So Ridley Scott is directing a Gladiator sequel...

[Richard P 4,950]

From FSM:

 

 

The idea of Lucius' theme transforming into Max's theme is a nice one, and I like what I'm hearing in this featurette - very excited now to hear it!

[Knight of Ren 1,329]

Found this on Youtube. I really like what I'm hearing, and I'm hoping it's a return to form for Harry Gregson-Williams. My favorite scores by him are those like Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel, Narnia or Prince of Persia, and this seems like it's going to be very much in the same vein as that. And the movie has been receiving some great reviews from what I've read, so perhaps there's a chance of a nomination at the Oscars?

 

Beware of spoilers in the video, as it contains images from the movie!

 

[A24 4,924]

 

"Maybe Ridley should retire."

[Thor 9,323]

Did you dig long and hard to find a negative review, Alex? Because most of the critical response is positive so far. I'll be seeing it myself, tomorrow morning.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,434]

This is one review.

Others are more positive.

 

Spoiler

Deadline

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/gladiator-ii-review-paul-mescal-denzel-washington-ridley-scotts-long-awaited-sequel-best-picture-oscar-winner-1236172181/&ved=2ahUKEwj88PPOvtSJAxVW9QIHHUVZKKQQFnoFCIcBEAE&usg=AOvVaw2Pxs2Z_B_5miZi_jqB3nlf

 

 

The Guardian

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/11/gladiator-2-review-paul-mescal-ridley-scott&ved=2ahUKEwj88PPOvtSJAxVW9QIHHUVZKKQQFnoFCIQBEAE&usg=AOvVaw0nu8nnnSKWKPcvmJxUtb2D

 

 

Screenrant

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://screenrant.com/gladiator-2-movie-review/&ved=2ahUKEwjH5aT8vtSJAxWm-gIHHQbPJp8QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE&usg=AOvVaw3Qxf_1u4FFl5osUZwmeq_t

 

 

Empire

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gladiator-ii/&ved=2ahUKEwiys5-Kv9SJAxXF0QIHHSkQLgIQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAI&usg=AOvVaw2whtUMp5asv3AY0RhNyx9h

 

 

Collider

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://collider.com/gladiator-2-review/&ved=2ahUKEwiys5-Kv9SJAxXF0QIHHSkQLgIQxfQBKAB6BAgFEAI&usg=AOvVaw145jy3lxNsW1CkJdLAhRfE

 

[A24 4,924]

This is the first review I'm watching, and she is usually too positive, is she not?

[Thor 9,323]

1 minute ago, A24 said:

This is the first review I'm watching, and she is usually too positive, is she not?

 

I don't know. I haven't seen it, and have no intention to. I just read your sentence below the video and took it to be a negative take.

[Davis 3,953]

On 10/11/2024 at 1:17 PM, Knight of Ren said:

My favorite scores by him are those like Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel, Narnia or Prince of Persia

Sindbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is amazing.

[Muad'Dib 1,997]

On 10/11/2024 at 9:17 AM, Knight of Ren said:

Found this on Youtube. I really like what I'm hearing, and I'm hoping it's a return to form for Harry Gregson-Williams. My favorite scores by him are those like Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel, Narnia or Prince of Persia, and this seems like it's going to be very much in the same vein as that. And the movie has been receiving some great reviews from what I've read, so perhaps there's a chance of a nomination at the Oscars?

 

Beware of spoilers in the video, as it contains images from the movie!

 

 

The first violinist is really into it! 

[A24 4,924]

2 hours ago, Thor said:

 

I don't know. I haven't seen it, and have no intention to. I just read your sentence below the video and took it to be a negative take.

 

She likes Scott, she even likes Napoleon and she loooooooooooooves Gladiator 1. 

[GerateWohl 6,199]

1 hour ago, A24 said:

 

"Maybe Ridley should retire."

That voice hurts my ears. I couldn't listen longer than 10 minutes. 

[Davis 3,953]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

That voice hurts my ears. I couldn't listen longer than 10 seconds. 

Fixed.

[Thor 9,323]

2 hours ago, A24 said:

She like Scott, she even likes Napoleon and she loooooooooooooves Gladiator 1. 

 

Good for her! I agree.

[Mr. Who 1,031]

I am cautiously optimistic about this movie. I think it will have great spectacle and cool battle scenes and good performances but my fear from the trailers is the rehashing of Maximus' lines and other sequel issues. Hearing Strength and honor and other iconic lines delivered by someone else just feels odd. I hope the movie is great though and the same goes for the score which based on the snippets that hav been released could be really good!

 

As a huge fan of the original movie which I saw in the cinema a month ago I don't think this movie will come close but hopefully it's a good time at the movies.

