"Gladiator II" an old school blockbuster in 2025.

I know I sound like one of those people clinging to the past when I say this, but cinema isn't what it used to be... Not because I feel like quality films don't exist these days, but because I find it quite evident that the concept of a blockbuster has become too distorted, and what was once associated with big-budget films that effectively exploited it (combining good special effects, brilliant performances, and generally high-quality production) has now been relegated to generic continuations of franchises that should have died years ago.

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Ironically, despite being a sequel, I feel that Gladiator II breaks with this annoying trend, showing us a blockbuster that, while far from perfect, allows us to connect with what made blockbuster cinema so appealing a couple of decades ago.

"Gladiator," released in the 2000s, is an undisputed classic that, under Ridley Scott's direction, managed to magically transport us to ancient Rome, a time that beautifully blended epic drama with the intimate conflicts of each of its characters. And, quite deservedly, it earned an eternal place in popular culture.

After several years in the making, we finally have a sequel, a film that works very well in isolation but seemed overpowered for those familiar with its predecessor.

Expectations were high, and it's perfectly understandable why, given that Ridley was back in the directing chair and that the cast was filled with big stars of this decade like Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and an excellent Denzel Washington (to name a few).

It wasn't an easy task, and I feel the end result lives up to its promise: a solid epic filled with beautiful scenes, with an immersive production and a script that gives all its characters some space to shine.

Could it have been better? Clearly, Gladiator II loses focus from time to time and often feels scattered among its own subplots, especially when it tries to connect with some very specific aspects of the first film.

The brilliant thing is that despite this apparent mediocrity, it's still a fun and exciting film, and feels fresher than any other modern mainstream release.

Score taken from my Letterboxd account.