“Ridley Scott above all respects the well-established codes of the Hollywood gladiator,” believes a specialist

“We are not on a historical documentary, but it is a great spectacle,” warns Éric Teyssier, a great specialist in the world of gladiature, on Wednesday, as the sequel to the film with five Oscars is released in theaters on Wednesday .

“It’s cinema, that’s what we have to tell ourselves. We’re not on a historical documentary, but it’s a great show“, warns from the outset, Wednesday November 13, Éric Teyssier, professor of Roman history at the University of Nîmes and great specialist in the world of gladiature. Almost 25 years after the immense success of the first part, which won five Oscars, Gladiator II arrives in cinemas.

With a budget of 310 million dollars, Gladiator II ranks in the top ten most expensive films in history. “For a trip back in time, ultimately, it’s not that expensive“, says Éric Teyssier. “There is not the same surprise as for the first “Gladiator”. But it’s worth it. Those who loved “Gladiator” will, I think, love both“, he believes.

“When it comes to the gladiator universe, everything is wrong. There are no costumes that work. They don’t have shields, they don’t have helmets. The swords are oversized.”

Éric Teyssier, professor of Roman history

on franceinfo

If this specialist appreciated the film, he explains on the other hand that “Ridley Scott above all respects the well-established codes of the Hollywood gladiator”, he said. “We have an actor who is extremely well paid and it would be a shame to put a helmet on him like the gladiators who completely hide their face. They are also the Hollywood fencing masters who are more trained in modern fencing. We are very far from the technical reality of gladiators“, explains Éric Teyssier.

Despite the historical approximations, Éric Teyssier recommends the film. The history teacher believes that Gladiator II “still perhaps makes you want to know a little more, to be interested in 3rd century Rome or Rome in general“Nevertheless, he warns, “it’s a violent film“. So it may not be suitable for “little ones“, the gladiators not being”distinguished pianists“, he said.

“Ridley Scott changed my life, the rascal.”

Éric Teyssier, professor of Roman history

on franceinfo

He himself was touched by the first film. In 2000, when Gladiator came out in the cinema, he was already a teacher, “but modern history“, he explains. “I had done my thesis on the French Revolution and from there, I did something that we don’t do too often in the academic world: I completely changed eras. I was interested, but really deeply, in the Roman era. I even did experimental archeology on gladiator combat to better understand. It has become my specialty, the history of Rome and in particular that of the gladiators.“, he explains.