Description
GLADIATOR
Maximus (Russell Crowe) is one of the Roman army’s most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus’ devious son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences. His battle skills serve him well, and he becomes one of the most famous and admired men to fight in the Colosseum. Determined to avenge himself against the man who took away his freedom and laid waste to his family, Maximus believes that he can use his fame and skill in the ring to avenge the loss of his family and former glory. As the gladiator begins to challenge his rule, Commodus decides to put his own fighting mettle to the test by squaring off with Maximus in a battle to the death. Gladiator also features Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, and Oliver Reed.
GLADIATOR II
Our film picks up sixteen years after Maximus’ victory over Commodus in the Colosseum with Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) living peacefully in exile. Sent away as a child, he grew up in Numedia. Now under siege as the last free city of Africa Nova by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Lucius and his wife help lead the resistance, but she falls. After the Roman victory, Lucious is taken as a slave and finds himself sold to the power-hungry Macrinus (Denzel Washington) as a gladiator. With the Emperor twins Geta and (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) calling for new games celebrating Acacius’ victory, Macrinus sees his opportunity to seize power in Rome and Lucius given the opportunity to exact his revenge.
