried it once, never again. Couldn't stomach it and it just shot right through me, the mess was awful.

[@Alanisawesome]

I wonder if ancient Rome had an Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

[@AC-hj9tv]

Characters written as poorly as her lol

[@Alanisawesome]

@@AC-hj9tv I was referring to the organization, not the Star Wars character.

[@barrybend7189]

​@@Alanisawesomeso yes in both cases.

[@stephenpmurphy591]

​@@AlanisawesomeYes, it was created by Nero.

[@MrWhiskers65]

Ridley Scott “used to be” my absolute favourite director 😢 Btw, great video! Absolutely brilliant, as usual of course. Little Platoon’s work is so great I find it hard to put into words, something he has no problem with. The modern day Shakespeare of media criticism.

[@MegaSpideyman]

At least you still have his older great films.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

We'll always have that version of Blade Runner that's really good.

[@GuyTalksreviews]

He was my Favorite director until Napoleon

[@walmartian422]

His recent films are just proof that he’s only talented with visuals and all the older films were good because he collaborated with people much more intelligent than he is. Napoleon was such an extraordinarily bad movie that it just serves as an expose into the absolutely failure of Ridley’s understanding of history beyond the pomp and bombast he is known for. Without greater minds overseeing him he’s just shitting in a film canister and hoping that if he decorates this crap with the trappings of his older works we will just ignore how devoid of any substance or meaning it really is.

[@GuyTalksreviews]

Atlest he can't make black hawk down 2

[@horacioa.bacaamenabar3245]

Keep up the good work, Platoon. You are fillling the void that MauLer overcomitment to podcasts is creating.

[@Blisterdude123]

I too am getting rather tired of all the podcasts with the same roster of usual suspects who discuss, discuss, and overdiscuss the same tired, wearisome topics over and over again maybe a dozen times in any given week.

[@Pathfinder_7]

I miss the old days of yelling at a movie for 3 hours punctuated by Avengers and GoT gifs

[@Blisterdude123]

@@Pathfinder_7 These days its just Hollywood gossip and farming donations from chat.

[@mudcrab3420]

I fear Mauler has become a parody of himself. Sigh.

[@Blisterdude123]

@@mudcrab3420 I remember I think a Nerdrotic video not long ago where he proudly declared he and the others in that space were the 'new media' and I cracked up. Talk about huffing your own farts.

[@briandain8432]

FYI: at the end of Gladiator when Quintus shouts SHEATH YOUR SWORDS! ... Because of what SHEATH literally means in Latin, he would have actually yelled VAGINUS!

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Yet another reason the movie would be improved if all the dialogue was Latin.

[@barrybend7189]

​@@TheLittlePlatoonlike watching Monty Python and the life of Brian in Latin.

[@MrChickennugget360]

Vaginus your swords!

[@jesperroulund7353]

But sheath is an order so you must use...

[@rapscallionsith8152]

Funnily enough, in Polish a sword sheath is called "pochwa", and the same word is used or vagina.

[@Rayrard]

What's with the animals in this unneeded movie? Baboons are not bloodthirsty and would have ran away if they were released into a stadium with armed men. Yes they would have bit and scratched if caught but they were never going to attack anyone. Also rhinos were NEVER brought to Rome or any gladiator game, and could not have been ridden. The rhino would have been highly bothered by a man on his back, probably more than by Lucilius in front of him. Finally, a shark would not have survived being caught by Roman methods and then dragged to the Colosseum and thrown into a lake. Being out of the water even 15 minutes would have killed the shark, and the stadium would need seawater for the shark to even live. Even if they managed to get the shark in semi-alive condition to the Colosseum, the moment they threw it in the water the shark would likely be in the corner trying to recover. It would not be in the mood to hunt or kill anything.

[@billjacobs521]

Because most people don't realize that hippos, what they actually used, are really dangerous, and so they would have been confused.

