Will a united Greece be able to defeat the might of Xerxes?
Noam Murro’s 300: Rise of an Empire has stirred up both resentment and admiration in the fans of its predecessor; Zack Snyder’s 300. Set in a parallel timeframe to the events of the first film we follow the journey of Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton), an Athenian general who courageously opposes the Persian King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his fiery naval commander Artemisia (Eva Green) in a clash off the coast of Greece; the infamous Battle of Salamis.
I’ll be honest; I walked into the cinema with pretty low expectations. I heard from a few friends that the film was poor and had read several negative reviews, however I was pleasantly surprised. From the moment the film began, I was captivated by the carnage, drama and stunning cinematography.
The performances were great all around but I found the most interesting to be that of Eva Green. Artemisia is a very complicated antagonist, and one who I found to be much more compelling than Xerxes. She is one of the rarities that blur the line between good and evil. Essentially she is a grey character. Artemisia is against the Greeks for two reasons; vengeance for her former enslavement and the murder of her family, and out of loyalty to the court and kingdom which saved her life, and granted her a renewed purpose. Her hatred of the Greeks is justified, and I found myself sympathising with her plight, even though at heart I was rooting for the Greeks and Themistocles.
Artemisia (Eva Green)
Artemisia interestingly enough could also be considered a tragic character on some levels. Throughout the film she searches for someone she could call her equal, and feels the ranks of the Persian army and navy lack such an individual. She finds her match in Themistocles, but this brief moment of lust is doomed to failure, as Themistocles certainly is her equal. Stapleton performs with the same convincing conviction to his cause as Eva Green. Themistocles is as loyal to the state of Athens and Greek democratic principles of freedom, as Artemisia is to the court of Xerxes. Ultimately they are unified by the same traits which also divide them, and can never stand together in unification.
On the note of performances I would like to commend Lena Headey for an honourable return as Queen Gorgo of Sparta. Lena Heady commands a presence on the screen of comparable significance to Eva Green. Headey was very convincing. I could see the rage and the Spartan lust for battle simmering from her face in the final clash. Her conversations with Themistocles over Sparta’s contribution to the war effort were very realistic, embodying clearly the historical tensions between Athens and Sparta, comparable to the Cold war tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. Viewers will sympathise with her plight, and applaud the strength with which Queen Gorgo operates in such pressing times.
Gorgo (Lena Headey) gives a speech to the Spartan army.
The cinematography and special effects were breathtaking, however I feel as with the first film, there may have been an overreliance on visual effects. The naval battles were extraordinarily done, and I commend Murro for his diverse range of shots to create the chaotic and choppy feel of a naval battle during a storm. The blood however is an example of overreliance. The blood splatter feels unrealistic, it is clunky, and to me looks more like thick molasses rather than human blood. Also there is an overuse of slow motion during the battle scenes which for me became quite tiring, and eventually ineffective. Slow motion can be used very effectively to enhance a sequence or place emphasise on an action, however here it has been haphazardly applied to almost every action sequence. A more strategic use of slow motion sequences would be a wise consideration for any future sequel.
Battle of Salamis
To conclude, 300: Rise of an Empire is a noteworthy sequel. I feel that it doesn’t surpass its predecessor, however I do conclude that is of equal quality. I would however steer clear of the 3D if you can possibly avoid it, unless you are of course a diehard 3D fan. I hear rumours of a third instalment in the series, rumours which I eagerly await to see if they come to fruition. Seriously, check out this movie.
7/10
Check out the trailer below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps]
-JoelE
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