Gladiator II Review

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Ready to re-enter the Colosseum in ancient Rome? In 2000 Gladiator was released, the historical epic won five Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Twenty-four years later director Ridley Scott has given us a sequel - Gladiator II. Scott had a mammoth task at hand, how do you create a sequel to one of the greatest films of all time? Gladiator II is a four-star exhilarating historical epic. It fails to live up to its predecessor, but that doesn't not mean it is a bad film or even an unworthy sequel. I greatly enjoyed the cinematic experience that is Gladiator II, in all its historically epic style! Read on for my full review, there will be minor spoilers.  Set two decades after the events of Gladiator, you may expect to find a free Rome ruled by a senate that answers to the people, as was the dream of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. a Rome that Maximus fought and died to reform. However, Rome is now ruled by young and cruel twin Emperors Caracalla (Fred He...
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Not so Fantastic Beasts

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As I am sure you are all aware the trailer for Fantastic Beasts and The Crimes of Grindelwald came out today - if you didn't know this where have you been? I may be made to eat my words come November. But I honestly think they should have scrapped the Fantastic Beasts franchise after the first film. As I mentioned in my 'Most Anticipated films of 2018' post a few months ago, I was not a fan of the first film. I felt that it was a poor prequel to the Harry Potter series. People that know me well know that I am obsessed with all things Harry Potter, I have read the books more times that I can count and the films are what inspired me to study film to a Masters Level, Harry Potter is literally my inspiration. 


I like most, was excited when it was announced that there was going to be more Harry Potter films in the world. I could not wait to explore more of the wizarding world. So I went to the cinema fully prepared to be 'welcomed home', but when I left I can honestly say I've never been more disappointed by a film. I felt that the story line was weak, lacking narrative structure and lacking tension. But that was something I could have overlooked if everything else was good. However I felt that some scenes where downright stupid and should have been cut during the filming process, these scenes include: the mating scene and the death penalty scene. And then there was Newt a character that could not hold my attention for more than 30 seconds let alone for a whole film. But the thing that disappointed me so much was that I felt that it lacked what is essential to the wizarding world: Magic. Yes I know there are spells and mystical animals but there was no magic to the film. Harry Potter is magic, it is epic, it is clever and beautiful and for me Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was none of that.

 Now to the reason I decided to write this post: I watched the Fantastic Beasts and The Crimes of Grindelwald trailer and I was instantly disappointed. I have watched it serval times since. My first thought was 'This looks like rubbish'. The first thing I noticed was the ministry is able to apparate into Hogwarts (something that we have been told time and time again in both the books and the films is not possible), yes I get that they may have permission to apparate into the grounds but even so it is a slap in the face the Harry Potter universe. Then there is the issue that Dumbledore is shown sat in the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom when before he was headmaster he was the transfiguration teacher, again it is like the filmmakers expect us to remember nothing. Also on the subject of Dumbledore I am not sure that Jude Law was the right choice of actor, I could be wrong but from what we see in the trailer I just do not think he suits the role (also why is he in a suit - he is at Hogwarts he should be in wizard dress). Furthermore I was not aware that Newt had such a huge role in the Wizarding world, to me it seems highly unlikely he was the one hunting down an evil dark wizard. When I think of Newt I think of a man that travelled the world learning about different creatures not a man involved in a wizarding war. Also why is Credence back? His storyline had reached its end. And what on earth is that final shot - what type of magic is that? 

For me a trailer is meant to draw the audience in, to entice them to watch the film. I have watched many trailers and for me a good trailer can give Goosebumps, some can make you cry (This has happened to me twice), some make you laugh. But this trailer made me despair, it was overbearing, overcomplicated (something I think the Fantastic Beasts franchise is because it lacks any clear direction) and I felt again disappointment. Since Deathly Hollows Part 2 J.K.Rowling has provided us with nothing but cheap imitations. I wish they had just scrapped the Fantastic Beasts franchise long ago. 

I hope that I am proved wrong but I am not sure I will ever be a fan of these films.

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