[@SioxerNikita]

Even more interesting, Sharks are NOTORIOUSLY cowards. They do not fight anything they think has a chance of hurting them. Hence why the advice if you get caught by a shark, just try to hurt them. Most Shark "attacks" aren't actually even attacks, they have been following the victim for quite a while in most cases, assessing danger, and their only "appendage" to "explore" things with, is their mouth, so they chomp to figure out if you are even edible, AFTER they figure you aren't a danger. In most cases they spit us out as well, we don't taste nutritious enough for them. Even better, Orcas have a weird fetish for eating Shark Liver, and when they do, the other sharks can smell it, and there have been literal oceanwide evacuations of sharks leaving for another ocean, because they do not want to deal with the Orcas. Not only would the Shark not be in the mood to hunt or kill, it would very likely do nothing but run, even if it was in fully fine condition, because it'd be scared out of its mind.

[@SioxerNikita]

@@billjacobs521 Hippos are just straight psychos XD

[@pensandshakers]

@@SioxerNikita I mean, if someone barged into my living room, snatched me up, dragged me half-suffocated in some kind of vessel, and dropped me into a strange room with angry, threatening men, I would cringe in a corner to recover too.

[@mudcrab3420]

Sharks are also very paranoid when confronted by bigger boats! Probably.

[@rosmundsen]

Mr Platoon, you are the Final Boss of story telling. Bravo Sir.

[@jeremiaas15]

Taking the last free enemy town by sea is the correct way to go. Taking such a place from land was tried in Caesar's time, and it failed spectacularily time and time again. Who's to say that one town in Africa doesn't have a druid brewing magic potions?

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

Ah, good old Getafix!

[@JacobSeraph]

Real life history is so much more interesting in this case. Macrinus was a prefect minding his own business when some oracle randomly prophesized that he'd become an emperor. Macrinus had, allegedly, no such ambitions but he knew that paranoid Caracalla (who was even more insane) would instantly execute him had he heard of it, so he conspired against him to essentially protect his own ass (and got slapped down himself shortly after).

[@TheNoonish]

Napoleon was also much more interesting than Ridley Scott portrayed him. It’s almost like he’s just pure shit.

[@ryngobrody1627]

The taliban was created by an old school teacher in a refugee camp who had a dream where an angel told him to save afghanistan from the warlords.

[@morscoronam3779]

Fun fact, Rhino's have terrible eye sight.

[@Off-HandedBarrel]

They can smell and hear you from a literal mile away, though. As long as you don't mess with them, they're friendly after a couple of weeks.

[@TheOtherPlayer]

That’s kinda a sad fact though :/

[@mudcrab3420]

They also love OG Star Wars and hate their chat... Oh, wrong Ryno! Ignore me.

[@Shibboleth_0]

Also they have tiny brains and aren't good at judging relative size, which is why they sometimes stampede at the sight of something as small as a mouse.

[@bigslurpee2078]

They just can't be subtle now. They can't just just show and let the audience interpret, they can't help but spell it out. Then, Hollywood has the gall to think "No, these films flopped because people don't get them."

[@r3dr4te963]

I think lots of them think those flopping movies will be famous later, like having cult following years after.

[@jadenkarpoff9158]

My personal interest in Rome is for the Emperors. I’ve always found dictators and despots amusing, and Rome has plenty of insane and incompetent regents to laugh at. Caligula, Didius Julianus, Caracalla, Commodus, Elagabalus, Pupienus (yes it’s pronounced how you think) and Balbinus, Honorius, funny lives, funny deaths. If this movie doesn’t have a scene where Caracalla creates the Antoninianus and tries to pass it off as worth 2 denarii when it only weighed 1 1/2, it’s inferior to real history.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

It is very much inferior to real history.

[@user-zq6sz2cr6g]

​@@TheLittlePlatoon Hollywood's versions always are. They haven't got the guts 😂.

[@KapBBit]

Didius Julianus literally did nothing wrong

[@sauronplugawy3866]

Chinese emperors make Caligula and Elgabalus look like sane individuals.

[@jadenkarpoff9158]

@sauronplugawy3866 I only really know Qin Shi Huang and Wu Zetian, have any recommendations?

