Gladiator II: Don’t Bother

So how often do we think about the Roman Empire? The internet has been abuzz with this topic for the last few years. Normally I dislike engaging in trends, but I realize that I am bound by honor to participate due to one of my tattoos being a quote from the Aeneid by Virgil There are many methods to immersing oneself with the legacy of Rome, often through media: books, podcasts, documentaries, television series, and feature films.

And we cannot discuss Rome in film without thinking of one in particular: Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott; starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Richard Harris. It became an instant classic, winning both audiences and critics (it would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Crowe would take home Best Leading Actor at the same ceremony).

We loved it for many reasons: the Roman aesthetics (accuracy is debatable), the soundtrack (Hans Zimmer), the performances, the action sequences, and above all: the story. Without spoiling the ending, I can say that the story was properly resolved with none of us scratching our heads, wondering if certain sequences made sense.

Which is why I went into Gladiator II with apprehension.

Unfortunately, my skepticism was justified.

Many times throughout the movie, I found myself distracted, looking away from the screen, and checking my watch to see how much longer I would have to commit myself to this movie. From the get-go, I was never emotionally invested in these characters, despite the actors delivering stellar performances. Some of it seemed hackneyed, particularly the depiction of the twin emperors, Geta and Caracalla, as perverse and creepy man-children (and pale gingers, too).

I can say I enjoyed the action sequences, though. If you do not appreciate a well-choreographed stunt, you might be a snob (at least, in my opinion).

And, of course, there are Easter Eggs peppered throughout the movie of Roman history and culture that we can appreciate. One scene instantly recalled the legend of Caligula appointing his favorite horse, Incitatus, as consul; and my friend, Virgil, is quoted throughout its runtime. The depiction of naval battles within the Colosseum particularly delighted me, because these actually occurred (I am still in awe of the engineering of an empire that existed 2,000 years ago).

However, there were certain moments that inhibited my suspension of disbelief and made me mutter “Wait a minute…”

Ultimately, the lack of an enticing story is what keeps me from recommending this to anybody looking to me for a new movie that is worth watching. There were too many similarities to its predecessor. While a sequel ultimately requires some similarities to the original, we do not want to see the story and its themes repeated in almost the same way with a few predictable elements.

I first saw Gladiator as a high school senior in 2008 and was excited to read on its Wikipedia page that a sequel was being considered.  But even then, I wondered what the movie would be about, since (without spoiling), Russell Crowe could not possibly return.

People speculated that it would follow Lucius, the young boy. But even then, I wondered what he could possibly do that could take the original movie even further? Many opinions we had as teenagers age poorly, but after all these years I can say that this is one of the few beliefs that turned out to be true. The sequel does follow Lucius and does not live up to the original.

Maybe a reader will see Gladiator II because they love Rome? Maybe they will see it because they love the actors (Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, and Pedro Pascal look great on the big screen together).

But I do not think readers will see this movie and anxiously recommend it to others. I consider it to be just another sequel made by a studio ultimately knowing lightning will strike twice, but consoling themselves that they at least made money off of it (after all, they got me to pay for a ticket!)

Wicked: MUST Be Seen … and Preferably on the Big Screen

Twenty years ago, the Broadway musical, Wicked, took the world by storm as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith gave audiences the backstory to the witches Elphaba and Glinda of Oz (respectively). While I never saw the play nor indulged in its soundtrack, its existence always seemed to follow me like a shadow that I had no interest in acknowledging.

Appreciating showtunes as a teenager was a social death sentence (especially at an all-guys school). But now as a grown man (supposedly), I can cast aside any social anxiety related to acknowledging the merits of a musical, and I can unequivocally endorse Wicked: Part I by saying it is worth every penny for the ticket and must be seen on the big screen.

Having never seen the original musical, I cannot be quoted as an authority as to whether this adaptation does justice to its original medium, but I can say that it is worthy of being hailed for its cinematic form. The performances are stellar, no doubt, being led by Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, and Arianna Grande, as Glinda. Peppered throughout the cast are legends of the stage, in addition to big names such as Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, and Jeff Goldblum.

My first area of focus for an adaptation of a musical is, of course, the music. I finally heard “Popular” and was able to experience “Defying Gravity”, along with the top-notch sound effects (amplified by surround sound in a movie theater). While your ears are indulged, your eyes will also be excited through exceptional cinematography and special effects. It was worthy of action-movie production value, and they knocked everything out of the park.

Again, if this movie is available for streaming, I suggest the viewer use it as a last resort. Experiencing this on the big screen is a necessity, and it is well worth the trip out of the comfort of one’s home. Removing the possibility of pausing or rewinding forces the audience to fully absorb oneself in the movie and removes the temptations to step away and potentially let it slip away into memory.