If you can get past 300: Rise of an Empire being another Zack Snyder movie, and another Zack Snyder 300 movie, you might just go to this one because it looks like it could be a solid popcorn movie. But a better reason would be to watch Eva Green and Lena Headey face off in a fantasy action flick.
Rise of an Empire is loosely based on Greek battles before, during, and after the battle of Thermopylae, the focus of Frank Miller’s graphic novel on which the original 300 film was based. History buffs will find it difficult to get past most of the costuming and strange masked legions of Xerxes and his allies.
This movie trailer suggests Lena Headey’s Queen of Sparta is part of a plot to avenge the death of her husband from the original film, King Leonidas (Gerard Butler). Eva Green plays Artemesia, based on an actual commander of the Persian navy, and the only female commander according to the Greek historian Herodotus in books 7 and 8 of his Histories.
The worst part of the original 300 was Xerxes, played by Rodrigo Santoro as a freakishly dressed warlord. Xerxes is back as the villain in this new film, allied with Artemisia, which follows the historical accounts. But the latest preview looks to feature more Artemesia than the others, so maybe there’s hope for this film yet. Eva Green has turned out some excellent performances, including playing Serafina Pekkala in The Golden Compass, and Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. (We’re trying to forget her role in Dark Shadows).
Check out this trailer for 300: Rise of an Empire:
Look for 300: Rise of an Empire in theaters March 7, 2014.
C.J. Bunce
Editor
borg.com
