Coming nearly a quarter century after the first film, Gladiator II nevertheless finds ways to tie into the original storyline. Without revealing too much of the plot, let’s just say a character that was a mere boy in the first movie is now a grown, main character, continuing the struggle begun by Russell Crowe’s Maximus some decades earlier.

The new film is a lavish spectacle, full of over the top action, costumes, and violence. Seen on a large screen the movie is an experience of sensory overload. One is truly made to feel the pummeling brutality of slavery and combat in a gladiatorial arena, along with the deep debauchery and decadence of Imperial Rome. This is an “experience” movie, one that’s built to be taken in in a theater.

That said, Gladiator II is also a deeply flawed film. It uses Imperial Rome as a backdrop but doesn’t even try to develop the setting into anything more than a comic book narrative. Good characters are clearly righteous, bad characters are purely “bad guys,” and the Roman world consists of nothing but inhumanity and degeneracy. At the same time the movie creates this caricature, condemning Roman decadence, it itself indulges time and again in lingering on every depraved and violent act, asking its audience to effectively become a member of the cheering crowd looking for distraction and entertainment at the suffering in the arena. The end result is a strange mixture, an exhortation to look down on Roman depravity while, at the same time, reveling in it. It’s at cross purposes with itself and, as such, doesn’t entirely work.

In addition to the unrelenting grimness and nihilism of its story, Gladiator II also suffers from moments of surprising sentimentality and eye-rolling corniness. Coming back to the comic book nature of the material, the film seems to struggle between presenting a dark vision of oppression and hopelessness while at the same time falling into formula “good” vs “evil” narratives. The final climactic battle is one we see coming from a mile away, and the end scene and final score as overdone as any from a Hollywood studio.

In all, Gladiator II delivers as an “experience” movie. It develops a world that it absorbs its audience in, and cleverly finds ways to tie its story to the original. The action and the effects are first rate, and the film delivers on everything it promises in its trailer. At the same time this is an ambiguous film, one where the filmmakers themselves seem uncertain whether they are trying to condemn brutality or revel in it. Whether they are trying to paint a dark view of humanity, or a heroic storybook one. In some sense Gladiator II suffers from the format of only being a movie. When compared to series such as HBO’s “Rome” or Starz’ “Spartacus”, there is simply not enough room to develop the depths of characterization and plot needed to take this story to another level. The end result is something of a mixed bag.

It’s engaging enough for what it is, but you’re also not missing much if you skip it. Especially if you skip it and rewatch HBO’s “Rome” instead.

3 out of 5 stars

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome.

Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay by David Scarpa
Story by Peter Craig, David Scarpa
Based on Characters created by David Franzoni