[@osmanyousif7849]

The thing that made the first Gladiator work so well was that it was it's own self contained story. Sure, it was inspired by Hamlet and Conan the Barbarian, but it still managed to work in both to tell a cohesive story, with a main protagonist and antagonist. Sure, Maximus and Commodus have their set of followers and allies who all have their own motivations or goals, but these two are meant to be the primary focus. Thus the big climatic spectacle and heart wrenching finale fits. But in this "sequel", it feels dissonant. Not only does it have way to many characters that don't have enough focus, nor a strong connection for the protagonist, that we want to see the two battle it out in the climax.

[@r3dr4te963]

We audience directed to feel sympathy for Maximus and disgust to Commodus, we want to know what happen to their friends and allies, we are INVESTED follow the story until the end. This one though, I somehow have no interest whatsoever in the characters, even Denzel character who imo have best acting here

[@thomasciuffreda8783]

"The Decline and Fall of Ridley Scott" C'mon Platoon, the title was right there! It helps that this film is about the start of the Third Century Crisis, not the First Roman Civil War.

[@JMartJr]

Marius v. Sulla?

[@thomasciuffreda8783]

@@JMartJr Wait, wasn't the first civil war between Pompey, Caesar and Crassus?

[@sullivandmitry1416]

What people miss is that the study and obsession of the historical past is not a contemporary issue nor is a contemporary creation. All history is about the obsession of the past. Every emperor, politician, king, philosopher, writer and person was obsessed about the past, looking to emulate their divine hold over people and places.

[@Dr.Metalblood]

I can't get enough of Platoon saying "baboons".

[@MrChickennugget360]

now we need him to say "Bob-ombs"

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

It's very Rowan Atkinson

[@briandain8432]

Per METATRON when the Coliseum was Flooded it was for Crocodiles & Hippos, both would have been True Man-Eating monsters, but of course gotta go full Weetard with Sharks instead.

[@defeqel6537]

and by most accounts it was 2-3 feet in depth, and the ships used were just structures that didn't move

[@liliesaregoodfortheliver2954]

I gave up when I saw those fucking fish.

[@ryan.1990]

No way is there sharks in this movie 😂😂😂

[@briandain8432]

@ryan.1990 The thing that sucks is historically it should have been Hippos & Crocodiles in the Flooded Arena, that would have been wicked, but no, just gotta go the extra way into Weetardid Waters and have Sharks instead.

[@SheikhMawini]

I remember hearing Gladiator was getting a sequel and thinking, “That’s a terrible idea.” I am available for consultation, Hollywood.

[@enigmaodell6806]

Well, for me I tend to think of the Middle Ages, romanticism and chivalry more often than Rome. But Rome was the basis for a lot of the medieval structure so…

[@irishbob26]

I saw the original in the cinema when I was in my teens. I'm 41 now.

[@RainBird88x]

That's what I like about this channel, not only do we get a critique, we also get an education.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

The spartan shields with the lambda are shown on the boats. Remember the lambda? REmember spartans and 300? I member!

[@MrChickennugget360]

petrige farms remembers

[@edwitt137]

This is the third decade of the twenty first century

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Oh balls, good catch!

[@angamaitesangahyando685]

It broke my mind when I learned that year 2020 was (is?) considered part of the 2020s, yet also the last year of the second decade. It's on Wikipedia. - Adûnâi

[@kieranelliott5607]

"Lucius and his gladiator friends (whoever they are)" Cracks me up every time. They were a whole bunch of nothing.

[@Migelsankhezzzzz]

Sometimes I fall asleep to platoons reviews and when I awake I sound intelligent. Think it’s effecting my subconscious lol

[@elliotkouame3849]

*Affecting. You need more sleep

[@wooddy2975]

22minutes, nice intro, loved every moment of it including sponsors!

[@Kveldred]

the rhino politely waiting its turn along with the other gladiators cracks me up bad

[@HenryKinross]

He had a headache after hitting the wall

[@user-zq6sz2cr6g]

Ah, this takes me back to my Uni days. Except for the orgies. We were a rather dull bunch 😂.

[@darklord884]

I know it isn't a 100% related to the movie, but there is an unbelievably badass tint to the transition of "The Republic made him dictator to win a war against the Aequi. Sixteen days later, his task complete, he stepped down." Just the idea that he took control and won the war in that amount of time. Was probably already stepping down by the time news of his appointment as dictator reached the last areas it hadn't before.

