Gladiator II (2024) Movie Review

Perhaps the embodiment of Hollywood's incessant, remake-reboot
era, given it's one of the wildest takes on needing a sequel
ever. But given director Ridley Scott is himself one of the
wildest properties in film this century - you have zero idea what
you are going to get with this man lately, maybe it could work?
No, no, it does not. Following the original screenplay so
slavishly it continually invites always belittling comparisons,
not to mention extra appreciation for the (missing) original
star, Russell Crowe, given the appalling casting of rom-com level
Paul Mescal as his replacement.