300: Rise of an Empire | Review

This film was originally part of our official “Guide To 2013 Summer Films”, but was later pushed back to a March 7, 2014 release date. Throughout the almost year wait, Warner Brothers, slowly released teasers and trailers in which they teased the story of the last film with hints to the plot of the sequel.

From the moment the film opens we see a beautiful tapestry of color, and stunning visuals that immediately brings you back into the world we left off in 300. As we look on while Xerxes lords over the fallen 300 and beheads King Leonidas.

It is at this point we are welcomed back with the narration that introduces Themistocles (played by Sullivan Stapleton), and how he became a legend throughout Greece. Themistocles’ appearance in the film shows us in seconds that this is not the first film, but a darker, and gorier upgrade with the epic opening battle at Marathon against an invading Persian army led by Darius. Unlike the great warrior, King Leonidas, Themistocles, is a brilliant tactician and he rose to the ranks, and to political power when with a single arrow that kills Darius.

It is this very act that will come to haunt, Themistocles, in the coming years, as the death of Darius will come to motivate his son Xerxes. Upon hearing of his death his trusted general Artemisia (played by Eva Green), returns. She is a former slave that is trained to be a ruthless warrior who kills all in her wake.  Artemisia is the opposite of Themistocles, where is he fights for a unified Greece, she fights to see it burn, and all its people dead at her feet. It is this plan that she sets into motion when she misleads Xerxes into thinking that his father’s last wish was for him to go to war with all of Greece.

She calls on evil magic to convert him from man to a heartless “God-King” , and it is quickly apparent that Artemisia is the true power/brains behind Xerxes empire. She puts not only the thought in his mind but the words in his mouth that set all of Persia at war with Greece.

Once Xerxes takes the mantle of power he truly rules with a vengeance destroying everyone that crosses him and swearing after he takes out the 300 Spartans to burn Athens to the ground.  It is during his battle with King Leonidas, that the story takes off.

Artemisia and Themistocles go to war battling in the sea which adds a new aspect to the franchise offering a much richer look with brighter colors, yet a dark theme. The fact that they are at sea adds an interesting dynamic to how they set up the scenes, and how the fights between enemies are laid out. It is quickly apparent that Artemisia’s forces are no match for Themistocles’ strategy, and he quickly embarrasses all her generals.

Themistocles’ strategic prows lead Artemisia to request his presence under the guise of coming to a peaceful resolution, upon his acceptance of her request he quickly notices she’s misled him. She offers him a deal much like Xerxes’ deal with King Leonidas, but there is sexual tension between two of them.  She says she will spear his fleet and will allow him to rule at her side. Despite the very welcomed offer, Themistocles turns her down; feeling rejected Artemisia swears revenge on him and his entire fleet.

She is a woman of her words she brings all her fiery upon them and the final battle is visual and dramatically awe-inspiring. Eva Green steals the show with her performance as Artemisia, a performance of a villain worthy of history books, and one that will stand the testament of time. Even as the film ended you are left with hopes of another sequel in your mind the possibilities are almost endless as Greek history is vast, and this battle goes on are decades.

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Verdict: See it now, see it twice, and see it in 3D!!!!