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Ridley Scott’s sequel to the classic 2000 epic Gladiator opened alongside Wicked two weeks ago to droves of excited fans. Coming out of the theater, Gladiator II leaves the viewer satisfied, thrilled, and hungry for more, however there is also some concern about how the film stacks up against the original.

With how much this film redoes from the first Gladiator, it needs to bring something truly great to the table on its own. Does it?

As can be expected from Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is visually stunning. Sweeping shots show the audience a vibrant digitally reanimated Rome, and the movie maintains a constantly immersive atmosphere throughout, almost allowing the viewer to forget that they aren’t witnessing real history.

The film’s plot also delivers an enthralling experience. The characters in Gladiator II are colorful and intriguing, save for one quite notable exception: the protagonist. In the original, Russel Crowe’s performance as the hero Maximus is what made that film a classic. The lead character of the sequel, played by Paul Mescal, however, isn’t quite as striking and iconic. He more so seems like a stand-in for Maximus, meant to do all of the same amazing things, but technically have a different story.

The story of this film, as well, has been called repetitive, often using exact shots and lines from the original. However, this criticism can be called unfounded when viewing the film as a whole. It is true, Gladiator II is achieving no great innovations in storytelling, but it is an engaging and thrilling watch. It is distinct from the original in its own ways, and while the frame of the story is the same, and frequent homages to the original are paid, they are accounted for in the plot and don’t serve to undermine the newness of the experience. It is a similar story, but with new characters and in a much more visually stunning version of the classical setting, making it feel new and exciting all the same.

Historically speaking, Gladiator II is one of the most immersive and exciting depictions of Rome in a long time. The color and eccentricities of Roman life are most obvious in the arena of the Colosseum, and by including unique, real, historical displays like the naumachia on the big screen, new life is breathed into what is too often a bland, all marble set piece.

All in all, Gladiator II is a brilliant movie. From astounding visuals, thrilling action sequences, and a familiar story, old and new fans alike will be treated to a great watching experience.