The essense of epic is an idea not lost on Ridley Scott. In recent years, he has reapproach those opuses that have stood the test of time with varying degrees of success. With "Gladiator II", the heart and approach is in the right place. This is definitely a better outing than "Napoleon." He is anchored by great actors and they are up to the challenge.

The context of "Napoleon" as a perspective to power is an admirable one but a film that only peripherally captures what might have been. There are certain ideas of what the French conqueror might have been or was. The new film from Ridley Scott starring Joaquin Phoenix as the monarch of sorts has some moments of beauty and sublimeness but most often seems to show the Emperor in his failings.

"House Of Gucci" feels like a TV movie made with big name stars. If Scott was to do excess, the game could have been stepped up. Every actor in a way seems to be making a different movie but with each having moments of brilliance but never quite taking on that essence.

"The Last Duel" is, in many way, fairly straightforward in its structure but in seeing the inherent structure post viewing it builds an interesting viewpoint in its dynamic but it is not as powerful as it might have been.