Teresa Hutabarat

SPOILER ALERT The major flaw of Gladiator 2 lies in its over-reliance on the original film. The story feels like a forced attempt to replicate the success of Gladiator 1, reusing not just the premise but even the cinematography and visual style, almost to the point of being a remake. It borrows heavily from the original while failing to bring anything new or meaningful to the table. For instance, Lucius being portrayed as Maximus’ son is a choice that undermines the emotional core of the first film. While some argue this connection was implied, I completely disagree. Maximus’ defining characteristic in Gladiator was his unwavering devotion to his wife and son, whose brutal deaths were the driving force behind his quest for justice and vengeance. Suggesting that Lucius is his son not only complicates this narrative but also paints Maximus as a man who betrayed his principles. The timeline doesn’t add up either—Lucius and Maximus’ son were about the same age, making such an implication even more problematic. It’s more logical to view Maximus’ concern for Lucius as part of his promise to Lucilla, not as fatherly instinct. The twin-emperor subplot and other twists also fail to land. The film could have taken a more original approach, perhaps focusing on Marcus Acacius as a morally ambiguous anti-hero wrestling with his conscience. While this arc might bear some resemblance to Maximus’ journey, it would at least offer fresh emotional stakes without rehashing the “murdered wife and child” trope. The biggest disappointment is how Gladiator 2 feels cheap and hollow. The visuals lack the grandeur of the first film, and the narrative struggles to justify its existence. While Acacius is a somewhat compelling character, he’s the lone bright spot in an otherwise uninspired story. In the end, Gladiator 2 saddles itself on the legacy of the original without earning its place. It’s a pale imitation of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, lacking the emotional resonance, originality, and cinematic excellence that made Gladiator a timeless classic.

One of wtf movie. In my opinion, the lamest excuse of emancipation. The scenes are bordering on disgusting, the scripwriter is just plain sick.

Oh gosh, is this series really showing how teenagers are these days? I stopped halfway the series. So cringe, so unrealistic (baby, real rich people will NOT hitchike you around town), the main character was unbelievably obnoxious and oblivious, self-centered, i'm-gonna-conquer-the world-f' you all. Big no.

Although the bullying is extreme, I totally believe that the pain suffered by the victims around the world is just as painful. From the very beginning I cheered for her revenge, that's just how good the plot and the acting is. All the actors' acting are superb. Can't wait for season 2!

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of US Netflix original. But somehow this movie, wow it's so unlike anything that came from the production before. The plot was nice (I don't spend hours pondering on the science, it is a movie), the acting was top notch. The humor was perfectly added here and there, and not excessive. I bawled near the end, it was a really touching scene. A must watch!

Not funny at all. I wonder why Netflix kept on making movies with these A-listers but sabotaging their acting skill with ludicrous script. Hire better scriptwriter would do Netflix originals good.

This movie. I dont even know how to describe it. Suffice it to say that by the end of this movie, I discover a side of me that I dislike.

The story deviated a lot from the book. It's so disappointing to see how bad the acting is, and how hard they try to make the story in line with today's issues. It's an insult to Eloise deviant character to make her 'antimainstream' by smoking. Really, Netflix? That's the best you can do to deliver the message that Eloise is a rebel? And who the hell was Anthony dating? It was very clear in the book why Anthony avoid connections in relationship. I was so excited to watch the series, but again Netflix did what they always do best, butchering a good storyline with unnecessary drama and bad acting. This is weird because their K-dramas were mostly good and solid. I wonder why the vast difference in quality. All in all, I dont think that this series is "based on" the books. This is like a very badly written fanfiction, and I bet there are many better ones at that. Maybe it should be changed to "inspired by".