[@fourthhorsemendeath218]

"I've made the script for Gladiator 2!" "Uh uh Ridley, show me your homework first before you turn it in"

[@magnushorus5670]

This channel is criminally unsubscribed. Platoon should have at least 5 million subs... this is brilliant, as usual.

[@crawdad4823]

I've thought that almost from the start. How can this channel only have 200K subs?

[@magnushorus5670]

@@crawdad4823 especially when I see pathetic brain dead cringey lame channels with literally tens of millions of subs.... silly world we live in

[@justinkyle5091]

The quality of your analysis, scripts, and overall productions are second to none. Thanks as always for making another great video to ponder while moving towards sleep…I mean that in a good way.

[@rachelblack314]

"Do better, Seneca" 😂👍

[@Ezio999Auditore]

“Do what?” “I’m not here to give ideas. That’s your job. Do better. I’m a black senator in ancient Rome. Do better.”

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

I think of Rome pretty often myself, despite being a woman. However, I had an unusual upbringing, watching the 1976 version of 'I, Claudius' as a kid.🤔 Joe Biden often reminds me of the decline of Tiberius. I almost expected Kamala to pull a Caligula with a pillow maneuver...🤣

[@iandevine3063]

Hopefully, you never let trump get close enough to grab you anywhere.

[@billjacobs521]

@@iandevine3063 Wouldn't be a problem; Trump only does that if you allow him to, because you're a gold digger.

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

​@@iandevine3063 Don't worry. Turns out, Trump only grabbed the pu$$ies to save them from being barbecued by the Haitians. 😸

[@TheBuckMuscles]

Lol wut?​@iandevine3063

[@jochannon]

There's still time. . .

[@anthonysvokos2697]

Well done, Platoon. I enjoyed your take on the film on Open Bar, glad you decided to make a full video on it.

[@janabearden2359]

As a woman, I think about the Roman empire everyday. I'm also a nerd though

[@stujm84]

Those baboons looked oddly zombie like, i was queueing if you somehow had erroneously slipped into reviewing a Resident Evil film. And bravo for somehow finding a way to mention Millwall in the review, astounding stuff.

[@thequietman95]

“For Rome was made to rule the world, And got of it no great joy, But we [Vikings invading England] were made to enjoy the world, And make of it one great toy.” The Chesterton quote sums up a lot of the fascination with Rome IMO. The idea of a civilization that, though faulty and sinful, strovr to bring order to the known world. Also, they could have filmed like 2 seasons of a Marcus Didius Falco series for what Gladiator 2 cost to make. Ah, for lost opportunities …

[@billjacobs521]

I think Rome was interesting in that there was a respect they had for many of the people they conquered. They considered themselves the evolution of Carthage, Greece, Egypt, Media/Persia, and Assyria, they actively borrowed foreign gods instead of trying to be rid of them, and they always learned from others. They were different from the usual empires of the past.

[@DangerZone200]

This movie is a good example why Legends retire at old age, not just to rest but also to not break their own reputations that they grew in their full potential in life, its not just the body that erodes in life but the brain too theres a reason why old people have a reputation of being bitter and cranky, Im glad i trusted my gut and never watched this movie and let the memory of the first Gladiator get spoiled and broken by this eroded one. awesome video Platoon

[@Migelsankhezzzzz]

Everybody watching should take time to exit the chat and like the video! Let’s show Platoon the appreciation our guy deserves

[@toastyanon8902]

I'm 100% percent certain that they had a rhino in this film because they originally wanted rhinos in the first film before someone told them that they're basically impossible to train. Tiger King Tigers were used instead.

[@Silas-Serdar]

Ave, Platoon! Those who are about to enjoy salute you! I got one question for you, Mister Platoon. Will you make a short review of War of the Rohirrim for LostChord or will you skip it in favor of your bigger projects?

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

I'm *hoping* to get short *and* long-ish reviews of both Rohirrim and Kraven out over the next week or two, but we'll see how it goes.

[@eszterbalogh5252]

Why hollywood has no love for the eastern roman empire? Justinian, Heraclius, Alexios Komnenos all ripe with potential

[@Bluesruse]

You'll end up making either a totally ahistorical movie, or one that _really_ pisses off Christians, so that's probably why.

