Movies News Talk
In Ridley Scott's much awaited "Gladiator 2," get ready for a collision of emperors. "Gladiator 2" is introducing two new rulers: Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), while the original movie had the legendary villain Commodus, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. Can these brothers, though, match Phoenix's remarkable performance?
The Commodus of Joaquin Phoenix was a multifarious character who yearned love and acceptance in a twisted manner, not only a nasty guy. The great power of "Gladiator" came from his plunge into madness and the tragedy of his character. We loved to hate him, thus his death seemed especially fulfilling.
Clever and aspirational, Commodus was ready to do whatever it took to grab control. His brutal behavior made him a really frightening adversary since he had a distorted view of rule. Now, "Gladiator 2" is entering uncharted ground as two emperors fight for rule. Can they carry a candle to the scheming genius of Commodus?
Geta and Caracalla differ mostly from Commodus, who had to ascend his way to the throne, in that they already hold power. This implies the movie might center on other aspects, including Macrinus (Denzel Washington) and Lucius (Paul Mescal), whose attempts to oppose the new emperors challenge each other. These characters' dynamic might be just as gripping as the first movie's Commodus-Maximus conflict.
The thing is, though, Commodus had a twisted love for the Roman people even in his craziness. Giving them what they wanted—even if it wasn't what they needed—he thought he could meet them. Conversely, the new emperors seem to treat the people entirely with contempt. Reminded that people must be fed, Caracalla shockingly says in the trailer, "They can eat war." This reveals a degree of detachment and cruelty absent from Commodus despite his imperfections.
Though Geta and Caracalla differ from Commodus, their narrative rests in the same historical reality of Roman leadership. Common subjects in the Roman Empire were fratricide, infighting, and betrayal. Like Commodus killed his father, Caracalla planned against his brother before dying too. Thus, the backdrop of power conflicts and ambition is a familiar one, and it might be the basis for some dramatic intensity in "Gladiator 2."
Though Commodus was an unforgettable villain, the new emperors could offer another type of villainy. Their thirst for power, disdain of the Roman people, and inner strife could produce a singular and gripping narrative.
"Gladiator 2" offers an opportunity to investigate the Roman Empire from an other perspective with an other type of power struggle. Though it's a gamble, we might have an exciting ride if the new emperors are endowed with the depth and complexity Commodus had. Only time will show whether they can live up to the legacy of the first movie.