As a seasoned movie-goer with over three decades of watching blood and gore on the silver screen, I must say that Gladiator 2 has taken the art of cinematic carnage to a whole new level. It’s as if Ridley Scott decided to create a sequel not just for the fans, but for those who enjoy a little extra helpings of viscera with their popcorn.
Experience the spectacle of Mescal, dressed in skirts; however, brace yourself for the intense combat that follows! The second installment of Gladiator promises a bloodier battlefield than its original, so prepare for the graphic violence.
If you’re planning on watching a movie depicting men battling to the death during ancient eras, it’s quite probable that there will be extensive amounts of brutality. If you weren’t expecting such content, I kindly advise you to reassess your choice, possibly revisiting the film’s original description or synopsis.
In a straightforward manner, director Ridley Scott has openly stated that he holds no concern for historical precision. However, his passion for portraying violence has grown even stronger after more than two decades.
But do you need to look away? Do you need a sick bag? Do you see a tiny monkey in a toga watching it all in the wings? Behold, Gladiator 2’s goriest moments in all their glory. Warning, spoilers ahead.
Lucius bites a monkey
As Lucius gains proficiency in his role as a gladiator, he becomes remarkably bold, disregarding any reservations or fears he may have had. His initial test under Macrinus’ supervision takes place within a miniature Colosseum teeming with computer-generated apes. The objective? To endure and come out victorious.
We observe gladiators who have no desire for the tasks they’ve been compelled to participate in, choosing instead to submit to the attacks of monkeys and meet their end. However, our protagonist is different. While other men engage these beasts with swords, Lucius decides on a more direct approach.
A tad more hands-on, before the monkeys could stage an unplanned Planet of the Apes reenactment, Lucius swiftly ended the life of the monkey attacking him by biting its neck. Looking up at the stunned crowd, covered in blood, he was the only one not surprised.
In simpler terms, despite the mocking jibes from his fellow warriors at the base, this is the instant when Maximus gains a genuine sense of dread from Macrinus, the crowd, and the other soldiers. This moment hints at the true potential that Maximus’ son may possess.
For those concerned RSPCA supporters, I’d like to clarify that none of these monkeys were real or harmed in any way for this Ridley Scott sequel. While it may cause some discomfort, the initial scene where you might squint and look away is just one of many such instances. The strange noises you hear as our fictional ape exits are unfortunately unavoidable.
Decapitation in the Colosseum
At this stage in the recent film, Macrinus is increasingly manipulating Lucius, leveraging his burgeoning skills to further his ambition towards seizing the throne.
Following their escort of him to a clandestine event for the Emperor’s amusement, where a gladiator was slain, Lucius experienced the Colosseum for the first time. Accompanied by a group of fellow soldiers, they were set against an unbeaten adversary who grandly entered on a rhinoceros.
Alrighty, let’s get this show on the road! After a bit of clever maneuvering, I’ve managed to leave Lucius’ rhino friend leaderless, wandering aimlessly like a shy teenager at a social gathering. In gaming terms, that puts our unnamed adversary squarely in my crosshairs – and trust me, he didn’t see his end coming!
As a devoted fan, I eagerly watch as Lucius and his fellow enslaved comrades prepare for an intense, action-packed sequence that leaves me on the edge of my seat. The tension escalates, leading us to the climactic moment. With his own blade and that of the rhino rider, Lucius skillfully maneuvers them, creating a precise X formation – perfectly positioned over the unfortunate enemy’s head.
Contrary to what was suggested in the initial trailer, we don’t abruptly switch to black when the sword strikes his neck. Instead, the full decapitation is shown along with the shocked responses from the spectators. The crowd reacts enthusiastically, except for Lucilla who maintains a stern expression, much like Michael Caine in A Muppets Christmas Carol.
As a dedicated gamer, I’m often reminded of the immersive experience while binge-watching an Ridley Scott action epic. His films are notorious for their grandeur and unrelenting intensity, but even for him, a decapitation scene can be hard to stomach.
You probably didn’t catch the guy’s name, but you definitely caught his innards.
The death of Acacius
The first significant revelation – Marcus Acacius, portrayed by the captivating Pedro Pascal, meets his untimely end midway through the film. Inspired by the histories of Commodus, Geta, and Caracalla, Acacius and Lucius engage in a deadly confrontation after they discover each other’s efforts to dethrone them.
