Gladiator 2(2024)

The sequel to the Oscar winning Gladiator picks up 16 years later with the son of Russell Crowe’s character being captured and brought to Rome to fight in the arena. He ends up in the middle of political machinations looking to remove the corrupt and insane twin emperors on one side and a force looking to completely destroy the empire on the other.

This is perfectly okay historical action film that probably would have been better served being its own thing then bending over backwards to give very tenuous ties to the first film. Other than  a couple of characters everyone here is completely new, so why bother to connect them? (Oh yea no one would have gone).

The plot line is more a pencil sketch with lots of references to things we never see. Characters are so obviously drawn and presented that you know who is going to live, die, betray or step up as each one takes the stage. Only Denzel Washington has a real character, which he presents with a fury that makes you certain that he will be in the Oscar hunt at year’s end. As for the rest of the big name cast they are fine but are largely not given to do anything with Paul Mescal  basically just looking strong (the time frame is so f-ed up that we never given a reason as to why anyone would follow him) , and Pedro Pascal looking like a world weary man of good conscious, and Derek Jacobi here just to be a link to the previous film.

The action is adequate, but not always exciting, hurt by wildly uneven CGI (the opening sea attack), modern wrestling moves or odd things they hoped we would never notice (The ship in the arena spinning like it was a top).

While I can pick the film apart I did have a good time, though to be honest the fact I was seeing it unexpectedly in IMAX with free soda and treats helped my enjoyment greatly.

Worth a look if you so inclined