Action-Adventure Gladiator Sequel | Paramount

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[:eek:]

‘Gladiator II’ First Reactions Call Ridley Scott’s Sequel “Unhinged,” “Deliciously Cinematic And Machiavellian”: “Can’t Believe Ridley Pulled This Off”

Following a Friday screening on the Paramount lot, the first reviews are in for Ridley Scott's highly-anticipated 'Gladiator II'.

deadline.com

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Sawyer]

Finally some simplicity and elegance in this racket.

 

[Kane52630]

Shout out to the early popcorn bucket adopters who were out there buying buckets before it was cool.

*quietly pets my The Batman cowl popcorn bucket*

 

[Mysteryman]

Ridley Scott,
FRANCHISE GUY!
Alien.
Gladiator.
At this point, I won’t be surprised if he someday gives us, The Martian 2.

 

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[DarkKnight88]

I like that kind of headline as if Ridley Scott wasn’t aware of his work on Normal People which is why he got the call in the first place lol

 

[TheVileOne]

Some of those early reactions sound really off-putting.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[DarkKnight88]

Barbenheimer here!

 

[Filmfan93]

Domestically - yes, November 22. But around 90% of the rest of the world, Gladiator 2 releases a week earlier. I am seeing it November 14th here in the UK.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Breogan]

New trailer's out:



Looks like my worries were right:

Spoiler

They ARE retconning Lucius into being Maximus' son. Even though there was no hint of that in the first movie! Damn you, Ridley Scott!

"Says Paul Mescal’s son of Russell Crowe’s late Maximus in a VoiceOver, ..."

I honestly can't make sense of that sentence? Though seems to confirm it in the next.
Lucius Verus was Maximus' son.
Seemed they may have hinted at it, yet is that the first outright confirmation of it?

Though it was always left open ended. When this was announced with Lucius as the lead, not surprised they would want to definitively tie him back to Maximus.

If Lucius rises to power in the wake of Commodus' death, at the hands of Maximus (now revealed to be his own father), that will not blow over well for him (and Lucilla).
It creates some great potential drama for Lucius character, as he comes into adulthood, and the political power plays that ensue.
That then will likely play out in the arena.

For a sequel I never really wanted or asked for (the end was already perfect), it's actually a pretty great set up.

Yeah, for better or worse, trailer confirms what we already knew, leaves no doubt (if there was even any speculation at this point) , Maximus was the father, she outright confirms it.

Also, still no indication of Djimon Hounsou's character Juba, was hoping to see he survived and made it home to Numidia.
Can't be a coincidence that's (near the outskirts) where Lucilla sent Lucius her son to "hide", though I imagine it's how Lucius ends up inadvertently captured and in the arena.

Intense she is asking Pascal (Marcus Acacius) who she is with, to help her son, yet they are pitted against each other in the arena. Interesting conflict.
Though I think Maximus put it best in the original, when she asks "Do you think me heartless?" he replies: "I think you have a talent for survival".
Which she in fact does.


.

The trailer is much better than the first but yeah, don’t like that retcon.

Neither did Russell Crowe apparently.

But a couple of the things I’ve heard, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character.’ But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place, I’m six foot under.

Russell Crowe Says He’s “Slightly Uncomfortable” With ‘Gladiator 2’ Being Made

The actor played Maximus in Ridley Scott‘s original 2000 'Gladiator.'

www.hollywoodreporter.com

While I think the first movie does allow room for it (even encouraged speculation) , have to agree not a fan of it being conclusive.

 

[Breogan]

.... the armor evolves as more is added to it. Somewhat reflecting the scene/situation he is in:
As first given to him by Proximo (has no horses or tree)

Then when he first meets Lucius and first faces Commodus it has added the two horses and tree (emblematic of his lost home).

*(fun fact Latin: Silver & Trigger)

Then for his second meeting with Commodus (the Tigris battle) it has added the icons of his wife and son. (where Commodus brutally taunts him specifically about them)

Then for the third and final battle with Commodus, and his own death, it now has added an angel, as he joins them in the afterlife.

And .... what Lucius inherits.

Further the whole "take your father's strength" inheriting the armor call back (jump to 1:18 they visually want you to make the connection)....
Which (for anyone with a love of detail that wouldn't mater to most, if you follow above^) references the Armor which specifically depicts, his to-the-death unwavering loyalty and devotion to his lost wife, child and his place in this world (see what the tree and horses represent).
Knowing he has nothing left in this world, gives him the strength to finish what has to be done, and follow them to the next life.
That loyal devotion is what carries the character and movie to the end.

So even though I recognize the set-up allows for Lucius to be his other son (and I even recognized it at first watch way back then), Lucius now wearing that woman, child and "place" as his own inheritance and strength, kind of flies in the face, and betrays everything about the original (for me).

That said, if handled well (I doubt it), all that can in fact be used to serve the drama and angst of the "new" character.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[DarkKnight88]

I was like, not bad at all though it couldn’t reach the heights of the first film.

Then I checked and the RT score for the first one is “only” 79%!? WTF? I thought for sure it’d be in the 90s. The film is a classic at this point.

 

[Drizzle]

I was like, not bad at all though it couldn’t reach the heights of the first film.

Then I checked and the RT score for the first one is “only” 79%!? WTF? I thought for sure it’d be in the 90s. The film is a classic at this point.

Yeah I would have expected it to be a bit higher than that having won Best Picture. It's really one of the few times since 2000 where one of the most popular movies of the year went on to win Best Picture along with Return of the King and Oppenheimer.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Barbenheimer here!

Do these films have a nickname yet?

Gladiwicked?
Wickiator?
Gladwickediator II: The Wickeder Man

 

[Spider-Fan]

This not being the quality of the first one was fairly obvious to me from the beginning. Gladiator is a classic. This might be good, but I doubt it ever achieves bona-fide classic territory

 

[Sithborg]

Denzel is the only reason why I am going to go see this.

 

[blueharvest]

Do these films have a nickname yet?

Gladiwicked?
Wickiator?
Gladwickediator II: The Wickeder Man

Or what Weekend Update called it this past Saturday: "Glad-d***ed.