The way of imagination

  So, Gladiator II turns out to be an intriguing cross-over between Training Day [1] , The Return of the King (“What say you?”), and yes, even the “original gladiator”, 1960’s Spartacus (“I did it; no, I did it!”). The plot is almost identical to that of the 2000 original which starred the iconic Russell Crowe as Maximus, the Roman general-turned-gladiator.   In the sequel, Lucius, who turns out to be the love-child of Maximus and Lucilla (daughter of emperor Marcus Aurelius), picks up his father’s mantle and takes on the empire (and its 2 wicked co-emperors) in an attempt to return Rome to a just republic under the “guidance” of the senate, thus fulfilling his “grandfather” Marcus’ dream. [2]   However, history – whether Roman or not – demonstrates time and time again that tyrants rise as they impose order on the chaos which results from a power vacuum. [3]   Which is preferable – endless civil war and its resulting devastation…or stability under the rule of (usually) one person wi