In 2005, the cinema universe basically fell in love with Frank Miller and his graphic novels. The first venture into the black and white from the brilliant Miller was the sumptuous Sin City which did adequately well on the big screen but really took off as a cult classic on DVD, surely in part due to the look of the film and a simply brilliant cast.
300 came a year later, the story of the three hundred Spartans who managed to guard a small pass into Greece against the might of thousands of Persians. Although not exactly what the great Greek writers might have imagined as the adaptation of the great tale of the Spartans, 300 was a lot of fun with a male cast to die for (let’s admit it, no woman was unimpressed with Gerard Butler here). On top of that, it certainly didn’t do the film any harm that everyone caught on to the catch phrase “THIS IS SPARTA!!”
Rise of an Empire begins where 300 left off with the three hundred dead Spartans who defended the pass to Greece from the Persians under their King Xerxes. With the threat of war to Greece, the city of Athens begins to prepare for the invasion of the Persian king who threatens their democracy and way of life. Their hero, Themistokles, who previously killed Xerxes’ father in battle, attempts to unite the city states of Greece against their common enemy.
However, this task is easier said than done and Themistokles discovers that the all-important fighting state Sparta will not join in the war due to the loss of their 300 finest warriors. The Athenians are forced to face the Persians alone, but are far from prepared to face the mighty Persians under the rule of their naval commander, the pride of Xerxes’ army, Artemisia.
Despite the fact that 300: Rise of an Empire is a pretty needless sequel, it is for the most part pretty enjoyable. Even with the obvious green screen, the film still looks pretty good with the obvious nod to the brilliant Miller. There is something about the 300 films that makes Ancient Greece look far sassier and more exceptional than it ever could have looked in reality.
However, like its predecessor, Rise of an Empire glosses over more of the historical facts to make this film exactly what it wants it to be. Of course, 300 is never meant to be a historical lesson but it does however roll out quite the back story for the movie, in fact, it’s probably too much of a back story which tears away from the action sequences.
The cast are actually fine but the real shining light is the beautiful Eva Green who the camera clearly loves. Green almost looks like she is relishing the role of the emotionless Artemisia a little too much, especially in those fight scenes with Themistokles but this just makers her appearance on screen thrilling. There really is something for everyone here, half-naked men AND half-naked women. Well, if that’s what you are looking for, of course…
Don’t be expecting much here, but in terms of a Saturday night action film that looks pretty good, Rise of an Empire does enough to entertain.
