Gladiator II a non-spoiler review

[Barry]

 Gladiator II a non-spoiler review
 
In a non-spoiler review I give a general idea of what the picture was about and a try to help you decide if this is a movie you would like to see. I won’t really give away anything, but when they review the disc here they usually give away more than I do.
 
Gladiator II is a 2.5 hour movie that I found too violent, too gory and too long. It tries to continue the story from Gladiator 1.  But you have seen this plot before. Here the son of Maximus (Russell Crowe from the first movie) tries to overthrow the new rulers of their kingdom who are twin brothers who fight amongst themselves.  I think they both wanted Juan Solo on their team. Connie Nielsen, also in the first movie, tries to add her son, Paul Mescal as Lucius as he goes against the twins and Denzel Washington.
 
There a MANY incredibly staged battles, on land and on the water that look incredible and real.  But you know who is going to win.  The scenery and setting look astonishing real. This will look great on 4k.  But for me, seeing once, is enough.
 
If you liked Glad I, I think you will like Glad II, but not as much.  I’ll give it a just barely “good” rating. The images are really good, the story is weak and unoriginal.