GLADIATOR II (2024) – masterfully made – The Film Buff Review

Welcome to the Film Buff Review of Gladiator II (2024)!

In this passionate deep-dive episode, Peter A. DeLuca (AKAPAD) makes the case that Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel is a masterfully made historical epic — one of the greatest Roman films ever put on screen. Despite widespread criticism labeling it a “why does it exist” sequel, AKAPAD argues it delivers everything fans of grand cinema crave: jaw-dropping large-scale spectacles, brutal arena combat, opulent depictions of ancient Rome, and unforgettable performances.

Starring Paul Mescal as Lucius (the grown son of Maximus), Denzel Washington as a deliciously evil antagonist, Pedro Pascal, and featuring Ridley Scott’s signature directorial flair, the film expands the world of the original Gladiator with naval battles (complete with sharks), hybrid beasts, visceral gore, and sweeping visuals. AKAPAD breaks down the strong screenplay by Peter Craig and David Scarpa, the technical mastery of longtime Scott collaborator cinematographer John Mathieson, and why this sequel deserves far more respect than it initially received.

From immersive viewing techniques and historical creative liberties to comparisons with the iconic original score and why this is a better long-gap sequel than many others (including Star Wars: Episode I), this review is a must-listen for anyone who loves epic cinema, Roman history on the big screen, or simply wants to reconsider the polarized reaction to Gladiator II.

Step into the arena, crank up the volume, and experience the blood, sand, and spectacle all over again. Now streaming on Amazon Prime — perfect timing for a fresh, enthusiastic take on one of 2024’s most ambitious blockbusters.

[00:00:01]
Introduction and Initial Impressions

• The video begins with the host introducing Gladiator 2 as one of the greatest historical Roman movies.
• The film is praised for depicting the opulent lifestyle of ancient Rome and delivering large-scale spectacles, intense fights, and grand cinematic moments.
• The host notes that despite these qualities, the movie was widely criticized and labeled a “why does it exist” sequel by many, including people in the host’s personal life.
• The host has watched the movie multiple times since its release on Amazon Prime and is prepared to discuss it in detail.

[00:01:28]
Personal Viewing Experience and Movie Absorption Techniques

• The host shares a personal routine involving iced coffee while preparing to watch movies carefully, emphasizing deep engagement with the film.
• The movie is viewed multiple times, sometimes with sound cranked up to full vibration and other times with sound off, treating the film as both an audio and visual experience.
• This immersive approach allows the host to absorb the film’s visuals and storytelling on a deeper level, highlighting the film’s artistry beyond initial reviews.

[00:03:33]
Screenwriters and Production Team Credentials

• The film’s writers, Peter Craig and David Scarpa, are highlighted as prominent Hollywood screenwriters with impressive credits:
• Peter Craig’s notable works include The Town, Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2, Blood Father, 12 Strong, Bad Boys for Life, The Unforgivable, The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick, and the original Gladiator.
• The involvement of such high-caliber writers raises questions about the widespread negative reception of the sequel.
• The host expresses admiration for the movie, calling it “incredible” and “fantastic,” and suggests critics may have missed key elements.

[00:04:18]
Plot and Character Overview

• Paul Mescal plays Lucius, the son from the first movie, whose story unfolds off-screen before he returns to the gladiatorial arena, suggesting fate or destiny.
• Lucia, played by Lucius’ mother and the sister of Joaquin Phoenix’s character from the original, recognizes Lucius’s mannerisms, connecting the two films narratively.
• Denzel Washington portrays the antagonist, described as “the most evil of evil,” who seeks to seize power by manipulating two Roman emperors (possibly brothers or twins).
• Washington’s character orchestrates the murder of one emperor to claim the throne, positioning Lucius (the gladiator) as his main obstacle.

[00:05:55]
Key Scenes and Visuals

• The climax features a brutal fight where Denzel Washington’s character loses a hand, highlighted by intense gore and blood effects, including helicopter shots showing blood splatter in the arena.
• A notable night scene shows Lucius entering the blood-soaked arena, creating an eerie, haunting atmosphere.
• The movie finally delivers a long-anticipated naval battle inside the arena, which includes sharks—sparking online debates about historical accuracy.

