“Gladiator II” is a historical fiction action film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. The film released on Oct. 30 2024, with a Tomatometer score of 72% and an 82% score on the “popcornmeter.” Generally speaking, the movie has garnered positive views and generated a whopping $369.7 million worldwide.

The plot focuses around Hanno (Paul Mescal), a disgraced Numidian soldier who was forced into slavery as a gladiator after being captured by the Roman army. The twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hichinger) have both corrupted Rome’s ideals, and launched an invasion into Northern Africa, where Hanno was living. The movie focuses on spectacular fights, grand visuals, and Hanno’s quest for vengeance against those who have ruined the “Roman dream.”

The movie itself is grand. Although at times the visuals can seem a little overdone, I appreciate the attention to detail and how immersive it can be. For instance, I was awed by the flooding of the Colosseum stunned by the realism and immaculate detail of the visual effects. While the movie may not be fully historically accurate, the visuals still contribute to a feeling of realism, with nothing feeling too ridiculously out-of-place.

Other than the beautiful imagery, the characters are unique and emotionally complex, which personally perfects the film for me. Hanno, the twin emperors, Macrinus (Denzel Washington), and Acacius (Pedro Pascal), all intertwine in a beautiful but brutal conflict that reflects the dramatic themes found within the film. Specifically, I would like to highlight Geta and Caracalla. These characters are a stark contrast to Hanno in their godlessness and absolute lack of morality, which further highlights the valiance demonstrated by Hanno. I really enjoyed how Scott specifically casted each character with the perfect actor to represent them, making a point to reflect the actor’s distinct styles in each of their characters. 

Overall, I enjoyed watching “Gladiator II.” The themes of redemption, a struggle for power, and  conquering of evil enthralled me. As someone who avidly enjoys and works with cinematography, the attention to detail was pleasing, and I found the fight scenes incredibly exhilarating. 

I would say that this movie certainly lives up to the reviews written by consumers, and would even dare to say that the Tomatometer score is too low. Other than the length of the film, which could be a turn off for certain viewers, there aren’t many drawbacks to this ultimately great film.