Review Tales

Living in an era where everything seems to be a sequel, part of a series, prequel, or adaptation, finding a decent successor to a beloved predecessor feels like an almost impossible task. Yet, we have a man who has devoted his entire life to cinema. Debuting at the age of 40, Ridley Scott, after 46 years and 29 films, has delivered yet another epic at the age of 86. Most people retire after a certain age, but true artists, deeply immersed in their craft, never want to give up. They aim to create until their last breath. Ridley Scott belongs to that elite list of filmmakers, alongside Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese.

Ridley Scott’s Career

Even after waiting decades for his debut—and nailing it—Ridley’s career hasn’t been what Tarantino might call “perfect.” His filmography is a textbook example of hit-or-miss, or as I like to call it, Ridley or Midly. But when a Ridley film hits, it hits so profoundly that you forget about any of the “Midly” films you might’ve seen.

With all due respect to Tarantino and his rigid ideologies, I’d binge Ridley Scott’s filmography over Tarantino’s any day. Cinema isn’t about perfection. No matter how hard you try, you can’t play God. 

Sometimes, things happen beyond your control. Take Martin Scorsese, for example. He never announced, “I’ll make 10 films and retire,” or “I’ll give my best only because I have limited time.” Instead, he gave his best to every single film, which has resulted in five decades of extraordinary cinema.

To me, a director is someone who makes the right choices at the right times. Ridley’s career is a masterclass in both the right and wrong choices—whether it’s The Last Duel or 1492: Conquest of Paradise. His filmography is a lesson in filmmaking.

Why Gladiator 2 Is a Soul Sequel

Even after 24 years, Ridley Scott knew exactly what he was making and what he set out to achieve. The plot is neither overly connected to nor entirely detached from the original. Ridley picked the perfect threads to tie the two films together without losing the soul of either. He gave fans of the original the emotional highs they were craving while allowing new viewers to enjoy Gladiator 2 as a standalone film.

Talking about the plot and characters in detail would spoil the experience, so let me just say this: Ridley Scott has delivered something truly special.

A Theatre Experience That Transports You

There are generally two types of theatrical experiences where you forget you’re sitting in a theatre:

1. The first type: The film is so engaging that you’re fully immersed, losing all sense of your surroundings.
2. The second type: The film is so dull that your mind starts wandering, thinking about random things.

Gladiator 2 thankfully falls into the first category. Right from the opening sequence, it pulls you into its world. The first battle scene sets up the narrative for the next two hours, slowly unraveling each character’s layers.

The film is packed with combat and battle sequences, but ironically (spoiler alert!), the climax doesn’t have a large-scale war. Instead, Ridley Scott chose to prioritize the characters’ ideologies and dreams over a massive battle. While I found myself yearning for one final epic war, the decision felt true to Ridley’s storytelling style.

Interestingly, at times, Gladiator 2 felt like an Indian commercial film—in the best way possible. It perfectly elevates its characters at just the right moments and delivers an emotional punch without any sarcasm or irony.

PowerStar Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal, as Hanno, absolutely aced his role. While it’s unfair to compare him to Russell Crowe, PowerStar Paul Mescal truly owned the screen from the very first shot to the last (yes, there’s a GOATED reference).

Denzel Washington once again proved why he’s one of the best in the business. Great actors are like mercury; they adapt to any container. Denzel transforms effortlessly into this role, making you forget his past characters and focus entirely on his current one.

As for Pedro Pascal—please, no more combat scenes for him.