EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesGladiator 2Christopher Nolan says Gladiator II is one of his favorite films of 2024: “Why are there sharks in the Colosseum? Because we demand them"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesGladiator 2Christopher Nolan says Gladiator II is one of his favorite films of 2024: “Why are there sharks in the Colosseum? Because we demand them"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
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Legendary director Christopher Nolan has announced his favorite movie of 2024, sharing his love for fellow British director Ridley Scott in the process.
Nolan pickedGladiator IIas his movie of the year, as part ofVariety’s list of directors' top movies of 2024. “Like the best long-awaited sequels, Gladiator II must be a remake and sequel in one, and it’s testament to Scott’s brilliance that he manages to balance the individual pathos of the original with the expansionist demands of the sequel’s central theme, bringing a lifetime of experience in controlling tone,” wrote Nolan.
Starring Paul Mescal as long-lost Prince Lucius, Gladiator II picks up over two decades after the first movie where a new force rules over Rome in the shape of two young but brutal emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger). Mourning the loss of loved ones, Lucius must enter the colosseum just as Maximus did and return the glory of Rome to its people.
However, soon after Gladiator II hit screens this November, moviegoers were quick to point out its historical inaccuracies, such as Denzel Washington’s character saying “hose him down” during an era when hoses were not invented yet. This let the movie down for many viewers, but not Nolan, as the Oppenheimer helmer writes, “Scott knows we’re not there for insights into Roman culture; we’re there to see our own dark desires at a comfortable remove.”
As for the addition of sharks in one of the arena scenes (which I personally love), Nolan seems to be a big fan too. “Why are there sharks in the Colloseum? Because we demand them, and Scott masterfully gives them to us,” says Nolan, praising Scott’s imagination when it came to upping the ante of the gladiator games from the first movie.
Gladiator II is still available to watch in theatres now. For more, check out ourGladiator II review, or see our list of ourtop 25 movies of 2024.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”