Film Preview: Gladiator II (2024)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(July 14, 2024) Original
(September 29, 2024) New Trailer (#2) — New Posters (#8-#11)
(November 17, 2024) New Posters (#12-#22)
(November 24, 2024) New Trailer (#3) — New Poster (#23)

Release Date:

November 22, 2024

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “After his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

Poster Rating: C / C (6) / C- / C / B / C+ / C+ (5) / B- (6) / C+

SEE ALL POSTERS BELOW
Review: (#1, C) A simple design that sets the central figure and gives an idea of the plot, it doesn’t have enough that can draw people into the film effectively. (#2-#7, C) These character posters favor close-ups without adding much in terms of place and depth making the off-centered facial placement the only interesting element.

(#8, C-) The breastplate might establish setting but it tells the viewer nothing about the film itself. (#9, C) This looks like something a small studio does that doesn’t inspire the passer-by. The three-panel effort is clunkily combined and while it highlights a few scenes and characters of import, they aren’t intriguing. (#10, B) This is a much better design for a major studio to produce and has some decent balance around the roman numeral two. It establishes place and time as well as character with a decent amount of creative energy. (#11, C+) Taking some of the figures from the prior design and putting them into a factory-made poster that overuses the cinder effects and doesn’t create anything memorable in its background or even its structure.

(#12-#16) This series of format designs are relatively banal with obvious affectations to situate the film but nothing spectacular or significantly engaging about them. (#17-#22) This series of character posters does better than the first set by leaning into the artistic effects. They are unique and generally interesting but the limited color palette and the cohesive color palette making them unnecessarily boring.

(#23) While it’s a nice piece of artwork, the limited color scheme works for and against it making it striking but not particularly compelling.

Trailer Rating: B / B / C

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Review: (#1, B) The trailer will certainly take fans of Gladiator back to that film’s release at the theater. It certainly has the look and feel of a major Roman period film with plenty of grim action and violence. What keeps it from looking rather formulaic is the game cast of major actors.

(#2, B) Our second big look at the film gives us more information about the various supporting players in the film rather than focusing solely on our protagonist. While that allowed the first trailer to ramp up excitement, this one ramps up tension. While it’s certainly familiar tension, it’s the kind of engagement needed to make this sequel 24 years later a potential must-see event.

(#3, C) Too quick for its own good, the rapid fire images don’t build suspense well and the audience isn’t likely to get too excited based on this trailer alone. It feels more like a: “we’re coming out tomorrow, don’t forget” notion than a genuine trailer experience.

Oscar Prospects:

Ridley Scott’s numerous recent failures may not help his chances but the film looks like it returns to a period when he was a more successful filmmaker so perhaps.