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2007’s ‘300’ made stars of director Zack Snyder and star Gerard Butler. Many thought, given the somewhat definitive ending of that film, that a sequel may be a difficult prospect, particularly with Snyder having left the director’s chair (he produces this film) to helm ‘Man of Steel’ and its upcoming sequel. However, we are now faced with just that- sort of- in ‘300: Rise of An Empire’. Set before, during and after the events of the first film (so a sequel, prequel and companion film rolled into one!), this movie follows Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton), a heroic leader of the Athenian army who must take on the massive, brutal Persian forces, led by the blood-crazed warrior Artemisia (Eva Green). The Athenian troops are outnumbered and outgunned (or should that be ‘outsworded’?), but Themistocles’ mind of military tactics gives him an edge. The film also tells the origin story of Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), the ‘god king’ of Persia whom rises to power through Artemisia’s manipulation.  Visually at least, this follow up packs a lot in. We have epic sea battles, vast cityscapes and a whole lot of violence. As the umpteenth limb gets chopped off, or you dodge out of the way of the 3D arterial blood spray, it becomes clear that this incredibly gratuitous violence is making up for something. That something turns out to be a general lack of flair- the violence is plentiful, the effects are impressive, but there just aren’t the same flourishes in direction or script that made you invest so thoroughly in the first film. Stapleton has the unenviable task of following the memorably macho turn from Butler, and as such comparisons between the two don’t do the new guy any favours. There is charm in his performance, but just not the energy we are used to. The same cannot be said for Green, who makes the film her own with a vivid, robust performance. Every inch the warrior, she puts 100% into the role and is one of the key factors that keep you interested in the film. A few faces from the past return, most notably Lena Headey’s Queen Gorgo, delivering the occasional narration and intense speech. Director Noam Munro’s film can be entertaining at times in a gawdy, excessive sort of way, but a patchy story and absence of swagger means it fails to be anything special. 300 is out in cinemas now.
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