Gladiator II 2024 DVDRip.10Bit Download via Magnet

46/10

In the years following the first film’s release, there were many attempts to write a sequel

Line of Events

After his homeland is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome, Lucius must enter the Colosseum and must look to the past to find the strength to restore Rome’s glory for his people. Musician Nick Cave was invited to write a version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott. His version focused on the more mythical elements of ancient Rome, depicting Maximus arriving in the afterlife only to face other souls who had to ascend even higher. Eventually, Jupiter and the other Roman deities task him with returning to Earth to find and kill Hephaestus, the previous god who had betrayed them.

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From there, he is resurrected as a Christian and returns to Rome to stop the spread of Christianity, encountering the new emperor Lucius while doing so. The film ended with Maximus being cursed to live forever, with a montage of soldiers fighting during the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, and finally revealed a modern-day Maximus working at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The studio decided not to make this version, but the script can be read online: Emperor Geta: The Gods Have SPOKEN!. I was lucky enough to catch an early screening here in New York, so let’s start with the obvious.

Now, the cons

Gladiator 2 features excellent CGI and practical effects. At times, you’ll feel like you’re in Rome. Denzel is great in his role and a sure bet for an Oscar nomination, and the blood and guts are very funny. What’s not to like about a Roman gladiator beheading himself in the Colosseum?

However, at no point was there a desire to follow him

Paul Mezcal, a phenomenal actor, did not live up to my expectations from the film. Without giving away the plot, he shines in one-on-one scenes and complements his on-screen partners well. However, he might have worked better in group scenes where he is supposed to be the catalyst of the scene. As the «leader» throughout the film, who sparks rebellion, uprising, etc., we expect him to be a magnet.

The story is better than average, but could be better

It may be a small thing, but if a character I’m supposed to be in love with doesn’t make me want to fight, he’s not serving his purpose. It expands the scope of the original film and offers some fan service, but is by no means a standalone marvel compared to its predecessor. The music was solid, but the makers could have taken a few tips from Dune 2 on how to give viewers goosebumps during key scenes. Overall, it’s a good sequel to the original Gladiator, one of the better films of 2024 that’s sure to win critical acclaim, but it falls short of what it could have been: a masterpiece.