Gladiator, Part Deux

Sequels can be hard

I watched this thing the other night, paid twenty bucks. I’m usually up for a Ridley Scott movie, even after the debacle that was Napoleon. I rarely pay for any TV streaming beyond the monthly subscription rates. Whatever I see is likely to be junk, and there is so much junk for free, paying makes no sense.

I don’t go out to the movies. People, you know. Plus I need subtitles since my hearing is half gone. I was ready to go out to see Dune Part II in Imax, but it arrived via my streaming services before I knew it.

I very much liked the first installment of Gladiator, which I’ve seen I think three times. The performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Oliver Reed were outstanding. I can’t say the same for the sequel.

There is plenty of action, but the story cannot support itself, even after a suspension of disbelief. It’s like if I showed up in Congress on January 6, said hang the election I was sent by Jesus so elect me president, and they all said you got it, sport. Also, the “dream of Rome” bit is hard to believe on its face, but that aside it is still way overworked. Denzel Washington’s character was interesting and the two boy psycho boy-emperors are amusing, but they are basically reviving Phoenix’s character.

It’s useful to note the political difference between the Gladiator movies and one of my all-time favorites, Spartacus. The latter is a straight-up slave revolt. The hero is a slave. In Gladiator, the republic minus the momentary tyrannies is exalted. The hero has royal lineage. Yuck.

I’ll probably spring for the next Ridley Scott movie. Look what he has given us. Bladerunner, all of the Alien(s), etc. Or the next big zombie movie, or the inevitable film where the Aliens gain a foothold on Earth and begin ravaging the population, or a next Dune. Though I am one of the few who prefer the original David Lynch Dune to all of the successors.

Another example of a sequel devolution was Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, from George Miller, who gave us the other Mad Maxes. Each was a unique story in my favorite genre, the post-apocalyptic. I mention this because I thought Mad Max: Fury Road was a masterpiece in every way. It would have been difficult to live up to in any event. I probably paid to rent that one too. I watched it again recently, still great.