[A24 4,924]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

That voice hurts my ears. I couldn't listen longer than 10 minutes. 

 

You're just saying because she said Ridley should retire. 

[Davis 3,953]

According to this review there are

Spoiler

sharks

 in the Colosseum. 

 

[A24 4,924]

He kept saying "Those are some big shoes to fill".

[Davis 3,953]

9 minutes ago, A24 said:

He kept saying "Those are some big sandals to fill".

Fixed.

[Richard P 4,950]

I'm inclined more to trust the BBC for a balanced view: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20g5xw0y6wo

 

Sounds like it's solid, without matching up to the original.

[Edmilson 11,001]

24 minutes ago, Davis said:

According to this review there are

  Reveal hidden contents

sharks

 in the Colosseum. 

It'd be nice if HGW quoted

Spoiler

JW's Jaws theme

Speaking of whom, I was listening to his piece:

On 10/11/2024 at 9:17 AM, Knight of Ren said:

Found this on Youtube. I really like what I'm hearing, and I'm hoping it's a return to form for Harry Gregson-Williams. My favorite scores by him are those like Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel, Narnia or Prince of Persia, and this seems like it's going to be very much in the same vein as that. And the movie has been receiving some great reviews from what I've read, so perhaps there's a chance of a nomination at the Oscars?

 

Beware of spoilers in the video, as it contains images from the movie!

 

And I wasn't terribly impressioned. The music sounded like it's trying to hard too be grand and epic, but at the same time is boring and doesn't go straight to the point. 

 

And I say this as the biggest Harry Gregson-Williams expert on this board 

[Richard P 4,950]

I wasn't overly impressed with that suite either - the first couple of minutes just come across as standard 'epic music' with nothing either inspiring or coming across as Roman. Given what we just got for RoP, McCreary's take on this would've been really interesting.

[Thor 9,323]

I thought this was a very good film.

 

You can't compare it to the original, one of the most iconic films in film history, with one of the most iconic scores. If that's your benchmark, it comes up short.

 

But taken on its own, it's far more textural than I had expected. It's certainly digital, but Scott makes the most of it and "grains" it out with smoke, light, objects, as usual. He's never been very good with interpersonal relationships, and with the extra gravitas of overly written dialogue, it sometimes becomes pompous. But so did the original.

 

HGW's score was also good, I thought. The battle and action music didn't do much for me, but there's some really lovely stuff for the more down-tempo/dreamy, or when there are ethnic elements. And the references to Zimmer's music are tastefully used throughout. Its first major appearance, for a flashback scene, was goosebumps all over. 

 

I expect the soundtrack to be very long, and in need of whittling. But we'll see. I saw Richard Harvey credited in the end titles, but it went by so quickly, I didn't notice what he did. Maybe some supervision of the choral material, which he tends to do well. Also additional music by Tom-something.

[Jurassic Shark 15,566]

On 05/10/2024 at 10:04 AM, Naïve Old Fart said:

CHICKEN RUN is decent, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is better, and SPY GAME is outstanding

 

WHOA!

[Richard P 4,950]

48 minutes ago, Thor said:

I expect the soundtrack to be very long, and in need of whittling. But we'll see.

 

Be optimistic! HGW usually curates his albums very tightly to the extent that most people are screaming for an expanded edition.

 

Certainly, if it comes across as overly long, it won't be that he hasn't curated it - more likely that he's proud of his score and feels it flows well on album.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,434]

We already know that the album is 72 minutes long.

 

https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/gladiator-ii-harry-gregson-williams/v7z0kbdcq2c1a

 

[Xander Harris 8,496]

14 hours ago, Thor said:

You can't compare it to the original, one of the most iconic films in film history, with one of the most iconic scores. If that's your benchmark, it comes up short.

 

Of course you can and should. It's a direct sequel. It's Gladiator II. The original is the only reason people would see this one unless maybe they're in prison and this is all they're showing. 

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

"Iconic"

 

Please spare me

[Davis 3,953]

20 hours ago, Thor said:

You can't compare it to the original, one of the most iconic films in film history, with one of the most iconic scores. If that's your benchmark, it comes up short.

Too bad because they have the same director who had every opportunity to make a film just as good or even better than the first. And people should and are comparing it to the original for the very same reason. And because it’s a sequel to the original.

 

Coppola was able to make a better sequel to The Godfather, although the benchmark was pretty high with the original film.
 

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

22 minutes ago, Davis said:

Too bad because they have the same director who had every opportunity to make a film just as good or even better than the first. And people should and are comparing it to the original for the very same reason. And because it’s a sequel to the original.

 

Coppola was able to make a better sequel to The Godfather, although the benchmark was pretty high with the original film.
 