[00:06:32]
Historical and Creative Liberties

• The presence of sharks in the arena is defended as a creative choice symbolizing Roman resourcefulness, engineering prowess, and their ability to flood the arena for naval combat.
• The host points out the Romans’ known engineering feats, such as running gates and chains across rivers and using boats with towers to raid walls, justifying the inclusion of sharks as plausible within the film’s logic.
• Hybrid creatures and mutated animals also appear, contributing to the movie’s imaginative and unpredictable combat scenarios.
• The inclusion of a rhino in the arena is highlighted as an example of this fantastical element, raising questions like whether it could be ridden like a horse—though this remains Not specified/Uncertain.

[00:09:13]
Supporting Cast and Crew Highlights

• Pedro Pascal plays a general caught “Between Two Worlds,” noted for having a memorable and fitting death scene.
• The cinematographer, John Mathieson, is recognized for his extensive work with Ridley Scott and other major films, including Hannibal, X-Men: First Class, Logan, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and Jurassic World: Rebirth.
• This continuity of collaboration among key crew members underlines the film’s strong technical pedigree.

[00:10:51]
Music and Soundtrack Observations

• The score, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, is identified as the movie’s only notable weakness by the host.
• Gregson-Williams is credited with scores for Kingdom of Heaven, Gone Baby Gone, Shrek III, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and others, showing his versatility.
• The music in Gladiator 2 is seen as lacking impact compared to the iconic soundtrack of the original Gladiator, composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard.
• The host reflects on the broader discussion about whether sequels should maintain musical continuity with their originals or establish entirely new themes.
• The film includes subtle musical nods to the original score, which the host appreciates despite general rejection by some viewers, comparing this to the mixed reception of similar approaches in Alien Romulus.

[00:13:34]
Sequel Merit and Cultural Impact

• The host argues Gladiator 2 is a better sequel than Star Wars Episode I, emphasizing that it effectively connects to the original film made over 30 years earlier by the same director, Ridley Scott.
• The sequel offers a continuous storyline and thematic resonance with the first film, which is rare for long-delayed follow-ups.
• Watching both movies together, including the extended original, provides nearly six hours of immersive Roman epic storytelling, highlighting Rome’s lasting cultural and historical significance.
• The movie’s setting includes many authentic locations and monuments that still exist, grounding its fantastical elements in real-world history.

[00:14:52]
Criticism and Final Recommendation

• The host references a harsh negative review calling Gladiator 2 a “dreadful pointless sequel that never should have seen the light of day,” highlighting the polarized reception it has received.
• Despite such criticism, the host emphatically recommends the movie, praising Ridley Scott as “the greatest filmmaker of all time.”
• The overall tone encourages viewers to watch the film and reconsider popular negative opinions, emphasizing its storytelling, production quality, and emotional depth.

Summary Table: Key Film Elements and Contributors

Key Insights

• Gladiator 2 effectively builds on the original, delivering grand spectacle, rich storytelling, and historical ambiance that many critics overlooked.
• The film’s inclusion of fantastical elements (sharks, hybrid creatures) symbolizes Roman ingenuity and elevates the cinematic experience.
• The score’s weakness is the only significant technical criticism noted, contrasting with the original’s iconic soundtrack.
• The movie benefits from the involvement of experienced writers and crew with deep ties to the franchise and Ridley Scott’s oeuvre.
• Despite harsh criticism from some quarters, the film deserves reconsideration as a valuable addition to the historical epic genre.

Keywords

• Gladiator 2
• Ridley Scott
• Roman Empire
• Naval battle
• Hybrid animals
• Denzel Washington antagonist
• Peter Craig, David Scarpa
• John Mathieson cinematographer
• Harry Gregson-Williams soundtrack
• Historical epic
• Film criticism
• Sequel quality comparison

00:00:01
so here it is AKA patters one of the greatest historical Roman movies of all time if you want the idea of what it was like to live an opulent lifestyle in ancient Rome you can watch a gladiator 2 if you like more of the original Gladiator you can watch Gladiator 2 if you like big giant movie spectacles you can watch Gladiator 2 and here we go if you like giant crazy cool fights you can watch a gladiator too all of those things I just named uh no one no one mentioned those when they discussed this

