Gladiator 2: some quick thoughts. SPOILER ALERT.

Gladiator 2: some quick thoughts. SPOILER ALERT.

On Violence
Am I just as sensuously bloodthirsty as the Romans if I enjoy the scenes of gladiator combat (the naval battle was cool I admit)? I caught myself thinking how brutal those Romans were as I gawked at sharks plucking off fallen soldiers. In general, I'm not a fan of violence. Gladiator 2 had a few doozies but was fortunately not soaked in blood.

On Rage and Paths Taken
Denzel and Lucius start off the same, cynical and hellbent on Rome's destruction—each rage embodied. We even eventually learn that they both share the empire's brandings—the scars of power. In the end, Denzel becomes the lone destructive force and chaos agent while Lucius becomes a reformer who wishes to restore the Republic. This offers us as viewers the opportunity to consider which path we might be on.

Gladiator 2 = Philosophy 101
The basic (very timely) question the film explores is whether justice is anything more than the rule of the stronger? Denzel seeks the law of power alone. Denzel is Thrasymachus is Trump. Anyone?

On Fatherhood and Fascism
And finally, Gladiator 2 got me thinking about loyalty and fatherhood. Men, even grown men, need fathers? Recently, some sports figures and others have begun doing the "Trump Dance" (jerking off two guys at once as Bill Maher mocks). It has been well documented that Trump went out of his way to court young men and men in general, cladding himself in the undeserved aura of masculineness, most evident in Hulk Hogan's multiple appearances at GOP and Trump events, Trump's attendance at UFC events and close relationship with its CEO (combat sport as a means of controlling the masses, channeling their Dionysian energies through spectacle, is a key them in both Gladiators [I highly recommend the new mini-series Mr. McMahon on Netflix, which I think, advertently or inadvertently makes an interesting connection between Trumpian fascism and the WWE (Vince McMahon's wife, Linda, has been tagged to head the education department)]). In UFC and WWE (particularly the latter), politics is reduced to the narrow terms of sheer force, violence, and dominance and submission. In Gladiator 2, Lucius wins the loyalty of the people and the army. He chooses to use that to restore the Republic. The question I leave you with is, is fascism ultimately adherence to a surrogate State father?

On Monkeys and Men
Monkeys and baboons make a few key appearances. Once as the consort of a syphilitic, tyrant emperor and in an early scene as a mad troop of baboons warring with gladiators in a frontier arena. Lucius bites the baboon and takes the posture and manners of one. He is later mocked by his fellow gladiators with monkey hoots. The connection is clear: the law of power, force, and violence is the law of the jungle—the way of the chimp. Trump's law. Our lead baboon. (I highly recommend Carl Safina's book Becoming Wild where he describes the cultural dynamics of chimps and bonobos).

Gladiator 2 self-consciously sought to speak to our moment. I wonder however how it lands for the diverse American and global audiences that see it.

In short, it’s a fine film that is well worth seeing, though not as good as the first (they never are). And sorry to talk about Trump.