 

When filmmakers decide to return to an old project about two decades after the fact, it's usually a recipe for dudsaster. KOTCS was a lame disappointment, Independence Day Resurgence was a pile of poo, Ghostbusters Afterlife was completely unnecessary, etc. etc.

[Chen G. 5,448]

6 hours ago, The Train Station said:

"Iconic"

 

Please spare me

Umm, is Gladiator not among the most iconic of all motion pictures?

 

Because it sure is!

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

18 minutes ago, Chen G. said:

Umm, is Gladiator not among the most iconic of all motion pictures?

 

Because it sure is!

 

Nah. It's popular and memorable. People misuse "iconic" to just mean something they like. It's become an annoying buzzword intensifier alongside its equally cringy cousin "literally".

[Chen G. 5,448]

“Iconic” is usually taken to mean memorable. Maximus’ reveal to Commodus, if nothing else, qualifies with flying colours, in the sense that at the mention of the name “Gladiator” the person on the street would recall that scene.

 

And if by “iconic” you take it to mean “outstanding and splendorous” then I would say Gladiator is that too. I’m tempted to throw “sacred” in there, for good measure.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

If they mean "memorable", there's a word for it – "memorable"! You're trying to justify and rationalise the society-wide dilution of words that actually have their own specific meaning, which reserves them for a limited use. Instead nowadays people spew words around with reckless abandon within their sloppy vernacular because they can't help but resort to hyperbole.

 

I'd say the Colosseum is an icon. It's been universally recognised for centuries. But a Hollywood movie that features it? The kids reckon a TikTok video is also "iconic". No freakin' way are these all on the same level of iconography.

[Thor 9,323]

Iconic is a perfectly legitimate word to use in this context. The film has long since become a reference point in film and popular culture, whether you like it or not.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

It's a decent film, a very good one. I would never dare use the word "iconic" to describe a movie. God, no.

[Thor 9,323]

1 minute ago, The Train Station said:

It's a decent film, a very good one. I would never dare use the word "iconic" to describe a movie. God, no.

 

That's bizarre. Plenty of iconic films throughout history.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

I prefer to restrict my use of the word to describe things that actually are historical icons or symbols so that it has greater impact and significance when I decide it's appropriate, which isn't often, instead of making it another piece of worthless slang.

[Thor 9,323]

I do agree about certain terms (like "masterpiece") being overused in today's society, but credit where credit is due. GLADIATOR is a film that fits the iconic bill, just like STAR WARS, PSYCHO, BEN HUR, TITANIC and many others.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

They're memorable and enduring. I like them very much. Iconic? Not in your life.

[Thor 9,323]

2 minutes ago, The Train Station said:

They're memorable and enduring. I like them very much. Iconic? Not in your life.

 

Thankfully, a film's position in history and popular culture is independent of your opinion of them.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

Just now, Thor said:

 

Thankfully, a film's position in history and popular culture is independent of your (or anyone else's) opinion of them.

 

I believe my view is more honest and tempered than yours. Movies are really just frivolous and ephemeral entertainment, mostly disposable to normies, who might remember certain highlights – "iconic" that does not make. You're living in a cinephile bubble if you think these flicks qualify for descriptors that heap them a level of praise, reverence or veneration that exceeds what they deserve.

[Thor 9,323]

That's a pretty amazing underestimation of the entire art form of film right there.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

Just calling it for what it is.

[Thor 9,323]

Nah. It's one of the greatest art forms that ever existed.

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

It's pretty good and I enjoy it a lot. Greatest? Jury's still out.

[Jay 43,908]

Gladiator is definitely an iconic film, no idea what Drax is on about

 

I've lost count of the number of references to this shot I've seen in other productions

 

 

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

You're describing a memorable shot.

[Jay 43,908]

of course, but it's far from the only reason Gladiator is an iconic movie

 

And I'm talking as someone who saw the movie once in theaters when it came out and have never seen it since and haven't been that compelled to want to either

[Lady Dimitrescu 10,262]

It's a memorable and popular movie. But it's still cinematic kitsch, like all the other flicks Thor mentioned. For something to be truly "iconic", it must be transcendent – a religious symbol of worship. It's too extreme to describe something as trivial as movies.

[Davis 3,953]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

Gladiator is definitely an iconic film, no idea what Drax is on about

 

I've lost count of the number of references to this shot I've seen in other productions

 

 

A great shot doesn't make a film iconic. 

 

Imho it is a genuine classic historical drama, one of my all-time favorite films, but I wouldn't use the word "iconic", especially not because of a single shot however good it is.

 

Even in its own genre, BRAVEHEART is a much better film with a way better score.

 

Gladiator never needed a sequel btw, Ridley Scott could've made anything, yet he chose to make a sequel to a perfect film with a great ending, that had an actor whose charisma can never be equalled.