In Rome, 209 AD, it has been sixteen years since the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his former General and later Gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius.
Rome is now under the ruthless dictatorship of twin emperors Geta, and Caracalla – with their head General Acacius. Acacius having recently overthrown the small African city of Numidia, killing Arishat the wife of warrior Hanno.
Hanno is taken into slavery, and discovers that Acacius is married to Lucilla, the daughter of Aurelius. But what is Hanno’s connection to her?
Cast/Characters
Paul Mescal plays the role of Hanno, taking the lead role from Russell Crowe.
Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, the slave owner who helps Hanno become a famous fighter.
Pedro Pascal plays Acacius, with Connie Neilsen returning as Lucilla.
Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger play the Emperors.
Also, why cast Rory McCann if you don’t give him anything to do?
Breakdown
In the sequel nobody wanted or needed, we are introduced to “Hanno”. I went into the film knowing the “twist” that he is actually Lucius, the son of Lucilla, and nephew of Commodus from the first film, the mid film “revelation” is written anticlimactically – and has no dramatic feelings behind it.
I ABSOLUTELY HATED that they made Lucius the son of Maximus. The first film was all about Maximus’ honour, and his love of his son and wife. This shits all over his legacy, and taints the first film. There was absolutely no hint of this in the first film.
The film also borrows heavily from the first films story point; husband loses wife, finds himself in slavery, builds his way up to become ‘popular’ and the hero. It even borrows dialogue from the first film.
But its all done… badly. I don’t know if it’s because it was a poor screenplay, or Mescal is doesn’t have the same screen presence as Crowe did before him. There never seems to be any ‘audience’ love of Hanno, whereas the crowd loved Maximus, and cheered him on.
I liked that Pascals Acacius was against the Emperors (as they denied his request from a break from the war), and was planning an insurrection. This gave his character the ‘antihero’ – and let him (spoiler) have an almost hero’s death – as he was the one who ordered Hanno’s wife’s death in the first fight sequence.
Even the sets aren’t as spectacular, and look almost anemic, and the score is underwhelming.
The emperors as the villains are forgettable, and the obvious reveal that Washington is going to be the big bad guy) are poor too. Washington is a great actor, but his villain turn in the final is nothing like what he has done in the past.
His betrayal of Lucilla and Acacius, then murder of both the Emperors before the final showdown, while not foreshadowed, are expected by the casting of Washington.
There are some laughable battle sequences that make no sense logistically (like HOW did they get sharks to a large tank?). None of the battle sequences have either the emotional, or the spectacle impact as the first film. The final fight sequence between Hanno and Macrinus has almost none of build up of tension between the protagonist and antagonist that Maximus and Commodus had.
There are scenes with “forced emotion” (especially in the final moments of the film), that fail to work.
Overall
As a stand alone film, this probably could have worked. But since it relied so heavily on the relationship to the previous film, it must be reviewed in comparison, that is why it failed in so man ways. It is a poor replica, and doesn’t work.
This is just another film I wish I could un-watch. Not a recommend. Russell Crowe should be thankful he sat this one out.
1.5/5
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