Gladiator II Reviews: Paul Mescal Shines with ‘Magnetic’ Performance
‘Gladiator II’ first reviews have begun to appear. Ridley Scott’s much-awaited follow-up to his 2000 Oscar-winning masterpiece has received largely positive reviews after early viewing, receiving an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 67 on Metacritic.
Strong performances are being praised by critics, particularly Paul Mescal’s portrayal of Lucius. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter commended Mescal’s compelling performance and highlighted Denzel Washington’s humour and authoritative presence as the cunning politician Macrinus. Rooney pointed out that although the movie doesn’t have a hero with Russell Crowe’s intense charm like Maximus, it still has a lot of spectacular sights and dramatic action.
Image Courtesy: People
But not every review is positive. Alison Willmore of Vulture thought the sequel was unsatisfactory, criticizing Mescal’s difficulty giving Gladiator-style speeches and challenging its view of masculinity. Roman Empire fans “deserve better,” Willmore added, adding that the script feels awkward compared to the original.
Some of this disappointment was shared by Vikram Murthi of IndieWire, who said that despite its enormous scope, the movie lacked the original’s timeless charm. Although he has little on-screen time, Pedro Pascal’s troubled Roman general persona stood out to Murthi.
Conversely, Deadline’s Pete Hammond highlighted the movie’s epic scope, describing it as an ideal fit for IMAX. He emphasized Connie Nielsen’s comeback as Lucilla and commended Mescal’s physical and emotional intensity as Lucius. Hammond even likened Kirk Douglas’s performance in Spartacus to Mescal’s.
Image Courtesy: People
According to Siddhant Adlakha of Inverse, ‘Gladiator II’ is a grim, gripping tale that is appropriate for the present, especially in light of recent political events in the United States. He commended Washington for his strong, Shakespearean-style delivery, which produces an engaging, nuanced antagonist, and commended Mescal for his impassioned portrayal.
On 22nd November, ‘Gladiator II’ is arriving in theatres.
–Farheen Ali
