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Gladiator II

Aneesha Reddy Chinthalapani, Grade 10

Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 film Gladiator (which won the Oscars for best picture nearly 25 years ago) is an exhilarating experience. Full of spectacle and wonder, Gladiator II is by far the best “popcorn” film of the year.  This story takes place 15 years later when Lucius - son of Maximus, returns to Rome after being sent away for his own safety. 

Now ruled by twin emperors, Rome is more sinister and colorful than ever. Soon, Lucius soon finds himself in the middle of conspiracy as the gladiator of a wealthy businessman who is scheming for power. In Gladiator II, each character is played to perfection. Among the twin emperors, one is out-of-control while the other is extremely clever. Lucius’s owner (Macrinus) approaches his role with over-the-top delivery and energy. 

It is no surprise that one of the highlights of the film is the action scenes. Ridley Scott has pulled out all the stops for this movie. It begins with an extravagant opening battle. Numidians catapult balls of fire onto Roman ships, and Roman arrows fly towards the Numidian battlements. It is here that Lucius is captured and sent to Rome as a slave. Another kinetic action scene is when baboons are let loose among the gladiators and a wild battle for survival ensues, with Lucius biting the hairy arm of a rabid baboon. 

Overall, while Gladiator II can be slightly over-the-top at times, it is truly an enjoyable film. The only issue is that near the end, the acting becomes too dramatic and theatrical to be taken seriously. Under the crowd-pleasing surface, the film also has deep themes of political power, who wields it, and its strength. The film warns about tyranny and the often shallow nature of people who can be easily swayed by the promise of “bread and circuses”.

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