Rise Of An Empire proves to be an apt and more than serviceable follow-up to 300, which certainly improves as it goes along (particularly in terms of the dialogue). The prequel/side-quel/sequel concept proves to be very effective, in particular the flashbacks giving some narrative credibility to the god-like Xerxes (carried over from the earlier film) and Artemisia, whilst the narrative referencing of the original battle is used well. The former blood-and-sand palette is here replaced with more ominous blues, greens and greys, and the sea-bound battles certainly provide more blockbuster bang for your buck. Indeed, there are some stunning mythical visual moments created, from the appearance of the Persian fleet over the crest of a monumental wave to an enormous full moon hanging over a tempestuous summit between Artemisia and Themistokles. As the latter, Sullivan Stapleton provides a more thoughtful and increasingly haunted central figure compared to Butler's bluster, and whilst the increase in scope and scale here makes the focus less intense than in the first film, this is made up for as the increasingly hopeless stakes keep rising in spectacular fashion. Rise Of An Empire is a very visceral film, and it is interesting to note that in this testosterone-fuelled muscle-men-in-their-pants fest, it is the two female roles that are most noteworthy: Lena Headey provides welcome continuity and exposition, carrying her character's arc very well indeed, and Eva Green is magnificent in a deliciously demented characterisation with a performance of notable power and precision. The stylised-CG style works a second time, and whilst TV's Spartacus series have done much to dilute the and cheapen the concept since 300, it will be interesting to see if the novelty that made Zack Snyder's film a success will meet with the wider audience's approval the second time around here.
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