00:00:42
movie and the reason is this movie got labeled as a quote unquote why does it exist Sequel and everyone everyone across the board even people in my personal life took this idea and reigned with it I’ve had it repeated against me a lot well here we go I saw the movie cuz thank you Amazon Prime it’s available on Prime I bought it right away seen the movie three times now so let’s talk quiet on the set speed down production one [Music] action I got AKA patters ran out of coffee creamer the other day so one of the

00:01:28
things I do with my my first couple morning coffees is actually iced coffee every day make a pot even if I make a a coffee drip or a French press there’s always leftover coffee so I always pour all the extra coffees in the pitcher and I keep that picture ice cold in my fridge every morning I wake up throw in a couple giant square like they’re almost just like C you know like the they’re Cubes but they’re they’re not ice cubes there’s they’re these giant cubes they’re for whiskey glasses but I use

00:02:03
three of those I have a nice tall glass I throw those in there cold coffee becomes ice coffee and then we hit it with some nice creamer but I am at the last of my creamer R rip to my sweet French uh wait wait wait this is sweet vanilla french creamer yeah so we’re we’re at it again this wly podcast the film buff podcast where the movies I put on my slate I actually watch I I watch them in detail sometimes I’m so enthralled by the negative feedback of movies especially modern day ones I can’t stop

00:02:49
watching any of these movies once they hit meaning I may have enjoyed the performance apart I may have even just like looking at the movie almost like a painting I watch a lot of these movies with sound completely up to the point where I have subwoofers underneath my my sofa my viewing sofa those cranked up everything cranked up everything vibrating I remember Tommy Lee had a vibrating sofa on The Cribs always wanted it so we have that experience or we have it with no sound at all this is how I absorb movies

00:03:33
what’s also amazing to me is a lot of these film critics out there Peter Craig David scappa these are the writers of this movie one’s credited with story one’s credited with writer uh with story and screenplay these guys are the preeminent Hollywood writers uh Peter Craigs credits alone goes all the way back to the 201 10 Town Hunger Games Mocking J12 which are incredible blood father 12 Strong Bad Boys for Life the unforgivable the Batman top gun Maverick the mother Gladiator 2 it makes you uh

00:04:18
question what are we doing cuz I thought this movie was incredible I thought this movie was fantastic now this is the second Ridley Scott movie in a row that I’ve told you my AKA film buffers that they were wrong and you have to pay attention to it Paul mascel he’s Lucius he’s the kid from the first movie that happens off screen he gets sent away and he finds his back to to the gladiatorial arena call it fate his mother Lucia she’s from the first movie while Keen Phoenix’s sister she’s still in the

00:05:06
mix she recognizes manorisms yeah look he plays with dirt Russell crow in the first one Maximus plays with dirt I get it it’s there though she recognizes who this guy is as soon as he hits the arena but then the real character and why why is this not disussed Denzel Washington in this freaking movie is the most evil of evil people he is trying to seize power of Rome we have two Roman either like their brothers or twins Emperors dual Emperors and he gets one to kill the other and then he tries to take

00:05:55
over the thorn in his side or the the curb that he’s going to trip over is going to be you guess the the guy on the movie poster the Gladiator so we get this great fight at the end where Denzel gets his hand chopped off and the blood and the gore effects in this movie are incredible there’s so many of these like like over-the-top helicopter shots where you see just blood splattered in the arena uh at the end of the movie when we have our you know our like existential dream sequence when the battle’s

00:06:32
over uh lucus goes to the arena and it’s at night and even at night we can see all the blood all over the ground it’s so Eerie uh this movie has all the all the fun stuff we finally get to see a naval battle at the at the arena the naval battle has sharks uh it seems like everyone on the internet became an expert on if Rome had sharks the sharks are there uh for the same reason for the same reason why we have these almost like weird hybrid animals where people you know like these mutated

00:07:14
animals and that freak people out if the Romans are able to flood the arena and having a naval naval battle we are to assume that they’re immensely resourceful I mean they did run Gates and chains across giant rivers in the beginning of the movie we see that they have boats with towers that they can raid a wall these are all things that they had uh the Romans were engineering Marvels so why wouldn’t they have sharks we can assume that they had sharks and people say oh there’s not there’s no it’s not

00:07:57
written I I get it but it’s the aidea of how resourceful they were it’s a good way to illustrate that that these are not barbarians that these are are immensely sophisticated individuals then when it comes to the hybrid creatures that I just heard echoed back to me I couldn’t wait to see them to be honest it was like a m because if the Romans can capture sharks CA their resourceful they’re going to trying and breed things they understand how breeding works works the these are not wild ideas they also dare

