Nikos Polyzois

-- SPOILER ALERT-- We are dealing with a very nice film. Really great special effects, excellent use of technology and generally good cinematography. The battle of Numidia at the beginning and the naval battle at the Colosseum were really impressive. I believe that Ridley Scott and his team had a very difficult task and the truth is that I was scared for the outcome (as most of the Gladiator's fans), with the bar set so very, very high from the first film. They did very well though. But not perfectly. Let me break it down... First of all, I believe that the whole script had a lot of similarities to the first film. It was correct that they wanted to continue and exaggerate the legacy of Maximus Decimus Meridius and there were touches of nostalgia on top of that (even with remastered bits of the original score from the first film), but I think the storyline should have been a bit different. Additionally, unfortunately, most of the actors couldn't live up to the sequel of such a first film. Lucius (Paul Mescal) couldn't be like Maximus (Russell Crowe) - and rightfully so in large part - and the twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) were not up to the "madness" of Commodus (Joaquine Phoenix). I also expected to be more stigmatized by the role of Macrinus, because of the great actor Denzel Washington. On the contrary, the performances of the roles of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Senator Gracchus (Sir Derek Jacobi) were just right, perhaps because they had the feel of the first film, while the role of General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) was a pleasant surprise and possibly "made up" to some extent for any imperfections in the emotional weight of the role of Lucius, along with others. In general, the film lacked that emotional weight of the first film, e.g. if we compare in terms of the feeling left by the scene where Maximus faces the burnt - crucified corpses of his wife and child, with the scene where Lucius faces his wife being carried away by Charon on the boat (an impressive cinematographic scene though), the former "wins" clearly and by a chaotic margin and this has to do purely with the quality of the actor. The finale scenes, with Lucius asking his father for help ("father talk to me") and then Maximus' hand "fondling" the grain (as in the first film), for me justifiably leaves the door wide open for a third and final film and even an active participation / return of Russell Crowe as Maximus. I feel that since they went through the process of making a sequel, Ridley Scott and his team are "obligated" to make a trilogy, to complete the "Gladiator" universe triumphantly and as it deserves. Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, I hope you'll keep in mind to make this film with the return of Maximus. Not resurrected of course, but as a spiritual guide to Lucius or appearing in the form of visions to Lucius and actually helping him to govern / rebuild Rome as the Emperor Marcus Aurelius dreamed of.