As a history enthusiast who has spent countless hours delving into the annals of antiquity and unearthing the truth behind the tales, I must admit that Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II has left me somewhat divided. On one hand, I find myself captivated by the spectacle, the performances, and the grandeur of the film. The battle sequences are nothing short of breathtaking, and Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal deliver performances that are nothing short of masterful.
It’s no secret to many that Ridley Scott’s upcoming film, Gladiator II, is filled with numerous historical inaccuracies, a fact confirmed by experts in the field. However, this hasn’t deterred the film from receiving positive reviews ahead of its release on November 22. Early screenings have seen critics raving about the acting performances of Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, expressing awe at the intricate set designs, and expressing delight over the intense battle scenes.
As a devoted fan, I must express my disappointment upon learning about some questionable scenes in the upcoming “Gladiator II,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. For instance, the depiction of the Colosseum flooded with sharks leaves me scratching my head, as Dr. Shadi Bartsch, a classics professor at the University of Chicago, rightly pointed out that Romans were unlikely to have any familiarity with these aquatic creatures. Similarly, the portrayal of gladiators riding rhinos is another area where I feel the filmmakers may have strayed from historical accuracy, given there’s no solid evidence supporting such an event, especially regarding the two-horned variety showcased in the movie.
In another setting, a Roman aristocrat is seen leisurely reading a newspaper, an unusual item more than a millennium before the invention of the printing press. Bartsch notes that while news was indeed circulated daily during that era, it wasn’t as easily accessible to the general public for casual reading, and certainly not enjoyed over a cup of tea.
Instead of having daily newspapers, they would put up news inscriptions called Acta Diuma at specific places. Unlike today’s newspapers, these could not be taken with you or read casually over coffee because there were no cafes back then.
Gladiator II’s Historical Inaccuracies Don’t Really Matter
It’s clear that if Roman soldiers were dressed in Nike shoes and football helmets, there would be many criticizing the film for its historical inaccuracies. However, are these minor details truly significant? Not likely. This very thing transpired when Gladiator was released 24 years ago, and it happened with Scott’s film Napoleon last year. In essence, by the time we reach 2024, everything is merely speculation, as the 86-year-old director stated regarding his epic sequel.
We might not agree with him completely, but there’s a grain of truth in his statement: A significant part is guesswork because even though historians and scholars dedicate their lives to understanding ancient civilizations like Rome, nothing is set in stone. They didn’t witness these events themselves, and the historical record is constantly evolving, so it’s difficult to definitively say that the Romans didn’t know about sharks, given that Bartsch herself noted that “naval battles were indeed held in the arena.
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2024-10-30 23:31