em’s review published on Letterboxd:
//between an 8 and a 9//
I can see this going both ways for people, but I had the time of my freaking life watching it. Ridley Scott, at 86 years old, is directing at a scale and with a fierceness that no other filmmaker has. Its fucking insane just how spectacular and amazing this film is, and what more is there to expect from it?
Surprisingly, I thought its story and characters were actually quite distinct and interesting. Starting off with a similar formula — its second half just soars high with political backstabbing and directions I never throught it would take. Characters are more complex than they seem, and everything becomes a beautiful chaos that is fitting for the size and scale of the film. I believe Lucius to be an excellent protagonist, and everyone else from the villains to the hidden allies to lie anywhere from servicible to great and compelling.
You have action sequences that make you shake from how fucking brutal and awesome they are, a production and effects that are bigger than anything else, extraordinary performances left and right (especially from Mescal and Washington which are magnificent), a raw and cinematic direction from Scott, and also a story that focuses on its characters despite the scale and builds connections that you care about. At least I did. What the hell more can you ask for here? Its a wonderfully spectacular blockbuster with very likeable and interesting characters that is accompanied by a filmmaking with a scale and ambition unlike anything we usually get nowadays.
I understand why many may not love Scott anymore, but I certainly do admire and appreciate a lot of what he does and how much of a master he is. I won't say goodbye to this yet because I'll definitely see it again with the loudest speakers and the biggest screen imaginable, and what a privilege that is. Gladiator II is spectacular, brutal, compelling, and a gargantuan achievement that had me staring with immense joy every second of its wonderful sights — and I cannot wait to see it again.
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