‘300 Rise of an Empire’ film review: Eva Green steals a movie offering little more than ‘300 style’ graphic violence
The success of 2007’s 300 launched many knock-offs and elevated Zack Snyder’s status as a director. Sadly, a sequel has little to offer beyond additional violence and blood splattering.
300: Rise of an Empire is a prequel, backstory, and sequel to 300.
It begins by explaining the origins of the “god king” Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), how his father King Darius (Igal Naor) was felled by an arrow fired by the Athenian hero Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton), and Xerxes’ plans to take revenge on Greece with the help of his ruthless general Artemisia (Eva Green).
These Greeks, unlike the Spartans, are skilled sailors, and most of the action takes place at sea as Themistokles and Artemisia battle across the sea, and we occasionally cut to moments from 300 to get a concept of the timeline.
Director Noam Murro takes over as director as offers nothing new for audiences except an amazing performance by Green. The Internet has buzzed over the violent sex scene between Green and Stapleton, which seems to highlight the point that little else in the film is noteworthy.
Still rooted in the Frank Miller graphic novels, fans of 300 will again be served a smorgasbord of graphic battle scenes and a dash of decapitations in between the pointless dialogue about freedom and unifying Greece.
The film also stars Lena Headey, Jack O’Connell, Hans Matheson, David Wenham, Igal Nao, and Andrew Tiernan.
300: Rise of an Empire has plenty of the elements to make the die-hard fans of the original entertained, but the unique style and flair introduced in the first film do nothing to elevate a bland story with countless historical inaccuracies.
300: Rise of an Empire earns 2 stars out of 5
As stated, the die-hards may love this film also, make it 3 ½ stars out of 5 for these fanboys.
Guest Review: D. Black
(Brandon Jones also contributed to this post)
