Gladiator 2
As previously mentioned some films are worthy of a sequel, think Godfather, Dark Knight, LOTR Two Towers, Bourne Ultimatum .. sadly Gladiator2 wasn't one of them.
I had high expectations of Ridley's sequel, with his first film being a masterpiece of cinematic goodness, but this was just a hurried along rehash and a mischievous stealing of scenes from the original. Even the musical score was uninspiring with some of the background ditties more suited to Ben Hur.
Things that irked me:
The opening battle scene, unlike the battle of Vindabona was just Ok and, and all over a little too quickly.
The CGI was dreadful, with that Bot Rhinoceros trotting around the arena like it had just shat itself.
Those great white sharks finning along an incredible rate of knots, making jaws look super realistic.
The baboons bordered on the comical, I saw better effects with Jason and the Argonauts fight with the skeletons.
Denzel was miscast with scant regard to diction or delivery. Sorry Denzel your a fabulous actor but not in this film.
Paul mescal didn't look or project like a gladiator, maybe we were spoiled with Russell Crows fine performance. Some of Mescals stirring speeches were more wooden than Sean Bean of Sharps Rifle fame.
Matt Lucas, minus his tight leotard as the master of ceremonies, which I couldn't take seriously. However he did make me grin, as always.
The film gathered a little momentum as it broke the half way mark but it never really found its footing and was too busy copying the scenes from the original.
I had to go and make a brew when Acasius and his merry men went to save Lucias, but were intercepted by the emperors men and shot down with arrows. All twenty plus of them falling in sync like bowling pins at a alley, leaving just a hooded Acasius stood standing. Another copied scene but this time using magic arrows.
Things that pleased me.
Some of the actors remaining true to character.
The two that played the emperors Geta and Caracalla were brilliant and a joy to watch. Senator Grachus was very good and a massive shout out to Connie Beilson who once again played a blinder.
To recap: I found no emotional attachment or affinity with the main character, whereas it broke my heart in Gladiator 1 when Russell fell in mortal combat. "
Honour him", Connie said.
"He was a soldier of Rome" ..
I had a lump in my throat as they carted that poor lad out of the arena to the stirring music of Hans Zimmerman.
As an addendum, and this may have just been the film we had, every time someone drank wine, a ticker tape appeared bottom right saying " Alcohol consumption is" and then you couldn't read the rest as it went off screen.
Maybe it was Alcohol consumption is
recommended when watching dross films"
I score it a generous 5/10
