300: Rise of an empire

Director: Noam Murro.

Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey and Rodrigo Santoro.

Genre: Action/adventure.

Run Time: 1 hour 43 minutes.

Rating: 6/10.

Rated: R.

In 2007, the film 300 was an international hit. It told the story of how King Leonidas, played by Gerald Butler, led 300 Spartans to battle the Persian god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his powerful army of 300,000. Because of its global success, it was only a matter of time before a sequel hit our screens. Seven years later, the ‘guy flick’ is back.

The new film is based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel, Xerxes, and takes the action to a fresh battlefield — the sea. This film pits the Greek General Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) against attacking Persian forces, ruled by self-proclaimed god-king Xerxes, son and heir to King Darius, and led by his naval commander, the evil Artemisia (Eva Green). 

As an Athenian politician who earnestly believes in democracy, General Themistocles attempts to unite the disparate Greek city-states to fight together against the Persian invaders, even including his traditional enemies, the Spartans. But he runs into major opposition from Spartan Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey).

Thumbs Up

While Sullivan Stapleton does a decent job in his portrayal of legendary warrior Themistokles of Athens, it is Eve Green who, surprisingly, steals the show with her memorable portrayal of a dastardly villain (Artemisia). Also, the visuals are stunning, and the fighting scenes well-choreographed.

Thumbs Down

While violence in healthy doses is not a bad thing, this film goes overboard, adding gore and violence even when it is pointless. It is pretty much a blood fest. Also, while 300 could at least brag about some form of political intrigue, this film has nothing; there is only violence.

It also feels bloated, and although the slow motion visuals are intriguing at the beginning, this visual technique is overused.

Lastly the film’s timeline is a bit confusing, since events occur during and after the fall of Spartan King Leonidas, the time zones are not always explained.

Verdict

This is one for the boys! If you liked 300, you will like this.