Greece fights the Persian Army, Bureaucracy And Itself in the visually compelling 300: Rise of an Empire
ON CONTINUITY
ARTH VADER (AV): Those wacky Spartans are at it again, Pontificator. This time, the kinsmen of the ‘brave 300’ are rallying to overcome invasion, inner turmoil and a lackluster screenplay in this all-new tales of Sparta installment. The film does deviate from the original as it does NOT focus primarily on Sparta. All of Greece is under attack by the powerful Persian horde that vanquished King Leonidas and his 299 ‘body guards.’ How faithful this film is to the actual invasion of Greece by Persia is a discussion left to much more scholarly folk than I, but the bonding element is the threat of Greece falling by subjugation to Persia.
CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING
AV: Some of our surviving favorites return like Leena “I’m still queen Gorgo” Headey and dreamy David “One-eyed Farimir” Wenham. Lest we forget the raining champion of so-what villains, Rodrigo “Tullio” Santoro as Xerxes. I won’t lie, though Ponty, this movie played a bit funky for me. Sullivan “Gangster Squad” Stapleton headlined as the likable noble warrior-leader Themistocles. Israeli-born director Noam Murro continues the near 100% CGI look of 33:RoaE. While the lighting is graphic novel-quality and stunning, it all just felt a little too… fake. I can suspend disbelief quite a bit, but this movie just asked a bit too much. Pontifcator?
SPECIAL EFFECTS
AV: The film’s first-rate effects were masterful if not erring on the side of the stupid. Over-the-top gore is not new but the amount of blood gushing from each vengeful slash and gash is just comical. The land and cityscapes were fine (all-3D rendered of course) but the real visual victory here were the sea warfare scenes. Tense, beautifully shot and well realized, for me this was the “why” of this movie.
TAKING A DEEPER LOOK
AV: Not sure this film lived up to the sequel of 300. I enjoyed the visuals, the gladiatorial-style blood-letting, the revenge-driven actions of both sides. But, there was some misfires here, too. First, the movie is almost COMPLETELY devoid of Spartans, the very group whose defiance led to this conflict enveloping all of Greece. Second, the film is almost entirely based on the open sea and the impossibly small number of Greek defenders hold out against a massive sea-borne armada that covers the ocean. Next, (Spoiler Alert!) Xerxes escapes! Really? Shutting him down shuts down this whole conflict. Are we trying that hard for a third film? Ugh. Lastly, speaking of Xerxes, his whole quickie origin was so shoddily handled, we should have been given an entire stand-alone movie of his beginnings. So close, Hollywood, so close…
TP: No matter how deep you go, you will always come back to incredible and abundant action and special effects. I didn’t walk into this film saying show me the Spartans. I walked into the film saying show me the action…and I got it! Trust me, I saw it twice already. Even with all of that going for the film, they were able to squeeze in the origin of Xerxes assault on Greece, the origin of Xerxes, and the origin of Artemisia. They even managed to squeeze in a sex scene (at least I think it was a sex scene). With tremendous sea battles, it just speaks volumes of this film to have been shot entirely in a green room…and never once on the water, the main environment of the film. I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn this. The next level in filming has been displayed, and it comes broad chested holding a sword.
ON SEQUELS
AV: It is likely this movie, though not entirely deserving, will see a third installment to round out a trilogy. If that happens, the merits will still rely largely on the success of the first film. Still, all said, I am a sucker for this genre and Frank Miller’s original 300 (graphic novel) is a certified graphic novel masterpiece. I could do without the angry sex sequence though.
RATE IT!
ARTH VADER rates 300: Rise of an Empire: This movie had it’s moments but we are living in the age of the sequels and prequels. While hardly a worthy predecessor to the first 300 film, Rise of an Empire does satisfy, somehow. The action is shoveled at us from the word go and is full of cool but relatively forgettable combat action shots. Still fun, and even though I feel gypped for seeing this flick in 3D (so not worth it) the overall experience is a good one. And thus, I hack and slash at six (6) busted blocks and I am left standing in a sea of heroes’ blood. (Eww.)
THE PONTIFICATOR rates 300: Rise of an Empire: With new ground being broken in effects and fighting sequences, this film surpasses the first one, and with an Athenian being the main character, that says a lot! I’ve 3D IMAXed myself to this film twice already, and am certain there will be a third showing in my future…it’s just that good. Without any reservations, this film cleaves nine (9) bloody blocks, for the freedom of Greece.
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