Summary
I never thought300: Rise of an Empirecould capture lightning in a bottle a second time, but the300sequel is justsohollow. Director Zack Snyder’s 2007 historical epic uses Frank Miller’s landmark graphic novels as inspiration to chronicle the Battle of Thermopylae.A key moment in the Greco-Persian Wars, Thermopylae saw King Leonidas leading 300 Spartans against the Persian “God-King” Xerxes. AlthoughZack Snyder didn’t return to direct the300sequel, the filmmaker once again co-wrote the over-the-top screenplay for300: Rise of an Empirewith Kurt Johnstad.
Despite mixed reviews from critics andGreek historians alike,300garnered a staggering $456 million at the box office, and cemented Zack Snyder’s style-over-substance approach to movie-making. Packed with grueling slow-motion sequences and copious amounts of blood and gore, the stylized epic captures the essence of the graphic novel, even if I find the characters a bit flat. Just shy of a decade later,300: Rise of an Empire hit theaters, drawing not just $337.6 million at the box office, but largely negative reviews. Still, there’s one bright spot for me: Eva Green’s Artemisia.
Eva Green’s Role As Artemisia Was The Best Part Of 300: Rise Of An Empire
Artemisia Is A Key Player In 300’s Fictionalized Greco-Persian Wars
Based on the Battles of Artemisium and Salamis,300: Rise of an Empireonce again takes liberties with its inspirations. Heavily criticized for its historical inaccuracy, the300series puts thrilling battles and epic action above all else, which is exactly why it delights me and other viewers. While Gerard Butler’s King Leonidus has iconic moments, he’s pretty one-note.300: Rise of an Empire’s cast of charactersdoesn’t fare much better, but Eva Green’s Artemisia is an exception. In the film,Artemisia is a formerly enslaved orphan who defects from Greece after her family is murderedby Greek hoplites.
Steely, insatiable, and gloriously unhinged, Eva Green’s Artemisia is a bloodthirsty naval officer.
This sets the stage for one of300: Rise of an Empire’s more compelling characters, as well as what I can only describe as Green’s scene-stealing performance. Steely, insatiable, and gloriously unhinged, Eva Green’s Artemisia is a bloodthirsty naval officer. If her thrilling battle scenes with300: Rise of an Empire’s Themistocles(Sullivan Stapleton) weren’t enough to sway minds,Artemisia transforms herself into the mastermind behind Xerxes' ascension to god-like status. After Darius is murdered, Artemisia convinces Xerxes to embark on a treacherous journey that will anoint him God-King, further fueling his soldiers' desire to destroy Greece.
‘300: Rise of an Empire’ Review
It may not court casual moviegoers as easily as its predecessor, but Murro succeeds at delivering a 300 sequel that fans will enjoy watching.
The 300 Sequel Wouldn’t Have Worked Without Eva Green & Her Character
Artemisia Influences 300’s Xerxes & Searches For Her Own Revenge
Eva Green’s300: Rise of the Empirecharacter has personality in spades, which makes a massive difference in a movie that’s otherwise devoid of much character.The300franchise’s stylish aesthetic and singular approach to filmmaking doesn’t quite justify the sequel’s existence.For me, the film’s decision to zero in on the revenge-fueled Artemisia — a deliciously power-hungry warrior who uses the larger conflict between Persia, Athens, and Sparta to her advantage — allows300: Rise of the Empireto at least make a compelling argument that the Battle of Thermopylae wasn’t the only clash worth chronicling.
As of June 2024,300: Rise of an Empireis streaming on Hulu.
300
Loosely based on Frank Miller’s comic series of the same name, Zack Snyder’s 300 tells the legend of the historical battle of Thermopylae. It follows King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) as he leads a small force of 300 Spartans against the amassed Persian army of 300,000. Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.
