Gladiator IIhas everything fans would want from a movie about ancient Rome. It has the kind of battle scenes that makeLawrence of Arabia’s Attack on Aqaba look like a joke. It also features many great gladiatorial combat scenes, including one where sharks maul those unlucky enough to make contact with water. Beyond that, there are the usual political machinations, with Denzel Washington’s Macrinus being at the center of most of the scheming. And he sure does get a proper comeuppance.
Gladiator II
This is a sequel that can be enjoyed without watching the original. However, it doesn’t forget those who have been there from the start. Ridley Scott and writers Peter Craig and David Scarpa sprinkled in a few Easter eggs, most of which don’t have large plot implications, but are beautiful to see. Catching some of them requires a keen eye (or ear)… or memory… but we’ve simplified everything. The Easter eggs aren’t drawn from all over either. They are restricted to this particular universe.
7The Hand in the Wheat Field
As enjoyable asGladiatoris, it has a sad ending wherethe hero dies. During the scene,Maximus walks through a symbolic wheat field, implying that he is now in the afterlife with his murdered wife and child.The same wheat field is briefly seen during the events ofGladiator II, suggesting that Maximus is watching over his son.
A Solid Link to Roman Mythology
Charles King’s bookThe Ancient Roman Afterlife: Di Manes, Belief, and the Cult of the Deadreveals that in ancient Rome, it was strongly believed that heroic humans or those with a great moral compass (Maximus fits both classifications)were transformed into special beings known as manes after death.The manes watched over their surviving family members and protected them from harm. This explains the hand in wheat fields.It further explains why Lucius survives even when the odds are truly against him.
6Caged Tiger
An easy-to-miss Easter egg can be spotted in the final fight ofGladiator II. There is a caged tiger beneath the Colosseum,reminding us of the iconic tiger fight from the original movie, where Maximus was pitted against multiple tigers held down by chains.Lucius never gets to fight any tigers, but he takes on baboons and a rhino.
Tigers Were Never ‘First Choice’
The nod to the tigersaccentuates the bravery of both characters.Whether they are facing man or animal, Lucius and Maximus will confront the threat and get the job done. Interestingly, tigers were never preferred, even in the first movie.Ridley Scott wanted rhinos, but there were logistical challenges surrounding that, so he settled for tigers. Thanks to CGI, his rhino dream would come true in the sequel.
The fightsaren’t a Ridley Scott inventioneither. In ancient Rome, emperors often sentenced serious offenders — known asbestiarii— to fatal encounters with dangerous animals in the Colosseum. Additionally, there was the generalvenatio, where trained fighters hunted and killed wild animals in the arena for entertainment.
Small But Clever Details The Original ‘Gladiator’ Got Right About the Roman Empire
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator has plenty of glaring historical inaccuracies, but it gets a few small but clever details right.
5The Sands of Time
As Lucius is about to fight in the Colosseum,he lowers his hands to the ground and rubs his palms with the sands of the arena floor.The move puts him in proper, head-cutting mode, and once the fight begins, he inflicts more damage than anyone knew he was capable of. Well, Maximus does the same move in the firstGladiatormovie.
Like Father Like Son
The movie never explains why Lucius does this. Perhaps it is to ensure he has a proper grip on his sword. It could also be a move meant to honor his dead wife, who is now connected with the sand. After all, the film is all about revenge. Additionally, it’s worth remembering that Lucius was a farmer, so this is a way of reminding audiences who he truly is. Or perhaps he simply does it because he is a true copy of his father. Even better,the “sand move” has some plot significance as it hints to Lucilla that Lucius might be more than just an ordinary gladiator.
4Hans Zimmer’s Musical Cues
The music inGladiator IIwas composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (better known forSinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas) whotook over from Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, who had scored the first film.
Even though Gregson-Williamswrote 100 minutes of original music for the film, he uses a rather interesting Zimmer cue. When Lucius returns to the arena to pay respects to Maximus, “Now We Are Free” can be heard playing in the background, tying back to the original film’s ending.
The Song Still Fits the Plot
“Now We Are Free” is even better forGladiator IIsincethe protagonist has embraced liberation in every sense of the word.He is no longer a refugee, no longer a slave, and most importantly, he is alive. Even better, he reveals his true identity as the imperial heir and convinces both Acacius’ and Macrinus’ armies to build a united and progressive Rome under him.
Interestingly, Zimmer opted not to return because he felt he could do nothing different from what he did in the first film. The job was thus left to Gregson-Williams, who started his career as Zimmer’s assistant. Credit to Gregson-Williams for not trying to change things too much.
3“Strength and honor”
Both Lucius and his mother Lucillarepeat the line “strength and honor” in the movie to emphasize the importance of perseverance and morality.The line was first said by Maximus as he was leading his troops to battle in the originalGladiatormovie.
Latin Origins
The “strength and honor” phrase is not only a movie Easter egg, but also one that’s tied to actual Roman culture. The chant is derived from the Latin phraseVirtūs et Honos.Virtūsdirectly translates to strength, courage, excellence, andet Honostranslates to “and Honor”.Some texts suggest that soldiers often said the line before battle, hence the reason both Maximus and Lucius say it while leading their charges.
The documentary Strength and Honor: Creating the World of ‘Gladiator’ reveals that Russel Crowe enlightened Ridley Scott about the phrase.He had no idea it existed but once he heard it, he was happy to use it.
2Maximus Armor
In the film’s third act, Lucius happens upon a shrine under the Colosseum in Maximus’ honor. Inside it is Maximus' original set of armor and his gladius sword. Before his final fight in the Colosseum,he wears his father’s armor and steps out, ready to remind everyone what he is made of.
More Like a Superhero Costume
This is more of a Hollywood trope. It’s unlikely that Maximus’ kit would have been left behind for all those years, especially when Rome had been controlled by so many nefarious figures.By bringing up Maximus’ armor, the movie tries to make it feel more like a superhero costume. Anyone who steps up in this franchise might be required to wear the exact armor and use the sword too, to signify that they share the values of those who came before them.
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Gladiator is one of the greatest films ever made. And in the 24 years since its release, there have been many, many attempts to create a sequel.
1“What we do in life…”
After Lucius gets captured and sold to Macrinus inGladiator II, he becomes friends with a doctor named Ravi, who ends up being a close confidant. During one of their conversations, Ravi uses the line “What we do in life echoes in eternity,” and Lucius reacts by mentioning that he recognizes it from somewhere. Well,Maximus said the exact phrase during the battle with the Germanic tribes near Vindobona.
Actions and Consequences
Maximus’ speech is cautionary, warning that every action has reverberations that stretch through multiple actions.This can be seen in the plots of both movies. Because of Maximus’ defiance, Lucilla is forced to send young Lucius to a foreign land to keep him safe. Once there, he finds a way back to Rome through war. Lucilla and Acacius, too, face consequences for their decision to plot against the emperors.
