Gladiator II (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Rating: R
Film: 3/5

Plot
From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

My Thoughts
I went into Gladiator II with tempered expectations, hoping for a bit of the original’s grandeur but not expecting to fully recapturing the magic. Ultimately, it’s a decent enough ride that kept me mildly entertained, though it never quite hit the highs of the original that I’d secretly wished for. The film picks up years after Russell Crowe’s Maximus left his mark, thrusting us into a new story with Lucius (Mescal) stepping into the arena. The visuals are predictably stunning—sweeping shots of Rome and brutal Colosseum clashes that deliver on the spectacle front. You can tell that the hefty budget was well spent.

The plot felt like it was trying to balance too much: revenge, political intrigue, and a nod to the legacy of the first film. The story is serviceable enough with Lucius’ personal vendetta and the corruption of Rome, but it doesn’t grip you the same way Maximus’s journey did. The screenplay drags in spots but the action sequences were very well choreographed. 

The digitally shot production looks damn good in 4K, but it’s almost too sharp, especially when comparing it to the way the first movie was shot. This is a film that would rally shine with some film grain and not having such a razor-sharp image. The audio track is quite good and makes great use of all of the speakers in the room.

Video 9/10

Audio 9.5/10 (Dolby Atmos)


Special Features:

• Steelbook Packaging
• A Dream That Was Rome: Origins
• What We Do In Life Echoes In Eternity: The Cast
• In the Arena: Filmmakers
• To Those About to Die, We Salute You: Combat
• Building an Empire: Post-Production
• The Making of Gladiator II
• Deleted Scenes
• 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Copy

Conclusion
Overall, this is a competent sequel that doesn’t disgrace its predecessor but doesn’t soar to its level either. It’s a decent popcorn flick that’s entertaining for a couple of hours with some cool battles and the occasional standout scene. I wasn’t bored while watching it and if it were a standalone story instead of a sequel, it may have been more enjoyable because I wouldn’t constantly be comparing it against the first film. Recommended for fans.


Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling

[Barry]

We disagree a bit on this.  It not very much. I did not like it very much.

https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=4377.msg29335#msg29335

[David Vaughn]

We disagree a bit on this.  It not very much. I did not like it very much.

https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=4377.msg29335#msg29335

Barry, after reading your review I think we pretty much agree. It wasn't a bad film, but not nearly as good as the original. I also thought it could have been 20 minutes shorter too!

[SRW1000]

Hmm, both of your reviews match up with the word of mouth I had heard.  It's one of the rare instances where our library is supposed to be getting the 4K disc, so at least it should look and sound good.

[Paul Heroy]

Yeah, this seemed to kind of try hard but it just didn't come together at the level of the original. Some of the individual scenes were good but the narrative has a bit too many threads it's trying to weave and thus loses some of the focus and impact from characters.

[bmoney]

I also thought this was not good. Very disappointing