Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, and Rodrigo Santoro
Directed by: Noam Murro
Screenplay by: Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad
Ladies and gentlemen, Xerxes has returned! An important note: if you have not seen the first 300, leave this page, watch the film, and then read my review for this film.
The Persians are attacking Greece. Their army is so vast it seems almost infinite compared to the small Greek army. On the Greek side, Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton), attempts to unite all of the city states of Greece to form a united army to defend their land against the Persian army, whose goal it is to conquer Greece for the god-king, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Xerxes's naval commander, Artemisia (Eva Green), leads the attack against Themistokles and his army. Artemisia is a Greek expat who seeks vengeance for the death of her family. Will Themistokles be able to unite Greece and defeat the Persians? Or will Greece fall victim to the wraths of Xerxes and Artemisia?
This story takes place at the same time as the story of the first 300 film, so you will hear a lot about king Leonidas of Sparta (played by Gerard Butler in the first film) leading 300 men to a place known as the Hot Gates to fend off the Persian army attacking from there. This is precisely why I recommend seeing the first film before the new one.
At times the storyline gets confusing because it takes place at the same time as the story from the first film. It is most confusing at the beginning when they introduce the background to the story, but clears up as the film goes on. So my suggestion, sit tight. All will be explained by the time you leave the theater.
If you get queasy at the sight of blood, this movie might not be the best for you. As terrible as the blood effects are, this is perhaps the bloodiest movie I have ever seen and certainly the bloodiest film I've seen in a long time.
In terms of the acting, Sullivan Stapleton delivers a decent performance, leaning on the side of weak. This is a movie where his character could lead the charge through the entire movie, but fails to. Rodrigo Santoro brings Xerxes to life in an excellent fashion, but sadly has very little screen time throughout the film. Lena Headey delivers a solid performance, but one short of her performance as Cersei Lannister in the HBO series, Game of Thrones. She also, has too little screen time. The best acting performance goes to Eva Green. It is her embodiment of Artemisia that makes her such a menacing character. This film clearly revolves more around her and she delivers a truly awesome performance. Hers is definitely the strongest performance of the year, and one of the strongest performances so far in 2014.
Unfortunately, there are no lines in this film that will become classic movie lines, like in the first film. Anybody who has seen the first film will know which line I am talking about. Hint: The words "this" and "is" and "Sparta" are all involved.
Overall, this is a very strong movie. It will not become a modern classic like its predecessor is, but if you have seen that film, you won't want to miss Rise of an Empire.
I give 300: Rise of an Empire a B+.
Directed by: Noam Murro
Screenplay by: Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad
Ladies and gentlemen, Xerxes has returned! An important note: if you have not seen the first 300, leave this page, watch the film, and then read my review for this film.
The Persians are attacking Greece. Their army is so vast it seems almost infinite compared to the small Greek army. On the Greek side, Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton), attempts to unite all of the city states of Greece to form a united army to defend their land against the Persian army, whose goal it is to conquer Greece for the god-king, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Xerxes's naval commander, Artemisia (Eva Green), leads the attack against Themistokles and his army. Artemisia is a Greek expat who seeks vengeance for the death of her family. Will Themistokles be able to unite Greece and defeat the Persians? Or will Greece fall victim to the wraths of Xerxes and Artemisia?
This story takes place at the same time as the story of the first 300 film, so you will hear a lot about king Leonidas of Sparta (played by Gerard Butler in the first film) leading 300 men to a place known as the Hot Gates to fend off the Persian army attacking from there. This is precisely why I recommend seeing the first film before the new one.
At times the storyline gets confusing because it takes place at the same time as the story from the first film. It is most confusing at the beginning when they introduce the background to the story, but clears up as the film goes on. So my suggestion, sit tight. All will be explained by the time you leave the theater.
If you get queasy at the sight of blood, this movie might not be the best for you. As terrible as the blood effects are, this is perhaps the bloodiest movie I have ever seen and certainly the bloodiest film I've seen in a long time.
In terms of the acting, Sullivan Stapleton delivers a decent performance, leaning on the side of weak. This is a movie where his character could lead the charge through the entire movie, but fails to. Rodrigo Santoro brings Xerxes to life in an excellent fashion, but sadly has very little screen time throughout the film. Lena Headey delivers a solid performance, but one short of her performance as Cersei Lannister in the HBO series, Game of Thrones. She also, has too little screen time. The best acting performance goes to Eva Green. It is her embodiment of Artemisia that makes her such a menacing character. This film clearly revolves more around her and she delivers a truly awesome performance. Hers is definitely the strongest performance of the year, and one of the strongest performances so far in 2014.
Unfortunately, there are no lines in this film that will become classic movie lines, like in the first film. Anybody who has seen the first film will know which line I am talking about. Hint: The words "this" and "is" and "Sparta" are all involved.
Overall, this is a very strong movie. It will not become a modern classic like its predecessor is, but if you have seen that film, you won't want to miss Rise of an Empire.
I give 300: Rise of an Empire a B+.
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