A review of the movie <Gladiator 2> released on November 13, 2024! We've organized the cast, plot, and cookie videos in detail. Did it continue the excitement of the previous film?

1. Gladiator 2, a sequel that tries to succeed its predecessor

Gladiator 2 is the official sequel to the 2000 film Gladiator, and is set 20 years after the death of Maximus. The film centers around the journey of Lucius (Paul Mescal), who has inherited Maximus's legacy, and like the previous film, it is a film that stands out with Ridley Scott's signature scale and directing.

2. Gladiator 2 Plot: Lucius, the successor to Maximus' legacy

Twenty years after the death of the Roman hero Maximus in the Colosseum, Rome's freedoms are fading under the tyrannical rule of the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla.
Meanwhile, Lucius, who has been reduced to slavery, gradually comes to realize his destiny as a gladiator in the Colosseum. He prepares for the final battle that will determine the fate of Rome, and embarks on a journey to discover who he is.

Controversy over forced narrative
This storyline clearly intended to continue the emotion of the previous work, but some viewers felt that it "felt like they were forcing Maximus' legacy." Some commented that the setting that Lucius is Maximus' son felt particularly unexpected.

3. Cast: New Faces and Return of Legends

Lucius (Paul Mescal)
The protagonist who carries on the legacy of Maximus. After becoming a victim of power and becoming a slave gladiator, he dreams of his resurrection in the Colosseum.

Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal)
As a Roman general, he plays a key role in overthrowing the regime of Emperor Caracalla.

Macrinus (Denzel Washington)
The person who selected Lucius as a gladiator, an ambitious man with a thirst for power.

Emperor Caracalla (Fred Heckinger)
A tyrant of the Roman Empire and the main villain of the film.

Lucilla (Connie Nielsen)
Lucius's mother, who appears in a follow-up story to the previous one, reveals the shocking truth that "Lucius is actually Maximus' son."

4. How many cookie videos?

One of the most common questions I get about this piece is, "Is there a cookie video?"
There is no correct answer.

Gladiator 2 does not include any additional scenes after the end credits, so you don’t have to wait for the end credits to roll, which is a bit of a departure from the cookie-cutter trend that is common in modern blockbusters.

5. Review: Magnificent visuals, but disappointing narrative

Director Ridley Scott has further upgraded the details of the Roman architecture, costumes, and Colosseum scenes shown in the previous work. In particular, the scale shown through the production cost of over 300 million dollars was enough to meet expectations. If you watch it in IMAX or Dolby Cinema, you will be able to truly feel the grandeur of the sound and visuals.

However , in terms of narrative, comparisons with the previous work were inevitable.
It was regrettable that the setting was forced and the story development was somewhat lacking in order to follow the emotion and depth of the previous work. In particular, the setting that Lucius is Maximus' son was at the center of controversy, and it was pointed out that the latter half of the development was concluded hastily, reducing immersion.

Recommendation: Recommended for those who loved the visuals and action of the previous work!

Gladiator 2, what is your rating? Share it in the comments!

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