Does Gladiator 2 live up to its Oscar winning predecessor?

LOS ANGELES: The sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar winning hit Gladiator, had its first screening on Friday at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and received high praise from viewers.

Following the screening, critics took to social media to laud the film as a worthy successor to 2000’s Gladiator. “Epic” was the word used by most, as lucky film-goers praised Gladiator 2’s action set pieces.

The film looks to be a return to form for Scott, who despite his illustrious career has had a few recent critical flops. 2023’s Napoleon was criticised for not having enough of an emotional pull to accompany the action scenes, while giving the audience whiplash with its frantic tonal shifts.

However, viewers have said that Gladiator 2 captures the spirit of the original and a few have claimed that it may even surpass its predecessor.

Lead Paul Mescal has been praised for his performance, along with Denzel Washington who viewers have said could continue the Gladiator series winning ways, by snagging a best supporting actor Oscar.

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Mescal plays Lucius, the son of Maximus, who was played by Russel Crowe in the first film. Set 16 years after the original, Mescal’s character is forced into slavery after Roman soldiers led by Pedro Pascal’s General Marcus Acacius invade. Lucius must then fight as a gladiator as per the command of two sibling emperors who ruled Rome after their father Septimus Severus died in 209. The emperors named Caracalla and Geta, are being played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn respectively.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, who is the equivalent of an arms dealer in Ancient Rome.

“Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators,” Scott explained in an interview with Vanity Fair.

The villainous Macrinus poises Denzel to win his third Oscar, after winning Best Supporting actor for his role as Private Silas Trip in 1989’s Glory, and taking home Best Actor for his role as Alonzo Harris in 2001’s Training Day.

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Washington discussed working with Scott again after 2007’s critically acclaimed American Gangster, in an interview with Empire Magazine. “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” said Washington, adding that “we had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration.”