Movie Review: "300: Rise of an Empire" Lacks Gerard Butler's Commanding Roar, But Is Still Satisfying To Fans Of The Original.

300: Rise of an Empire

Director: Noam Murro
Cast: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Callan Mulvey, and Rodrigo Santoro.
Rated R for strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity, and some language.

It's been eight years since director Zack Snyder delivered the action fantasy 300 that gave men all around the world new goals for their workout regimen. It may have provided more style than substance, but with Gerard Butler howling his cheesy, yet awesome lines about glory, death, and hell, who really cared about anything else than seeing these six-packed bad-asses spill tyrant blood? Zack Snyder has moved on to helming the the Superman/Batman universe, so the reigns have been passed over to director Noam Murro for this new installment in the 300 world. Though there are less iconic Snyder visuals, Murro does well at recreating the the look of the first film with a sequel/prequel that should satisfy most fans.


The best way to describe Rise of an Empire is to label it as more of an accompaniment to 300 as opposed to labeling it as a sequel or prequel. The film tells a lot of back story that occurs well before the events of the first film, then the majority of the action takes place while Leonidas and his 300 Spartans are defending the Hot Gates. The conclusion of the film goes beyond Leonidas' death as all of Greece unites to fight off Xerxes (Santoro) and his empire. The film follows Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) of Athens as he commands the navy to defend Greece from the threatening Persian ships commanded by the blood-thirsty, Greek-born Artemisia (the beautifully evil Eva Green).

Sullivan Stapleton is our new hero this time around. The Athenians are not the warriors that the Spartans are, but Themistokles is noble and a fierce warrior. Stapleton is convincing in the role, though lacks the charisma that Butler brought in truck loads. Sadly, the film does not also provide a hidden gem that the first film did with the marvelous Michael Fassbender. The film score is fine, but does not match the epic feel that was used in the predecessor. Those faults aside, Rise of an Empire is a solid accompaniment that has plenty of bloody action and a stellar villain in Eva Green. It's not easy to be a woman in these films, yet alone a woman who can terrify these manly men. Green is mad, tough, and crazy brilliant in the role. The film greatly benefits from her presence.

Fans of the first film should have their thirst quenched. It may not reach the guilty pleasure testosterone levels of the first, but it's a fine installment, and I really do hope that they move forward with a third and final film. My advice: bring in a little more star-power if possible.

RATING: B+