Gladiator II

“Know this: where death is, we are not. Where we are, death is not! By my sword, strength and honor!”

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II captures the essence of Gladiator I and yet (hot take) was even more engaging than the first. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and the rest of the impressive cast put on a dazzling performance as 2nd century Romans in this action-packed long-awaited sequel. I think Gladiator II stands solidly in its own right but it's even better with the knowledge of the first film and provides satisfying closure. At first, I was a little unsure of the casting of Paul Mescal for the lead since Russell Crowes' performance was a hard act to follow. But, as soon as I saw him and his Roman nose in those sandals and helmet it became clear that the choice was utterly perfect. If you enjoyed the first, or even if you didn't, then this is an absolute must-see.

Victoria Beaumont