300
It may not court casual moviegoers as easily as its predecessor, but Murro succeeds at delivering a 300 sequel that fans will enjoy watching.
The300 : Rise of an Empirestory follow Athenian general Themistocles ( Sullivan Stapleton ) in the Battle of Artemisium - while interweave with the events of300(i.e . , the Battle of Thermopylae ) . During the first attempted encroachment of Greece by the Persian conglomerate , Themistocles and his U. S. Army successfully hold the Hellenic shoreline in the Battle of Marathon - mortally wound King Darius I ( Yigal Naor ) , father of Xerxes ( Rodrigo Santoro ) and mentor to the unpitying Artemisia ( Eva Greene ) .
As the baron is dying , Artemisia formulates a plan to seek revenge on the Greeks by reverse the naive ( and cowardly ) Prince Xerxes into a God - like figure for the Persian Empire to tease behind . Ten years afterwards , Xerxes deliver with a crushing invasion military force - employ King Leonidas and his Spartan warriors on land at the Hot Gates , while Artemisia combat Themistocles and the Grecian dark blue at sea . Like the 300 , Themistocles is staidly outnumbered - impel to swear on cunning and the strength of a co-ordinated Greece if he hopes to once again defend his country of origin and force back the invading Persians .
300 : Rise of an Empirearrives eight years after Zack Snyder ’s original300wowed audiences with slick slow - move combat sequences , an illustrative visual aesthetic , and an intriguing illusion narrative variation on the real - life Battle of Thermopylae . Snyder reelect as executive manufacturer but handed directorial responsibility over to Noam Murro ( Smart People ) , who does his best to copy the300formula but diminish unawares of doing anything new or in particular memorable in the process . In general , it ’s an adequate follow - up , tamp down with action , machismo , over - the - top violence , and fantastic twists on actual event - but nearly every undivided element is slightly inferior to Snyder ’s original vision and execution . rooter of the original will , probably , love revert to Frank Miller ’s exaggerated edition of Hellenic history ; yet,300 : Rise of an Empiredoesn’t offer the same cross - genre solicitation as its predecessor .
The main patch is serviceable , jump in and out of scenes antecedently seen in300to serve flesh out the magnanimous state of war with Xerxes , as well as the backstories of Artemisia and Themistocles . intimate affirm character - like Queen Gorgo ( Lena Headey ) and Dilios ( David Wenham ) - return to connectRise of an Empireto the anterior installment , but viewers should n’t expect to drop a lot of clock time with the Spartans , as the continuation is tightly revolve about on the conflict between Artemisia and Themistocles .
Frank Miller , Kurt Johnstad and Snyder answer as screenwriter and craft another epic rescript of a Greek history , with all the same romanticized idea about purity , freedom , and beautiful death - albeit with a second less profoundness . Those who criticise the original300for being fashion over substance will observe the ratio of visual spectacle to thought - provoking storytelling is importantly wider than before - providing an equal amount of over - the - top action but even less character development and thematic synergism .
Themistocles is a tolerable conduct humans but lack the same somberness ( and quotable line ) as his Spartan predecessor . Where Leonidas was a brash but sympathetic warrior , Themistocles is much more calculating and ruthful - wee-wee him interesting and grand but not quite as take to watch on filmdom . Still , Stapleton is strong in the role , carry the reasonability ( and desperation ) that Themistocles feels - while also shining in exciting ( and bloody ) fight stage dancing .
However , Artemisia is , without question , the motion-picture show ’s most compelling addition - especially with Green in the part . Despite an over - rarify backstory and an obsessional search for a warrior that is truly desirable of a engagement , the character reflects what ’s with child about300- take larger - than - spirit historical shape , fix them in a heighten series of literal effect , while hit them relatable and enthralling in a New motion-picture show experience ( in spite of the twenty - five hundred years in between ) . Green commits to the theatrical role entirely , give a layered villainess whose tongue is just as quick as her blade - equal to of fighting toe - to - toe with brawny greek warriors while also pull wires muscular Persian commandant into doing her summons .
Unfortunately , the supporting cast is much less defined . Returning faces are a welcome incentive but every unmarried one of Themistocles ' warrior falls into a familiar figure ( some of which were already explore in300 ): a boy that must gain his father ’s respect on the front line of work , and a generic second - in - command that spend more time as a sounding board for Themistocles than he does actually fighting , etc … The origin of Xerxes adds a few extra layer to Rodrigo Santoro ’s God - king , butRise of an Empire , much like300 , once again shove the character - and the Persian war political machine - into the background to spotlight the battle at hand ( not to mention forget sizable room for another subsequence ) .
In fact , the action is glued almost exclusively to Themistocles , aside from shots of nondescript greeks as they clash with featureless persians . And , while the fights are more violent than ever , they ’re a slight step down overall . The master battle sequences include set pieces that should get a reaction out of fans , butRise of an Empire ’s overall advance lacks the creation and flair of Snyder ’s master . The naval combat is a wise alteration of yard that allows for some reinvigorated ideas , but once swords hit shields in close combat , it ’s clear that Murro was struggling to find his own style while also including element that come back moviegoers would expect from a300sequel ( fucking dense - motion fight , for exercise ) . bit to moment it ’s all toy with enough -Rise of an Empirejust fail to evolve the story or brand - and - sandles brawling in any meaningful way of life .
The Battle of Artemisium in ‘300: Rise of an Empire’
300 : rising of an Empireis also make for in three-D and IMAX 3D ; given the visual aesthetic of the moving picture , both formats are worthwhile upgrades . stinting moviegoer could compromise and skip the IMAX price hike ( not the 3D ) but the improved sound and filmdom space will be rewarding for anyone that is uncoerced to expend the extra hard cash .
It may not court casual moviegoers as easily as its predecessor , but Murro succeeds at deliver a300sequel that fans will savour take in . buoy by a captivating performance from Eva Green and an adequate replacement for Gerard Butler in Sullivan Stapleton , it ’s still interesting ( and exciting ) to search Frank Miller ’s retelling of the Greco - Persian war . Nevertheless , much like the real Battle of Artemisium - which often takes a backseat in chronicle books to the Battle of Thermopylae - it ’s hard to imagine thatRise of an Empirewill ever pace out of300 ’s gallant shadow .
If you ’re still on the fence about300 : Rise of an imperium , see out the trailer below :
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The Battle of Artemisium in ‘300: Rise of an Empire’
300 : Rise of an Empireruns 102 instant and is Rated roentgen for potent free burning sequence of conventionalised bloody vehemence throughout , a sex scene , nudity and some words . Now playing in 2D , 3D , and IMAX 3D theaters .
countenance us know what you thought of the movie in the comment section below . If you ’ve see the movie and need to discuss detail about the film without worrying about spoiling it for those who have n’t see it , please head over to our300 : Rise of an EmpireSpoilers Discussion .
For an in - depth word of the plastic film by the Screen Rant editor stop out our300 : hike of an Empireepisodeof theSR Underground podcast .
Eva Green as Artemisia in ‘300: Rise of an Empire’
found on Frank Miller ’s latest graphic novel , " Xerxes , " 300 : lift of an Empire follows greek general Themistokles ' attempts to unite all of Greece by execute the thrill that will change the course of the war . The movie pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces lead by mortal - turn - god Xerxes and the deadly Artemisia , the revengeful commander of the Iranian dark blue .
Rodrigo Santoro as King Xerxes in ‘300: Rise of an Empire’
Spartan’s fallen heroes in ‘300: Rise of an Empire’
Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel, “Xerxes,” 300: Rise of an Empire follows greek general Themistokles' attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. The movie pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and the deadly Artemisia, the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
