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Film: Gladiator 2 

I suppose a satisfying film in 2024 - although can anyone explain why they needed suped-up CGI monkeys and great white sharks swimming around the Coliseum? Felt like a different franchise...

As compared to the first film, several things stood out-

a) Tightness of the main story in the first film - despite being a historical epic, the original film has a lean story contained to one major POV whereas this film sprawls out into numerous tendrils, none of which totally lands on its own. Some major character changes and developments are just hustled through as if saying blah-blah-blah now he forgives his mom and blah-blah-blah now he hates his brother -- as if the filmmakers are saying to the audience - you get it, right? As opposed to walking us through the nuance of the emotions. I'm sure there was a 3.5 hour version that attempted to do all this, but it ended up just being plot.

b) Charisma of the star - this guy Mescal is pretty good in the film but cannot match the movie star charisma of peak Russell Crowe. This is more a reflection of Hollywood in '24 where the studios and streamers are completely incapable of generating sustainable stardom.

c) All said, some good performances all around - enjoy Denzel as bad guy and twin emperors start well (but have nowhere to go)