Movie Review: ‘300: Rise of an Empire’

“300” did an excellent job of porting the graphic side of Frank Miller’s graphic novel to the big screen, compensating for a surprising amount of flaws in its novel side. It’s hard to ignore the impact that “300” has had since, diving headfirst into cult film status with slow-motion sword fights and quotable dialogue aplenty.

“300: Rise of an Empire,” written by “300” director Zack Snyder but now under directing control of relative newbie Noam Murro, has a problem with letting go of familiarity. It’s not an unfair ideal – “300” clearly had a niche crowd, and there’s no reason that the same niche crowd shouldn’t be appealed by more of the same. So much more of the same, unfortunately, that even with a few dazzling factors, it’s hard to shine “300: Rise of an Empire” in a new light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps

For example, the film opens appropriately enough with a slow-motion axe swing towards the camera, created with all the IMAX-idealized beauty that a 3–D-obsessed future can provide, as if any other option was even viable. What “300: Rise of an Empire” lacks in originality, it makes up for in advancing the formula that worked well enough before to over-the-top levels, leaving nothing to the imagination except, notably, a sense of realism.

Taking place concurrently with the events of “300,” “300: Rise of an Empire” focuses on Themistocles of Athens (Sullivan Stapleton), an over-ambitious commander who would likely give up everything he loved for the good of his country. As Persia looms over Greece with a gargantuan army and the god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) at its side, Themistocles looks to the Greek city-states to accompany him into battle, ideally willing to risk their lives to save their nation in a final grand assault.

The Persian army is under the command of Artemisia (Eva Green), a broodingly crazy female warrior who, though born to Greek parents, fights for Persia after traumatic events in her childhood. The film focuses on several naval skirmishes between Themistocles and Artemisia’s fleets, including the Battle of Artemisium and Battle of Salamis, with dubious accuracy. Most of the fights in “300: Rise of an Empire” rely on an unheard-of amount of luck and the ability to execute the most accurate arrow shot in history. Three times. In a row.

At the very least, Murro’s efforts are pretty – and pretty gory. Like its predecessor, “300: Rise of an Empire” doesn’t squander a penny on visual effects, presenting a computer-generated showcase that, though better looking in smaller doses of television trailers than in the finished project, accomplishes its purpose. Fans of “300” will know what to expect, and they’ll wholeheartedly get it – an experiment in how many ways swords can make CGI blood come out of a man’s neck and torso.

And it’s pretty amazing how many fake gallons of blood can come out of characters so hollow. Stapleton does his best to recreate Gerard Butler’s star-empowering role as King Leonidas, but doesn’t find much to impress with other than mindlessly reciting speeches of national pride and fighting brother to brother. With Stapleton and his supporting cast of toned abs and facial hair, looking good might be all “300: Rise of an Empire” needs. But it wouldn’t hurt to throw some personality into the mix if there ever comes a “three-quel” to “300.”

Luckily, Green doesn’t need charisma to succeed. Her incredibly dark, menacing portrayal of Artemisia is a sight to behold, even more wondrous than the film’s special effects. With an elegant black tunic and gown, she convincingly holds every bulging male soldier in her command by the throat, as talented and wicked with her words as she is with her blades. If the film’s omnipresent threat of decapitation doesn’t cause a haunting cringe, Green’s empty glare into her enemies will.

What “300: Rise of an Empire” lacks in interesting protagonists, refreshingly sensible plotlines and clothes, it nearly makes up for in 3-D showmanship and Green’s evil glow. But those truly interested in “300: Rise of an Empire” won’t likely be going for those former things – it doesn’t follow up to “300” with flying colors, or any colors at all really, but succeeds in being mindless popcorn action fare.

Then again, if indulging in a glorified headache is the intended purpose, one might as well watch “300” on DVD again. It would probably be cheaper.