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As a long-awaited sequel, *Gladiator 2* set high expectations following the legendary original. Unfortunately, it crashes spectacularly under the weight of its own ambition, delivering a film that feels more like a disservice than a worthy continuation of a classic.

First, let's address the elephant in the room: the CGI. While advancements in technology have allowed filmmakers to create stunning visuals, *Gladiator 2* opts for a heavy-handed approach that leads to a disjointed watching experience. The special effects often come off as superficial, pulling viewers out of the gritty, visceral world that made its predecessor so captivating. Rather than enhancing the narrative, the CGI feels like a distraction-a feast of pixels devoid of the soul that grounded the original film.

Then there's the acting-or should I say, the wooden performances. The characters are lifeless, delivering dialogue with a detachment that is at odds with the intense scenarios they find themselves in. It's hard to empathize with characters who fail to evoke any genuine emotion. The performances lack the gravitas and depth that made Maximus, Commodus, and the rest so memorable. Instead, we are left with caricatures that merely recite lines, contributing to the film's overall flimsy narrative.

Speaking of the story, it's unfortunately reminiscent of a half-baked script that could have benefited from significant rewrites. The premise, riddled with cliché tropes, lacks the complexity and nuance required to carry the weight of its predecessor. What unfolds is a predictable sequence of events that fails to engage the viewer, filled with expositional dialogue that tries but falters at establishing any real stakes. It's a Hollywood bulldozer job, steamrolling through any coherent plot structure in favor of action sequences that lack substance.

In sum, *Gladiator 2* feels like an attempt to capitalize on the original's legacy rather than contribute to it. With poor CGI, wooden acting, and a flimsy storyline, it stands as a disappointing sequel that not only fails to honor the brilliance of the first film but also risks tarnishing its reputation. If only Ridley Scott's playbook had prioritised the story and character over spectacle.

From the beginning there was a moment, a move that opened up curiosity in the mind of a child to an alternative world on a board. The hardest of starts, the choice of openings these plagued that little girl.

The janitor, a passion for the game in the darkest of environments - mirrored by two societies at war - captured by the greyness of sovietness vs the individualism of a bruised America.

I loved the film (having not read the book) and was taken in by the chaos and order - the fight between the two where creativity and innovation emerge.

The whole essence of the film was conflict where strategy consist of intuition vs planning. As a system thinker I loved the emergence of light through darkness - it was never easy and always hard.

Top notch performances from everyone involved, made for uncomfortable viewing at times, but also gripping television. I often wince at real life dramas because they sweeten things for one side or the other. In this case you felt they gave a fair representation of both sides. I don't remember the original story so it felt quite fresh for me.

We binged the programme, and never intended to, so that says something. The fact it felt so underwhelming made it even more believable and the pacing as we moved through the key components of the story maintained the tension, I would recommend this as a quality piece of TV.