It has been 24 years since we first entered the Colosseum with Maximus Decimus Meridius. Twenty-four years since the general-turned-slave-turned-Gladiator told us what we do in life, echoed into eternity, and undoubtedly entertained us.

In 2000, “Gladiator” won Best Picture, Best Actor and three more Academy Awards after twelve nominations. In addition to all the hardware, the film also earned almost half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office.

More than twenty years later, ‘Gladiator II’ is ready for the big screen and hopes to entertain you again.

This time there is no Maximus or Commodus; instead we have the barbarian and Macrinus. But is “Gladiator II,” with fresh faces, some old faces and familiar battles in the Colosseum, worth a trip back to the theater?

If you’re curious about what I think, I’m here to tell you that the answer is yes. The new epic may not live up to its predecessor, but it’s a fun time at the theater and a nice addition to the catalog.

Here are some reasons why I think ‘Gladiator II’ is a worthy successor to ‘Gladiator’.

The cast

Like the first film, ‘Gladiator II’ has assembled a fantastic cast. There are a lot of moving parts with a lot of characters and storylines, but everyone seems to understand the importance of their work and deliver good performances.

Some notable mentions include Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen reprising her role as Lucilla. Pascal is everywhere these days, and somehow the Mandalorian fits right in with the crowds of ancient Rome. Nielsen continues the great work she did in the original film and is better at it than in the first film.

You’ll also hate the twin emperors, played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn. If you think Quinn looks familiar, you probably know him better as Eddie from ‘Stranger Things’. Herchinger and Quinn are disgusting as the tyrannical leaders of Rome, and as we walked out of the theater my wife said, “I hated them.” I looked at her and replied, “That’s because they were so good.”

In fact, they’re so good that I think you’ll struggle to see them in anything else and not feel a little queasy for a while.

I saved the best for last.

Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington steal the show. Mescal is not a household name, but he is our new Gladiator and fits well with the sandals. His performance is real and his physicality meets the demands of the role. He doesn’t play Maximus, but he gives us the same vibe as then-newcomer Russell Crowe in the original. If you don’t know Mescal, I suggest getting to know him, because I suspect you’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future.

Then we have the veteran, Washington. The man is fantastic at everything he does, and this is no exception. I’m willing to say this is one of his best performances since his Oscar-winning role in “Training Day.” Yes, it’s that good. His character, Macrinus, is an enigma; you love him and hate him at the same time. Some of that has to do with the script, but the way Washington brings it to life is unforgettable: he should earn another Academy Award nomination for this role, if not another win.

It’s great to see an epic back on the big screen

As I was preparing to see “Gladiator II,” I was chatting with a friend, and we reminisced about the days of the historical epic. There was an era – twenty to thirty years ago – when studios invested in big-budget epics, and we couldn’t wait to buy a ticket to see this one in the theater. These films include titles like “Gladiator,” “The Patriot,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” and one of my personal favorites, “Braveheart.” We’ve had others over the years like ‘Napoleon’ and ‘Troy’, but it’s been too long since we’ve seen a well-executed juggernaut like ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Gladiator’.

It seems like all the big budgets are now reserved for superheroes and live-action remakes of animated classics. For example, I’d like to see more historical epics, and watching “Gladiator II” was refreshing and nostalgic at the same time.

I can’t be the only one who feels like movie theaters were made for movies like these: large-scale productions with incredible set designs, heart-wrenching sound, tangible characters, moving stories, and iconic heroes like Maximus and William Wallace.

“Gladiator II” may be a sequel, as opposed to an original production like many of the films I mentioned, but it went back to the roots of these historical epics and made me feel like I was a kid excited for the theater went to sit down. my popcorn, Nestle Crunch and ready to be transported to another time to meet heroes from times long past and visit locations lost to sand and time. This movie took me back and kept me in that state for almost three hours, and I was there every minute.

What parents need to know

“Gladiator II” is rated R and deserves that rating. There is no foul language in the film and no sex scenes. However, there are many allusions to sex and some partial nudity. The idea of ​​excesses and moral ambiguity in ancient Rome is alive and well in Gladiator II, even if it is not explicitly shown.

However, where the film really deserves its appreciation is in the violence. This should come as no surprise to those who saw the original. “Gladiator” was known for its brutal and often graphic violence. “Gladiator II” takes that approach and then turns the dial up a few notches. The new film is actually bloodier and more graphic than the original. The film is not for the faint of heart and certainly not made for a young audience. The violence starts early, and while there are some lulls here and there, it’s more or less constant throughout the lengthy 2.5 hour running time.

Conclusion

Maximus asked us more than twenty years ago if we were not entertained. I can confidently say that this movie entertains… and then some. Despite some missteps, creepy coincidences and shaky CGI, ‘Gladiator II’ is a film made to be enjoyed on the big screen.

While I don’t like “Gladiator II” as much as “Gladiator,” I did enjoy the movie and think it found a way to continue the story that many of us fell in love with 24 years ago.

“Gladiator II” is officially rated R for strong bloody violence.