Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011) is set in the time before the arrival of Spartacus, the House of Batiatus faces many challenges from competitors, and within its own household. It is a spectacular series with plenty of violence , fierce combats on arena , gore and blood .This story of history's greatest gladiators unfold with graphic violence , Swordout , gore , guts and abundant sex . Before Spartacus (Andrew Whitfield who sadly deceased , he died at the age of 39, diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, being replaced by Liam McIntyre) struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed through the gates onto the sand.'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus (Dustin Clare) , in a more ruthless time before Spartacus' arrival where honor was just finding its way into the arena. So, to elevate the House of Batiatus (John Hanna , married to ambitious Lucretia : Lucy Lawless) wife Lucy Lawless) to gladiatorial stardom, Quintus puts cocky gladiator Gannicus' extraordinary fighting prowess to good use in high hopes of writing history in the blood-soaked sand of the new Capua Arena. But then a new and brave gladiator shows up, Crixus (Manu Bennett), who becomes himself a notorious gladiator
A prequel in similar style to Spartacus : Blood and Sand (2010) in which Spartacus , one of the most rebels in the history , escapes and stirs up all gladiators and slaves in a revolt (73 B. C.) against the power of Rome .This is a violently graphic and strong retelling about the greatest gladiators of all time . Impressively epic series with moving drama , colorful images and overwhelming combats . Gladiators history is imaginatively brought to life on breathtaking images with great production values and outstanding scenarios . Sword cross , intense drama , nudism , sexual scenes , gladiator fights abound in this spellbinding adaptation on audacious Roman life . Magnificent climatic battle scenes and fights on arena including lots of blood and gore ; and adding colorful computer generator images . Loosely based on historical events , in fact , Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Vatia (also called Lentulus Batiatus by Plutarch) , a mean Lanista well played by John Hanna , he was the Roman owner of a gladiatorial school in ancient Capua. It was from this school that, in 73 BC, the Thracian slave Spartacus and about 70 to 78 followers escaped. The breakout led to the slave rebellion known as the Third Servile War (73-71 BC). It is often assumed following Shackleton Bailey's arguments that he was the same man as the Gnaeus Lentulus Vatia who was quaestor in 75 BC and tribune in 72 BC. This Lentulus was also prosecution witness against Publius Sestius in 56 BC. If he was born a Lentulus then his biological father may have been Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus the consul of 97 BC. Gaius Servilius Vatia the praetor in 102 BC may have been his adoptive father. His status as a possible plebeian Lentuli (due to an adoption by a Servilius Vatia) makes him a plausible candidate as the adoptive father of Publius Cornelius Dolabella (the consul of 44 BC) . The earliest types of gladiator were named after Rome's enemies of that time: the Samnite, Thracian and Gaul. The Samnite, heavily armed, elegantly helmed and probably the most popular type, was renamed secutor and the Gaul renamed murmillo, once these former enemies had been conquered then absorbed into Rome's Empire. In the mid-republican munus, each type seems to have fought against a similar or identical type. In the later Republic and early Empire, various "fantasy" types were introduced, and were set against dissimilar but complementary types. For example, the bareheaded, nimble retiarius ("net-man"), armoured only at the left arm and shoulder, pitted his net, trident and dagger against the more heavily armoured, helmeted Secutor. Most depictions of gladiators show the most common and popular types. Passing literary references to others has allowed their tentative reconstruction. Other novelties introduced around this time included gladiators who fought from chariots or carts, or from horseback. At an unknown date, cestus fighters were introduced to Roman arenas, probably from Greece, armed with potentially lethal boxing gloves. "Batiatus" was played by Peter Ustinov in Stanley Kubrick's 1960 film, Spartacus with Kirk Douglas , Tony Curtis , Laurence Olivier as Crasus , for which Ustinov won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Ian McNeice played "Batiatus" in the 2004 television adaptation Spartacus by Robert Dornhelm with Goran Visnjic as Spartacus , Alan Bates , Angus Macfadyen and Rhona Mitra . John Hannah played "Batiatus" (here given the praenomen Quintus) in this 2010 Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and the 2011 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena . Other important characters are : the winner Gannicus : Dustin Clare , the violent Crixus/Manu Bennet , Temuera Morrison as Doctore , gladiator Peter Mensah who'll become Doctore , the astute nasty gladiator Nick Tabaray , Marisa Ramirez as Melitta ,Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia , among others
Although redundant to original series , it is a ¨Sui Generis¨ description of the violent gladiators , however it doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence . It's all immensely epic , though predictable, as we have seen the former season , but also its predictability is redeemed in part by the charismatic performances of excellent starring , including flawless portrayals and all around for the best talent available .