So far, Acacius had not shared his past with Lucius through Lucilla, but it wasn’t until they engaged in conflict that Lucius discovered Acacius was on his side. Previously, Lucius believed he needed to eliminate Acacius due to his role in the destruction of Numidia (which led to the death of his wife… my apologies).
Indeed, not at all! Acacius is merely a pawn within the system, striving valiantly to resist the harshness, for heaven’s sake! This underlying message was subtly expressed through their intricate sword dance, causing Lucius to defy Geta’s order to kill in those critical last moments.
Instead, both men discard their weapons aside and kneel as a gesture of surrender and moral protest. But wouldn’t that placate a ruler thirsty for conflict? Not at all! Upon Geta’s command, Lucius was spared while Acacius was ruthlessly attacked with arrows by the guards.
Swiftly, he takes on a spiky, armored appearance similar to a porcupine, left abandoned amidst the growing hostility of the crowd, who have turned against Geta because he had just slain the beloved man. Worse still, Lucilla faces a severe punishment, which demands she witness the execution of either her son or husband as a consequence for her complicity in the affair.
If you’re not fond of emotional turmoil alongside gruesome scenes, you might find this particular part challenging. Rest in Peace, Acacius – once known as the ‘father of the internet’, now recognized as the ‘father of Rome’.
Geta’s severed head
Of course, it’s not too long before Geta gets his karma. Macrinus has been toiling away in the background while all this bloodshed fronts the movie, turning the higher-ups against each other. Most notably, this means convincing the impressionable Caracalla to kill Geta – Rome is looking for someone to blame for the unrest, after all.
In a moment of vulnerability, I find myself witnessing Macrinus’ triumph, yet it’s not the death of Geta that leaves me most unsettled. The following morning, his decapitated head is presented to the Senate, serving as a chilling display of Macrinus’ ascension to power, all orchestrated by none other than Caracalla.
As Macrinus enthusiastically discusses Rome’s future plans, Derek Jacobi and others are left examining a decaying statue on a pillar as if it were a valuable family relic. This grim imagery hints at the film’s dark direction, but it is also quite revolting.
Regardless of whether Macrinus dramatically pulls out the head from a bag or simply due to its extended screen duration, this scene will stick in your memory for quite some time, especially amidst the chaos of combat. To add to the oddity, it’s during this exact moment that Caracalla appoints Dondas as his First Council.
To remind you all, Dondas is a monkey.
The final massacre
As the last twenty minutes approached, tensions escalated significantly in ancient Rome, with Lucius and Macrinus squaring off against each other. Only one of them would emerge victorious.
To strengthen her grip on power, Lucilla has been manipulated and placed in danger within the Colosseum. Former members of the Senate, like Gracchus, have been tasked with protecting her. However, Macrinus’ henchmen are plotting their demise. Yet, Lucius aims to unite the other gladiators to thwart this impending doom and save the day.
Despite the fact that everyone’s imprisoned, a scheme somehow succeeds, as he manages to execute it. However, the army faithful to Acacius and Maximus finds out about Lucius’ predicament, but they’re located too far from the city to offer immediate assistance.
In the initial scene, Lucius and his gladiators arrive at Macrinus’ camp ahead of everyone else, leading to a violent confrontation with gruesome results. The events that follow are reminiscent of the first movie, as every character meets a brutal end in vivid, painful detail. By the end of it all, Lucius is left weeping over the lifeless body of Lucilla amidst an eerily silent arena, leaving a somber and unsettling impression.
However, you might wonder where everyone else has gone. Here are two possibilities: either they have perished or are on their way to confront Acacius’ army outside Rome’s walls. As for Macrinus, he is nowhere in sight, but when his army encounters Acacius’, it will be a one-on-one battle between him and Lucius.
Switch to a highly intense one-on-one encounter at a nearby stream. In this confrontation, Macrinus not only perishes by drowning, but also loses his hand in the process. That’s quite mild compared to what has gone before, yet it serves as a sickeningly gruesome farewell to Ridley’s gallery of visual atrocities.
In the United Kingdom, the long-awaited release of “Gladiator 2” hits theatres on November 15, while American audiences can expect to see it from November 22. Brush up on your character guide, understand why some are criticizing the sequel, and find out when the story unfolds.
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2024-11-15 11:49