Gladiator II

Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Connie Nielsen star in this sequel to the Oscar-winning sword and sandals epic. Nielsen is back as the sister of the late and unlamented Emperor Commodus, with Mescal as her son who (of course) ends up captured and in the Colosseum as a gladiator. Pascal plays an ambitious general, and Washington an even-more-ambitious owner of gladiators. While the performances — particularly Washington’s — are drawing rave reviews, it’s the spectacle that catches the eye and ensure that the film should be seen on the biggest screen possible.

“Gladiator II is an extraordinary film, the kind that demands to be seen in theaters.” -Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“It’s Washington who ultimately makes Gladiator II stand apart from the first film and makes it a lot more fun than it has any right to be.” -Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
“If you’re paying attention, despite the copious gore, Denzel Washington having the time of his life as a scenery-chewing villain, and of course the sharks, you’ll leave the movie with a far deeper grasp of Rome as it actually was.” -Patrick Wyman, Slate
“It’s so grandiose, the audience at my screening started applauding before a single fight had begun.” -Shirley Li, The Atlantic
“Sir Ridley is 87 years old, and we only mention this because there’s a vibrancy and verve to so much of this sequel that you’d swear the unbelievably prolific filmmaker has a personal fountain of youth in his Malibu mansion’s backyard.” -David Fear, Rolling Stone
“Lucius’s glorious, bloody, twisty, escapist Roman road to victory holds audiences captive from beginning to end.” -Thelma Adams, AARP Movies for Grownups
“One of the prime reasons that Gladiator II works despite all the familiar plot points and the near-corny late developments is that these great actors pour themselves into their respective roles, never winking at the camera.” -Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
“It’s equal parts compelling, ridiculous and uproariously pleasurable, often to the point where you can almost hear director Ridley Scott shouting, “Are you not entertained?” And, in truth, there are very few viewers who will not be.” -Emily Zemler, Observer
“There is nothing wrong with a grunting, violent, ancient Roman holiday, especially when it boasts a supporting performance as delicious as Denzel Washington’s Machiavellian Macrinus.” -Johnny Oleksinksi, New York Post
“Big, bold and bordering on the unbelievable, Gladiator II delivers, big time.” -Soren Andersen, Seattle Times
“Full of spectacle and spectacular performances, Gladiator II is by far the best popcorn film of the year.” -Caryn James, BBC.com (she means 2024)

Gladiator II will probably open at The Clyde on Friday, January 17, and play Friday, Saturday, & Monday at 7:30, plus Sunday at 2:00.