Gladiator II (2024)

Gladiator II (2024). 2h 28m | R

“Itu0026#39;s Cecil B. DeMille on steroids. Itu0026#39;s huge, itu0026#39;s loud, has a great cast and I certainly felt very much entertained.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhereas Russel Croweu0026#39;s Maximus in u0026#39;Gladiatoru0026#39; came from greatness, the protagonist here, intensely played by Paul Mescal, becomes greatness as the movies evolves. There are some impressive setpieces sprinkled throughout the runtime, and I got to say that Ridley Scott really redeems himself here, after last years incoherent dud, u0026#39;Napoleonu0026#39;. u0026#39;Gladiator IIu0026#39; will most certainly be a contender at the Oscars next year in several categories. Denzel, for example, steals every scene he is in.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe real sets (built in both Malta and Morocco) looked really, really impressive and give that kind of immersion that CGI canu0026#39;t, although CGI certainly was used in several scenes either to add layers or create ships, monkeys or sharks (!)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eExcept the fact that Mescal doesnu0026#39;t carry as much weight and has as much screen presence as Crowe doing Maximus, and that it only had a Hans Zimmer-vibe, musicwise, instead of the real thing (or person), I came away thinking that this was probably the best time I had at a movie theater this year.”