It’s Thumbs-down for the Forgettable Ending of Gladiator II

As a seasoned movie critic who’s seen more sword-and-sandal epics than a Roman centurion has sandals, I must admit that I walked into Gladiator II with high expectations. After all, the original was a cinematic triumph that stood the test of time, much like my beloved leather couch. But alas, dear readers, this sequel is not the golden breastplate its predecessor was.

Spoilers ahead for the plot and ending of Gladiator II.

Is it considered a spoiler to mention that Gladiator II concludes with the sound of clashing swords? Absolutely not. Director Ridley Scott, much like an emperor, understands what the audience craves – action. And true to form, in the long-awaited sequel to his own early 2000s gladiator movie, he delivers a thrilling final fight between Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of the original hero, and Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who was once a slave but has risen to power.

In terms of box office allure, it’s no surprise that this final confrontation seems fitting: Is there anything more exciting on paper than matching up a rising talent like Mescal against the seasoned Denzel Washington? However, when put into practice, there’s an odd sense of underwhelm about the scene where Lucius and Macrinus finally engage in combat, each surrounded by their respective armies. This battle fails to deliver as either an entertaining spectacle or a powerful climax. Instead, it feels almost casual and unremarkable. It simply … occurs, and then the movie concludes, although not before inserting an unnecessary reminder of how its prequel was assembled in the final moments of that film.

Few could argue that the initial “Gladiator” film lacked an anticlimax. Instead, it boasted a more straightforward and captivating narrative – akin to an intensified sports movie plotline. The story followed Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, who was a relentlessly vengeful general turned slave, as he climbed the ranks in the Colosseum, much like a boxer pursuing the heavyweight title. Each fight enhanced his status as a symbol of popular unrest in Rome, while moving him closer to his fated confrontation with Joaquin Phoenix’s treacherous and manipulative Commodus within the arena. By the end, both the viewer and Maximus were craving catharsis equally, as the entire film had been steadily escalating towards their brutal showdown – a clash between the man who took away Maximus’ family.

In “Gladiator II,” Mescal’s character Lucius, who is estranged from Rome and his mother, has a similar driving force. He’s not just a gladiator; he’s the “spouse of a murdered wife,” hell-bent on avenging the Roman general, Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), who ordered the attack against his adopted people and took the life of his fellow soldier spouse. After Lucius is enslaved following defeat, Macrinus offers to aid him in seeking vengeance as long as he continues to win in the arena. Initially, “Gladiator II” appears set to follow the same path as its predecessor, but with an intriguing twist: the villain of our hero’s anger is a noble figure himself. Pascal’s character is revealed to be a man of decency, planning to overthrow the cruel and ineffective emperors, which could create an engaging dilemma for our sympathies. Interestingly, he is also the loving husband of Lucius’s mother, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen returns). Just like the audience, Lucilla might find her loyalties torn. This can be likened to the effect in “The Fugitive.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, David Scarpa’s script resolves the intriguing confrontation between Lucius and Marcus prematurely, even before the closing credits roll. In the Colosseum, they indeed clash, but their battle is swift, culminating in a surprising moment where both acknowledge their shared goals, just as the emperors carry out Marcus’s execution – an act Lucius refuses to perform. So, are the seemingly mischievous tyrants, Commodus’s doppelgangers if you will, the main antagonists of Gladiator II? Not quite. The film designates that role for Machiavellian Macrinus, who aims to sabotage Rome from within, eventually leading the Roman army against a rebellious cavalry initiated by Marcus and eventually united by Lucius.

our hero’s sudden idealism for Rome versus the villain’s promotion of chaos. To summarize, this isn’t as thrilling as watching Commodus face the consequences of his actions.

In the movie, it’s not convincing that the climactic fight between Macrinus and Lucius was anticipated throughout the film. Unfortunately, the fight scene is rushed and poorly executed, making it hard to follow. It ends swiftly, with Macrinus submerging himself in shallow water at the start of Lucius’s speech about the republic, which lacks the emotional impact of Maximus’s final words, “There was a dream that was Rome, it will become reality.” While Mescal is a talented actor, he struggles to live up to Crowe’s performance. It’s challenging to accept him as a powerful military leader or an iconic action hero, embodying raw fury.

In essence, the final moments of this film seem to encapsulate the entire experience – an experience that falls short of the epic greatness of its predecessor, “Gladiator”. Just like a Las Vegas fight promoter pushing his undercard too hard, it attempts to captivate us with novel elements such as sharks, baboons, and warships. Yet, these additions can’t quite mask the fact that “Gladiator II” pales in comparison to its powerful original.

In the final scene, the flawed design of Gladiator II is most evident, as Lucius imitates his father’s action of grabbing soil – a visual reference that echoes the original and is accompanied by footage from the end of Gladiator, along with the same melancholic Hans Zimmer song, “Now We Are Free.” This move can be seen as a desperate last-ditch effort to stir our nostalgic feelings. However, the majesty of the original’s ending seems to have vanished, much like sand slipping through one’s fingers.

2024-11-22 02:55

It’s Thumbs-down for the Forgettable Ending of Gladiator II

Read More

Minority Mindset