Are you not entertained?! Ridley Scott's long-delayed Gladiator II finally hits cinemas around the globe this weekend, with it primed for a. U.S. release next weekend where it will be competing with Universal Pictures's apparent OSCAR contender Wicked. The buzz for this one has been building and building over the last few months, as we've been hearing from more and more sources that this sequel was 'the real deal' and 'Ridley Scott's best since The Martian'. The first Gladiator is an easy top 50 film of all-time for me so my expectations weren't exactly low going into Gladiator II... at least, that's how they would've been if not for Ridley Scott's films over the last 2 decades being pretty hit and miss. Is Gladiator II indeed Ridley Scott's best in years? Find out in this review!
Gladiator II:
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Screenplay by: David Scarpa
Story by: Peter Craig and David Scarpa
Based on Characters Created by: David Franzoni
Produced by: Douglas Wick, Ridley Scott, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss, David Franzoni
Executive Producers: Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk, Aidan Elliott
A Ridley Scott Film
Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography by: John Mathieson
Edited by: Sam Restivo, Claire Simpson
Casting by: Kate Rhodes James
Production Design by: Arthur Max
Costume Design by: David Crossman, Janty Yates
Cast: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger
Synopsis: Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.