This movie, by name was suppose to give honor to one of best action movies of all time, in my opinion, Gladiator. Russell Crowe’s’ performance was outstanding and something that became a legend to all films moving forward for that time frame. So when the mention of Gladiator 2 became known to the world, I like many other people were very excited to see something made this many years later that finally acknowledge the love most felt for the original. Some had hopes that this would be just a good and even better. But people like me had their concerns that this was one of those movies that you didn’t need to make another part two of and if you did it would only smear the greatness of the first movie, were unfortunately proven right.
The people picked to act out the characters didn’t fit at all. Denzel Washington’s performance, was one of the weakest one he has done in any movie. This was just not the role for him and all saw was DEI at work yet again with the forced inclusion of black characters even sitting in Roman politicians seats of authority, something that would have never took place. Every scene was a water down act to try and bring back the magic that the original Gladiator brought to the screen but failed at those attempts. The Water scene where they filled the colosseum with water and boats was amongst the most unrealistic scenes done in the movie. It completely took you out of the mindset of what made Gladiator so great( great 1 on 1 battles and realistic teamwork in battle. And even when they tried to do exactly what the original one did in fighting scenes such as the Iconic Double sword decapitation move Maximus did, all it did was turn out to be is just a act without the context and emotions that made the act so gripping in first movie.
Then to make sure they put the nail into the coffin, they created a forced connection between Maximus and Lucius, now making Maximus a cheater and a Adulterer to add to his titles of Hero and General. They even tried to claim that somehow Maximus knew when he died that this boy was his son. None of this was the storyline of the first movie and for good reason. It didn’t fit the character that they were trying to build. He can’t be an estranged Father, an Adulterer, and the faithful husband Hero of the story. So what makes you think this storyline now makes sense 24 years later. It doesn’t and it never should have been the story here in this movie. And lastly, you take the strongest actor in the movie and give him no real story other than a man that was a general and was good in battle. The one person that should have played the role of Lucius, General Acacius( without being the son of Maximus though) and kill him off, leaving a huge hole in the movie that flirted with him being the ultimate challenge to Lucius and backtracked it.
Overall the movie acting was sub par at the very best with a horrible story plot that brought nothing faithful from the first but the inclusion of Connie, who originally played the role of Lucilla. There was not equal to Joaquin massive acting role in the original. Denzel couldn’t do it, nor could the so called twin Emperors actors because very little effort was ever placed on them or their storyline to develop them right. My Score for this movie is a 5 out 10 movie at best. Sometimes the best thing you can do is leave greatness alone and understand that lightning isn’t supposed to strike twice.
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