Are you ready to be entertained? The Cinematic Schematic enters the arena this week to settle the beef with fellow OKC movie podcast Two Dudes and a Movie in our crossover review of Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Gladiator II. The original film was a box office hit and won five of the thirteen Oscars nominated, including Best Picture, Best Actor(Russell Crowe), Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design. This sequel has been in the works since June 2001. After 24 years, the story of Maximus’s son Lucius (Paul Mescal), who followed in his father’s footsteps, finally arrived on the big screen. Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi return alongside newcomers Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a cunning opportunist focused on rising through the ranks of Rome. What new ideas does Scott bring to the next Roman epic? Check out the conversation for our verdict. The Cinematic Schematic x Two Dudes and a Movie Luke Parish and Chelsea Ratterman from the Two Dudes and a Movie podcast join hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman. Which OKC film-based reviewers will become nothing but mere shadows and dust? Left to right: Chelsea Ratterman, Laron Chapman, Luke Parrish, and Caleb Masters Ice-Breaker Question Time Stamp: 7:57 You pit two fictional screen characters against each other in the Roman Colosseum. Who are the characters and what is their intrinsic motive for fighting in the Colosseum?  Revisiting Gladiator (2000) Time Stamp: 15:55 Spoiler-Free Review of Gladiator II Time Stamp: 27:59 In our spoiler-free review, we talk about: * Our overall thoughts on Gladiator II * How effective the gladiatorial combat lands * Denzel up for another Oscar? * Letter grade verdicts * Alternate media recommendations Spoiler-Filled Analysis Discussion Time Stamp: 1:00:43 To wrap up the conversation, we take a look at a few of the ideas at play in the Roman epic including: * The film’s more cynical take the hero’s journey to restore democracy to Rome. * How this sequel approaches remixing the strongest elements of the original film to greater o...