First movie of the new year, why not catch this epic before it jumps to streaming. I was thinking of just waiting, but someone said it needs to be seen on the big screen, so it was my discount Tuesday pick. I always find it a good sign that after a movie ends, do I still want to spend more time in that world. I got that with Gladiator II. 

Someone said that it was just a retread of the original movie and plot line. Yeah, it begins with a loving peasant couple who are called to arms and you know that the woman isn’t going to survive (‘cause the story ends if the hero dies in the first act). But there was more going on here, and they weren’t just simple peasants.  I have to say that Scott spends enough time with the main characters that they feel nicely fleshed out. The pale co-emperors (and coliseum announcer) creeped me out. I did love how the announcer would dismiss with a flourish  the coliseum band when he was ready to speak. I was also struck with how dark life felt when one needed the light of candles or torches to light the way. I could see how living in the city was not that much better than living in the countryside, except for the very rich. See, I’m still wanting to explore this world. It was bloody and I really didn’t know who was going to be left standing by the end. 👍👍 Enjoy. 

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Tags: 2025 Movies, historical fiction, movie sequels, Ridley Scott, video Wednesdays

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