Film critics have called Gladiator II the “best movie of the year” and a “true epic,” praising the performances of Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington.
With Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus long dead and buried, it is the vengeful Lucius (Mescal) who must fight for his freedom in the film after being taken into slavery and torn from his wife and daughter by General Marcus ( Peter Pascal).
And ahead of its release date, the first reviews of the film come from critics who took to social media to share their thoughts.
The Normal People star was applauded for her “brilliant” performance, while critics said she was “a great action star without sacrificing her indie value.”
Meanwhile, Denzel, who plays arms dealer and potential villain Macrinus, was hailed as a “scene stealer” for his impressive performance.
Film critics have called Gladiator II the “best movie of the year” and a “true epic,” praising the performances of Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington.
Meanwhile, Denzel, who plays arms dealer and potential villain Macrinus, was hailed as a “scene stealer” for his impressive performance.
On X, formerly Twitter, critics who had attended a preview of the film before its official release shared their first reviews.
Entertainment writer Shanelle Genai said: “No, I don’t think everyone gets it. #GladiatorII might actually be the best movie of the year for me and I’m really sorry I watched too many movies this year. I don’t want to be hyperbolic, but I can’t overdo it. “. HOW GOOD is this movie RUN, DON’T WALK to the theater on November 22nd!’
Film and television journalist Scott Menzel wrote: ‘Gladiator II is Ridley Scott’s best film since The Martian. A big, bloody, brutal action spectacle that builds on the legacy of the original.
‘The film shows beautiful scenes and many epic battles. Paul Mescal shines. Denzel Washington chews some scenery here and looks like he’s having the time of his life here.
He added: ‘It’s also worth noting that Joseph Quinn continues to impress here. Quinn commands the screen in every scene she appears in. I wish there was more of him and Pedro Pascal, who is also great but only has 15 to 20 minutes of screen time.”
Meanwhile, producer, director and journalist Simon Thompson said: ‘#GladiatorII offers the richest feast of epic action scenes and deliciously obscene betrayal.
‘Paul Mescal, who fits elegantly into the original, leads a solid and stellar cast with aplomb. “Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are a collective powerhouse.”
AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson added: “GLADIATOR II is a true epic and Ridley Scott’s best in years.” Paul Mescal is a great action star without giving up his indie value, a worthy heir to the throne. Denzel Washington EATS every line and costume without going overboard.
The Normal People star was applauded for her “brilliant” performance, while critics said she was “a great action star without sacrificing her indie value.”
Entertainment writer Shanelle Genai said, “I don’t think everyone gets it… #GladiatorII might actually be the best movie of the year for me.”
Film and television journalist Scott Menzel wrote: ‘Gladiator II is Ridley Scott’s best film since The Martian’
Ahead of its release date, early reviews of the film came from critics who took to social media to share their thoughts.
Meanwhile, producer, director and journalist Simon Thompson said: “#GladiatorII offers the richest feast of epic action scenes and deliciously obscene betrayal.”
AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson added: “GLADIATOR II is a true epic and Ridley Scott’s best in years.”
‘Ridley Scott returns to the Colesseum to show the world that HE IS. STILL. GOT. IT,” added FilmSpeak host Griffin Schiller.
‘Absolutely LOCKED UP after #GladiatorII! An EPIC Shakespearean story of hope, futility and power in a crumbling system. Denzel CELEBRATES in a spectacular and Machiavellian performance. What a picture!’
Gizmodo senior reporter Germain Lussier said: ‘#GladiatorII doesn’t reach the greatness of the original, but it’s a very good sequel with high stakes, a solid story and excellent performances. I really enjoyed it, I probably will too, but it’s a bit lacking emotionally. It’s all very easy and superficial.’
Awards Focus deputy awards editor Matthew Koss wrote: ‘#Gladiator2 is what happens when Ridley Scott lets loose and finds heart in the action. A total spectacle with a pulsating rhythm. “I can’t wait to see this again.”
‘#GladiatorII lacks the focus and emotional punch of the original, and Mescal isn’t as compelling a protagonist here as Crowe was in the original, but it’s packed with memorable action and Denzel steals the movie and soon becomes one of its iconic performances,” said Next Best Picture critic Will Mavity.
Offscreen Central founder Kenzie Vanunu added: “Epic doesn’t begin to describe #GladiatorII. This is Ridley Scott’s greatest film. The theatrics, the gore!!!, and incredible performances make this one of the best. movies of the year. fucking incredible.’
Finally, The Wrap senior writer Drew Taylor said: ‘Rest easy, Romans. #Gladiator2 is the kind of large-scale cinematic excellence that only Ridley Scott could pull off. Everything about it just works. Great #Maverick vibrates for its ability to evoke the past and at the same time add something new. Bold and muscular cinema from a legendary talent.
The film’s most recent trailer saw Paul’s Lucius Verus seek revenge against Rome in a blood-soaked battle with his captor general Marcus Acacius.
Gizmodo senior reporter Germain Lussier said: “#GladiatorII falls short of the greatness of the original, but it’s an excellent sequel with a lot riding on it.”
Awards Focus deputy awards editor Matthew Koss wrote: “#Gladiator2 is what happens when Ridley Scott lets loose and finds heart in the action.”
“#GladiatorII lacks the focus and emotional punch of the original, and Mescal isn’t as compelling a protagonist here as Crowe was in the original,” said Next Best Picture critic Will Mavity.
Lucius, seeking revenge, is mentored as a Gladiator by Macrinus (Denzel), a former slave plotting to control Rome. The pair use each other to achieve their goals: Macrinus’s invasion of Rome and Lucius’s assassination of the general.
Offscreen Central founder Kenzie Vanunu added: “Epic doesn’t begin to describe #GladiatorII”
Finally, The Wrap senior writer Drew Taylor said: ‘Rest easy, Romans. #Gladiator2 is the kind of large-scale cinematic excellence that only Ridley Scott could corral.’
The film’s new trailer saw Paul’s Lucius Verus seek revenge against Rome in a blood-soaked battle with his captor general Marcus Acacius.
Lucius, seeking revenge, is mentored as a gladiator by Macrinus (denzel) – a former slave who plots to control Rome. The pair use each other to achieve their goals: Macrinus’s invasion of Rome and Lucius’s assassination of the general.
‘Whose head can I give you to satisfy your fury?’ Macrinus questions Lucius, to which the Gladiator replies, “The general will do.” Rome has taken everything from me, but I will have my revenge.
Lucius, former heir to the Roman Empire, lives with his wife and son in a coastal city in Numidia. He hasn’t been in contact with his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) in 15 years.
But he is imprisoned by Marcus, a feared general who honed his fighting skills under the tutelage of Maximus, and his army of marauding troops.
Played by then-12-year-old Spencer Treat Clark in Scott’s original film, Lucius is now an adult and intends to get out of the famous fighting pits, at all costs.
Along the way he meets and befriends Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington, a powerful man who maintains a group of gladiators and sees the battle-hungry Lucius as a promising investment.