[@eszterbalogh5252]

@Bluesruse Yeah, you're right. they tried with vikings valhalla and it was terrible. Also, I think hollywood don't like it because it's christian rome and not typical dark age feudal europe which they always like to falsley portray

[@dburgd99]

That is probably a good thing.

[@billjacobs521]

@@Bluesruse Yes, and Hollywood is well-known for it's deep and abiding respect for Christians.

[@levongevorgyan6789]

Or even the Crisis of the 3rd century.

[@Anuduin]

I come here for the biting wit, commentary and humor. Your introduction about Rome and it's fall was absolutely the best thing I've heard from you. Bravo good sir.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Thanks very much!

[@SteveRowe]

Sir, you are too good for youtube. Erudite, poetic, and factually accurate, if a bit long-winded, the quality of your content is exceptional. Good show!

[@danielskrivan6921]

I think we're seeing a difference in how politics is viewed in the modern day vs. when the first movie came out. The first movie is: I love my country, but it has flaws, and it has some people that should not be in power. The second movie is: I hate my country, I hate my country, I hate my country. This is the difference between democrats and republicans debating about which economic strategy is best for the country, and democrats and republicans calling each other Hitler.

[@Cats-TM]

36:37 You could have literally done this without words by her paying a coin to the ferryman and Gladiator 2 (as in the second Gladiator guy) not having a coin. Because, well, you need a coin to pay Charon.

[@thinkwithurdipstick]

This does rely on the average person knowing this information, and considering half the population was baffled as to why people might think about Rome, that would be a bit much to give that benefit of the doubt

[@mtheman4221]

56:51 Not gonna lie, that just sounds like Ridley. For some reason he's really gotten into reciting poems and pulling historical names in his old age. Like the space ship/space station names in the alien prequels.

[@Superhero97-dz3kq]

I should’ve said this during your crusade against The Acolyte, but dude you ARE a little platoon, cause there is no way a single man could produce quality content at the pace you do.

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

The real story of the brother emperors is so much better! Dang it Ridley, why couldn't you have given us that?😭

[@jim.the.editor]

This might be the best video on your channel. Thanks LP! One note - 24:00 - the Romans actually thought human gestation took 10 months, not 9, so the contrivance of Lucius' parentage is even more significant !

[@TeutonicKnight92]

So in real-life the fate of the 2k+ prisoners captured by the Romans at the end of Spartacus’s rebellion was to be crucified along the Appian Way

[@ephraimwinslow]

Oh, and well-timed dropping this right after the Gladiator 1 EFAP.

[@erichtomanek4739]

What's your favourite part of the movie: The last of the closing credits.

[@OldManJ3nkins]

I started reading books on Rome to glean information on the cycle of empires from the history of arguably the greatest empire the world has ever seen. It quite honestly never crossed my mind that I was looking into it because of how insecure I am that women are seeking a hollow existence scrabbling for power and money in an economy that will wring every drop of productivity it can from them before discarding them (just like men) instead of bringing another life into this world. You go girls!

[@tarlonniel]

Ah. I couldn't figure out why I was so interested in Rome, and ancient history in general, despite not being a man. Now I have the answer. Thank you.

[@brianyule1289]

It's a grievous sin to waste a Derek Jacobi.

[@liliesaregoodfortheliver2954]

I think he got to say 2 or three lines. Absolutely shameful.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Love your channel. Laudamus te 🔱

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Thank you!

[@jcinc.8769]

What’s wrong with a “sequel” that is literally just about a gladiator earning his freedom. It didn’t need to be about the first one and it didn’t need to change the entirety of Rome. An individual story like that is enough.

[@AC-hj9tv]

💯

[@Silas-Serdar]

A very good point. A story of a man, who was born into slavery and fights his way towards freedom. The last duel would be against his sole friend and brother-at-arms, who also dreams of freedom and the chance, to find and buy his scattered family from slavery. And as the last scene, you see the gladiator leaving the colosseum and Rome behind him.

[@TheLittlePlatoon]

Ridley evidently thought he had something much more important to say. He just couldn't quite figure out what it was before his movie released.

