Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel to Gladiator shows zero pretense over what it intends to be: 100-percent buttered popcorn entertainment, with preposterous storylines and excessive CGI.
Though Gladiator II never matches the emotional impact of the original, it features Paul Mescal’s character Lucius, a vengeance-fueled warrior with a backstory filled with tragedy and ambition.
Denzel Washington delivers a deliciously duplicitous performance as the cunning, power-mad slave-owner Macrinus, bringing depth to a character that feeds into the film's chaotic spectacle.
The film offers a mix of thrilling entertainment and extravagant visual effects but is unlikely to be more than a lightweight entry in the awards circuit.
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