Precursor: While it’s not a necessity, I highly recommend watching the original before seeing this or the many references will be lost on you.
Strength and honor! Picking up 16 years after the first movie, Lucious/Paul Mescal (the little mop-headed prince from the first) finds himself in the Colosseum to fight for his life and the future of Rome. Pedro Pascal is the Roman general and Denzel Washington is a political wannabe with earrings and big robes. Joseph Quinn (Eddie from Stranger Things) plays one of the emperors and while he’s not as despicable as Joaquin Phoenix was, you want him to die all the same. Okay, that’s all I can say plot-wise without spoiling anything. This movie was great. I was scared I was going to be disappointed but Ridley Scott did himself justice with a well-executed and thought-out sequel (not an easy task as we know). Does it touch the first in terms of perfection? No, but it’s very enjoyable. There’s a little bit for everyone from jump deaths to gruesome hand-to-hand combat, and there’s even a monkey! I definitely recommend if you like the first one or if you just like war movies!
Rating: 4.5/5
Amateur Movie Reviews 