Last Friday evening, I decided to rewatch Gladiator in preparation for this long-awaited sequel. And as I gazed upon this Best Picture Oscar winner from some 25 years ago, a couple of thoughts came to mind.

Firstly, wow. Sir Ridley Scott’s original Roman blockbuster, starring Russell Crowe in his Academy Award-winning performance, really is one of the greatest films ever made.

It feels like a Golden Age historical epic from the 1950s, but shot in the modern era, with its lavish sets, costumes,…