00:08:35
I say make the movie more interesting how cool is it that they can introduce a different animal that we can’t predict the outcome of our first entry into the arena we have a rhino that’s cool we want to see the Rhino could you ride a rhino or on Horseback could you could you ride it like a horse I don’t know I have no idea but it’s the idea it’s the idea that they’re up against the impossible so I don’t know sometimes the the metaphors and allegories that that we want in the story when they in front

00:09:13
of our face we get nitpicky about it uh Pedro Pasquel he’s our general and he is he’s Between Two Worlds and he has a wonderful death in this movie uh who who’s our syny who’s our Sy John mat what else has John mat done real quick John mat here we go oh my God this guy’s on 100 movies uh KX Hannibal Gladiator kpx is great with uh Kevin spy all right so he’s somewhat of a Ridley guy X-Men first Class 47 Ronin underrated pay underrated men from unle underrated King Arthur and the legend of the sword

00:09:58
underrated Logan we all love Logan you have to love Logan recently the shepher uh recently uh bone Hofer wow 2025 Jurassic Park world uh Jurassic world rebirth why don’t they just call it Jurassic rebirth so cinematographers talk I guess my only noticeable issue with this flick is the music Henry craigson Williams Harry greggson Williams excuse me and he’s got a oh ants 1998 I love it uh this guy has a absolute uh Kingdom of Heaven another Ridley Scott collaborator Gone Baby Gone Shrek III

00:10:51
X-Men Origins Wolverine there we go so he’s he’s on the the town so we have so many already cross collaborators people who have worked together and these are the people that weave our culture these are the people that make the entertainment that we love my issue with Gladiator 2 is and it’s so funny because the Superman trailer gets knocked for using the John Williams music the the idea that these movies have to be separate from the franchises that they spawn we sometimes realize that the music does connect to us and

00:11:35
the commun the music programs us a certain way all the Hanmer work in the first Gladiator is um it’s absolute perfection I got to say there’s not a lot of in this movie what what what my ears didn’t want to like perk up and pay attention to I don’t know why this guy seems fully capable I mean he’s got alien Covenant he’s got a million movies that that we enjoy here there you go the zookeeper’s wife you got to take assignments right you got I mean he’s he’s done up to uh four movies in one

00:12:16
calendar year which is crazy that means they’re just doing a movie every every couple months but now AKA PWS so could the music be better more impactful the Gladiator music is Iconic I don’t think people realize that until they they saw this movie we get some hints of some of the original notes that’s my only uh gper to me though uh the music for the original is so well intertwined and you know it puts us on uh a weird Battleground pun intended because do you drive your movie with being solely separate or do we give nods

00:12:55
to the original even when it comes to the music cu the OD to the original that this movie has everyone rejected but it was also very similar to what happened with alien Romulus where kind of like some of these nods and they call them me memberberries uh those were bad for alien Romulus and I thought that they were all perfectly uh well thought out and played out for ramulus uh looks like I don’t know CRA looks like I don’t know anything right uh cuz again I I went to B for for for ramulus now I just this movie is if you

00:13:34
like it’s I just like the intent of this movie if you like the first one here’s more of it here’s more here’s more of that first movie and guess what we have a nice connective story we have a story that constantly references the first one and isn’t that amazing you can watch like two movies 30 years apart made by the same guy this is a better sequel than what we got with Star Wars episode 1 for whatever whatever reason no one made that connection so for a lot of these sequels that took a while to come

00:14:10
out of the gate if you like that first one you can watch this one watch the extended original and you can just sit down and for almost 6 hours have yourself a Roman epic this is a time of the world that we never have left we not leave the time of Rome and there’s a reason for it because they were Marvels Rome was incredible room is still there right now where these people are supposed to be in this movie A lot of those locations a lot of those monuments are there right now I don’t know AKA patters here we go look

00:14:52
here Forbes what’s this this this is just what populated in my uh search gladiator 2 review a a dreadful pointless sequel that never should have seen the light of day I mean oh my God that is hilarious why even why even write the article if that’s going to be your your position all right AKA patter I got to recommend this movie from the greatest filmmaker of all time Ridley Scott let’s go okay that’s wrap.

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.