We’re back in the Colosseum to eat bread, olive oil, grapes, and pomegranate before discussing Gladiator II (2024). Is this a better film than the original or a less effective carbon copy that no one needed? Lucius’s unwarranted change from revenge to forgiveness makes the film shallow while the inclusion of a Colosseum naval battle, even with sharks, makes it spectacular. Macrinus’s deception of the Emperors Timmy and Tommy and pulling their strings is a great addition that needed to be played up. There’s a better story here somewhere buried under the blood and dust.