A.C.’s Review: After
being pushed back from its original fall 2013 release date 300: RISE OF
AN EMPIRE – the sequel/equal/prequel to the very successful Frank Miller
created and Zach Snyder directed THE
300 has finally arrived in theaters.
The
original was a take on the epic battle of 300 Spartans vs an
overwhelming force of Persians invaders out to take over Greece. Culled
from Frank Miller’s graphic novel the first film
broke ground by employing a visual style that made it seem as lifted
from the comic book page as well as making a star out of the unknown
Gerard Butler.
In
the new film Zach Snyder relinquished directing duties but penned the
script and what he did was brilliant. The elephant in the room is how do
you make a follow up to a movie where the
story has already been told and you don’t have Gerard Butler back as
Leonidas the leader of the Spartans since he perished in the last reel
of the original film?
By
making it a prequel/equal/sequel. Snyder’s excellent idea was to focus
the movie on a different band of heroes that confront the immense
Persian naval fleet seen in the back ground in
the original movie. This movie opens shortly before Leonidas and the
300 leave to mount their epic land defense of Sparta. Therefore the hero
of this film a Greek general of what would be analogous to modern day
Marine General is seen visiting Sparta to rally
support but Leonidas is conveniently off screen consulting the oracle
as if to attack the Persians so the General speaks to the Queen (Lena
Headly-returning).
Once
the sea battle begins there are bits and snatches of dialogue that
convey that the action is happening concurrently to Leonidas battle to
hold off the Persians with his 300 men.
Anyone
who did not perish in the first movie (and even some who did via
flashback) Snyder deftly weaves into the story whether in major roles or
glorified cameos. Snyder did such a great
job with this screenplay it astounds me that his MAN OF STEEL movie was
one of the worst films of 2013.
In
this film Snyder creates an epic villain in the female commander of the
entire Persian navy and who is the right hand woman of Xerxes the God/King
and leader of the invading Persian forces. Soon it becomes clear
however that the naval commander played by Eva Green is the true power
behind the throne.
If
I had to describe this character it would be to think of her as a
female Darth Vader. A fearsome force to contend with but also with a
tragic back story as to why this Greek woman would
be fighting alongside the Persians. She is the best character in the
film hands down.
This
is an overall excellent film in terms of the characters and the visual
effects similar to the first film. The over exaggerated blood splatter
is a bit much though because if you believe
the movie the human body is the equivalent to a child’s balloon filled
to capacity with blood and sprays everywhere under the cut from a sword.
Best
of all the film even leaves room open for a sequel and visiting this
world again wouldn’t be a bad way to spend a couple hours.
A.C.’s Rating: Full price for sure but not necessary to view in 3D. Just fine in 2D..
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