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300: Rise of an Empire is a action film directed by Noam Murro. Based on Frank Miller's latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster "300," this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.
Critic Consensus
Critical reception for '300: Rise of an Empire' is mixed, with most reviewers acknowledging its striking visuals and stylized action sequences as the film's strongest assets. Several critics found it entertaining enough for fans of the franchise and action genre, with some noting it as a competent companion piece to the original film. However, a recurring criticism is the weakness of the non-action sequences, with multiple reviewers pointing to bland characters, poor dialogue, inconsistent accents, and tedious attempts at character development that drag the film down between its battle scenes.
11 reviews · 5 positive · 3 mixed
AI-generated summary of 11 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyCritic Reviews (11)
"The problem arises in the scenes in between the action mayhem where we're forced to look at people who are even blander than in the previous movie. It's when you want to tell director Noam Murro dude just give us the action, not the lame and boring attempts at character development."Read full review ↗
"The film itself looks fantastic, awash in a red-sepia tone that dominates everything. Although you will have seen many action films set during a point of time in history (this one's set in 480 BC), there is plenty in here to keep your attention from start to finish."Read full review ↗
"The film exhibits a substantially better story-line, great performances from the cast, a slew of familiar faces from the first film and obviously excellent visuals."Read full review ↗
"A visually-stunning film that is definitely worth-watching. Though it's not as good as its predecessor, it's still an entertaining movie. Action movie fans, in particular, are bound to enjoy this flick."Read full review ↗
"It's all extravagantly daft, moves at a fair clip and is over before you expect it to be ."Read full review ↗
"If you suffered from a 300 hangover long enough to lust for another round of some exotic imagery and blood curling sword fights then Rise of the Empire is the prime ticket this weekend."Read full review ↗
"A little lower on the testosterone quotient and more stylish than the first, the sequel doesn't disappoint. Watch it and then probably read about the real battle of Artemisium."Read full review ↗
"After half an hour of watching the film, you feel the film rambles and gradually it becomes monotonous and wearisome. The dialogues are too feeble and laboured. What's more? The characters have inconsistent accents which make the entire involvement far-fetched."Read full review ↗
"If you are a fan of the franchise, the chances are you will be happy, for the rest, it is just another film that came and went by."Read full review ↗
"Made clearly to capitalize on the popularity of 300, Rise of an Empire is something like collected behind-the-scenes from the Persian invasion featured in 300. Whereas the first film chronicled, ab by ab, the Spartans' heroic stand in the Battle of Thermopylae against Xerxes's Persian invasion, Rise of an Empire is about the concurrent naval fight, the Battle of Artemisium."Read full review ↗
"With more thunder thighs than in a Silk Smitha retrospective, 300's sequel displays yet again the perils of pitting bare-chested fighters against a cavalry of archers. More clothes could do the trick in the inevitable sequel, in which The Man with the Golden Underwear will be given more to do than just distract audiences from the unrelenting carnage."Read full review ↗
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Sullivan Stapleton · Themistocles
- Eva Green · Artemisia
- Lena Headey · Queen Gorgo of Sparta
- Callan Mulvey · Scyllias
- David Wenham · Dilios
- Rodrigo Santoro · King Xerxes
- Jack O'Connell · Calisto
- Andrew Tiernan · Ephialtes
- Andrew Pleavin · Daxos
- Hans Matheson · Aischylos
- Yigal Naor · Darius I
- Noam Murro
- Gianni Nunnari
- Mark Canton
- Zack Snyder
- Deborah Snyder
- Bernie Goldmann
- Kurt Johnstad
- Junkie XL
- Simon Duggan
Director
Screenplay
Music
Cinematography
Editing
Details
- Release Date
- 7 March 2014
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Language
- English
User Ratings & Reviews
3 ratings from the community
Community Reviews (1)
300: Rise of an Empire. It's not a sequel, it's not prequel. Remember 300, where a brave Spartan leads 300 men to fight a big army. This 300 shows a parallel battle between a brave Athenian played occasionally good Sullivan Stapleton against the evil commander Artemisia played by terrific Eva Green. The movie scores in all technical parts like scorching visuals dipped in red sepia tone, haunting and thumping back ground score, neatly choreographed battle scenes which cover 75 % of the run-time and some intelligent use of 3D effects. But movie lacks a layered storyline and solid acting except by Eva Green who holds the movie together by her portrayal of ruthless, wicked and no barred evil commander. So if you were able to enjoy the overly done blood bath scenes of 300 then you won't find a problem enjoying Rise of an Empire as well. I am going with good 7 out of 10 for 300: Rise of an Empire. It's fun while it lasts.
