[@billjacobs521]

That would still be mighty disappointing. Which is true of most sequels anyway, but having it just be a story of some guy pursuing whatever his personal interest is is sort of boring.

[@defeqel6537]

or a prequel about Proximo

[@dearthofdoohickeys4703]

So close to 200k. Subscribe everybody!

[@jennapreston6509]

Gonna miss the premier, sadly! Got 2 christmas concerts today and I'm in charge of running them! 😅 Can't wait to watch tomorrow ❤

[@user-rk1gz8ug7e]

Good luck x

[@reenlux7985]

Supra terram Britannorum volat aquila legionum.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Put some aquila on it 😎

[@moritamikamikara3879]

LEGIO! AETERNA! AETERNA! VICTRIX!

[@AC-hj9tv]

@@moritamikamikara3879 hell yea my guy

[@angamaitesangahyando685]

While I disagree with the Little Platoon on his politics (which I consider way too liberal), he's been my go-to channel these months for the solace of mind. It's a great pleasure to see a new quality upload! - Adûnâi

[@NarcissistAU]

Too liberal? Depends on which definition you're using I guess. The man is the living personification of what happens when Hayek crashes into Blackrock.

[@Str0b3l]

Always impressed how much thought and how many themes are covered in your videos unlike the videos they actually are about

[@fletcherroles5207]

im gonna keep it for real with u guys, my gf begged me to watch this cus paul mescal is in it and knowing it was gonna be a tough watch i got blasted on klonopin amd have no memory of this film, now i get to experience it all over again! shoutout to benzos!

[@bubastis6306]

The weirdest thing about Gladiator II was how empty it felt… the first one had so much gravitas and such a deep, meaningful message about life and death. The ending is so powerful. Yet Gladiator II just felt empty. I didn’t care what happened to Lucius at all.

[@kurtwagner350]

Your introductions are always so good.

[@Saywhatnow72]

What could have been interesting is if the sane brother acted mad so that his mad brother wouldn't feel so ashamed of it. Supporting him even in his madness. Which could have led to why he paused before killing him. Because he could remember that his brother still loved and supported him even in his madness.

[@daltonmortimer7735]

Speaking of Roman parallels in large scale blockbusters, and as someone who follows your second channel, your return to this vector of analytics makes me return to the eternal question of we in the Little Platoon audience, * ahem*, " Whence cometh Thy Dune video?"

[@barrybend7189]

He must first watch the 1985 movie, the 2000 Sci-fi channel miniseries and then Dune.

[@NarcissistAU]

Lynch was robbed.

[@billjacobs521]

He said next year, I believe.

[@daltonmortimer7735]

@@barrybend7189 at risk of being controversial, both of those are far better than the modern psuedo-Christopher Nolan one( yes I know the guy's name but let's be honest with ourselves for a second, he's just a diet Christopher Nolan)

[@NateO123]

Thanks LP, you are one of the best critics on this website and this did not disappoint 😂

[@contentsdiffer5958]

2:37 hours? Is this the cliff's notes of the real review?

[@00HoODBoy]

Intro to this critique is really showing why this Channel is Special. Ima rewatch that part and think on it

[@samhaleyeah]

"Eagles & Circuses" [chef's kiss]

[@marcuswilliams6367]

"The colosseum hosted a bloody but mostly peaceful fight"

[@jojomartinson]

Little Platoon Critiqued, I Saw, I Came

[@faisalkamal4319]

no Diddy

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

If they wanted to make a movie about a gladiator with a borderline irrational hatred of Rome who leads an uprising against it, I think there was someone from History who fits that description pretty well. Hmm, what was his name? It's on the tip of my tongue. It rhymes with Rartacus.

[@countdowntorevolution9986]

woah, that quote at around 12:00 absolutely nails the state of today's culture 😮.

[@maxmagnus3793]

I remember the original movie had a really cool tagline on the dvd cover: "The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who challenged an emperor." It was a quality story, a modern classic. An action movie and a period piece with some real gravitas and heft to it. Some actual themes and an emotional core. I hope the world can forget about Gladiator II in a few weeks' time