Pedro Pascal's complicated Gladiator 2 character, Roman General Acacius, proves that Maximus could actually be viewed as a ...

With "Gladiator 2" landing in theaters, it might be good to brush up on what happened in the 2000 original starring Russell Crowe.

"Soldiers & Silver: Mobilizing Resources in the Age of Roman Conquest," can be found here. More from How Real Is It? Historian Michael Taylor rates depictions of ancient Rome in movies and TV shows.

The set-up for the movie is simple enough: Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade a nearby land, capturing Hanno (Paul Mescal) and forcing him into slavery. Hanno is ...

The most absurd has to be the flooding of the pit, turning the sandy floor into shark-infested waters for a nautical battle between gladiators and Roman soldiers. Taking these theatrics out of the ...