Based on 154 votes and 55 reviews.
Please believe all reviews after the fake, fake industry hack. I groaned during the opening credits. Gone are the large, vista, wide angled shots, only to be replaced, with penny pinching, TV, tight three colour drab. Oh, and poor Denzel, working that toga, like a heavy hotel bath robe, clutching it , pulling the sleeves up, like the first time he put it on, like a oscar winner, walking those stairs in dress that was wearing them. I can go on, wait for Christmas Netflix, we all have rent to pay.
The first comment, five stars, is written six days before opening. Nuff said. Studio buy.
Went to the late show, and it was pretty much what you expected. A weak carbon copy of the first, except this time the good guy is (spoilers). It'll be empty theaters in two weeks, and Netflix by Christmas. They brought back everyone who was still alive from the first movie to do cameos, threw in misplaced historical events, and outright fictitious weapons of war. The movie is forgotten the moment you stand up and knock off the loose popcorn kernels on your lap. Don't bother unless you're really, really bored.
The first review sounds like the studio wrote it. Hmmmm... Kind of like an advertisement. So much for honest feedback.
Holy sh*t what a rush! This movie is insane! While there's no one else like Russel Crowe, Gladiator II takes everything that was great about the first one and brings it up a notch. The action is outstanding. The story is fantastic. And we finally get to see the scene Ridley Scott wanted in his first Gladiator movie but couldn't because of budget concerns (involving a large animal, won't say any more to avoid killing the surprise). As in all movies, there's some things that feel far fetched (sharks?!), but overall Gladiator II is a made for the big screen blockbuster that's surely going to be getting more than a couple Oscar nominations. I hope Ridley Scott wins an Oscar for best director this time around. I haven't been this engrossed in a movie theatre experience since Top Gun Maverick. Highly recommended!