“Are you not entertained?” roared Maximus to the crowd in the original “Gladiator,” bloodied, furious, and standing victorious in the sand. Back in 2000, it was a challenge — to the Colosseum crowd, yes, but also to us as an audience. And we were entertained. Oh, were we entertained.
But now, nearly 25 years later, Ridley Scott is back, and “Gladiator II” just stumbled into theaters like a half-drunk tribute act trying to sing a song they barely remember. Except this time, the answer to Maximus’ iconic question is a resounding no.
“Gladiator II” isn’t just a bad sequel. It’s a butchered, modernized reimagining, sacrificing everything that made the first movie great on the altar of Hollywood’s woke checklist.
A Masterpiece of Grit and Glory
The first “Gladiator” was lightning in a bottle. From the opening battle in Germania…
