300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Thanks for the memories!

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

I am not a particular huge fan of the original 300, but I do like it for what it is. I'm afraid this is not up to par quality wise.I thought this was to be a sequel, but I was wrong, it's more in parallel of the original, with a bit of prequel and sequel around.I did appreciate seeing some of the original cast back, it was definitely nice, even though the movie is not about them (too bad!).This movie follows the previous one with its central characters, and unfortunately the comparison isn't good for it, and this is exactly my biggest issue.* Leonidas is replaced by Themistokles:I have no problem with Stapleton, he seems a great actor, but unfortunately his character is far less interesting. He's pretty much a good guy that cares a lot for everyone with little humor, I found it somewhat boring to watch compared to our previous lead. I understand that it represents the difference between the Athenians and the Spartans, but it doesn't really work out for me, maybe it would have with a better co-lead.* Xerxes is replaced by Artemisia:Now this really did not work. Xerxes was awesome (in limited quantity of course) whereas Artemisia not quite. There was something about her makeup that made me wonder if she was on meth or a goth or something else that did not belong... Forgetting that, her build is not of a warrior, there is no way for her to wield a sword and a shield all day like this. Why are all the guys huge but her, the best warrior of Persia, so tiny? and yet she's the only one wielding not one sword, but 2! (yes yes I understand skills... still I'd expect more a build like Ferris Hellig, especially for a 300 main character!). Some of her scenes were fine, even if not super interesting, but I felt some of her last speeches lacked feelings).* Dillos was replaced by Aeskylos:It's not that Dillos is such an awesome character in 300, but he's good enough in most of his scenes and great in his last ones. I never felt anything good about Aeskylos, this time it's probably both the character and the actor. It's like they needed Themistokles to have some discussions so they sort of forced this guy in, but he serves no real purpose.* The father and son are replaced by... another father and son! The evolution of their relationship is interestingly opposite, as again one would expect between Spartans and Athenians and that was good, but the characters are not that interesting and the boy that needs to prove his worth to his father is not that fun that we needed it. The dad is fine, I think he should have taken over Aeskylos's role and have more screen time.* The multiple Persian armies are replaced by the Persian Navy: That too was fairly boring in comparison. In the first one you never really know what will be coming next, but here it's always the same... Well it is less insulting to Persians though since it has no demons/monsters this time :)The main characters, which is what the movie is really about, are unfortunately fairly boring. The sex scene has no purpose but itself... I could understand one of the 2 characters taking part in it, but definitely not the other A few things seem to contradict between the 2 movies as well, but nothing too major. The first battle had so much blood, they even splashed it on the camera, it was annoying.All in all, nothing to remember.

Honestly this was entertaining to watch and had a well mounted story, yeah it wasn't historically correct, whatever, for that matter go see a documentary, honestly i found it amusing and good not deserving of the 3/10 people are giving it, 300 was a super movie and people are putting this one in a bad spot because of the shadow of the original and that's not fair, this isn't Lalaland or some utter garbage movie like that.

Muscle, that is.In battle scenes the Greeks are huge, solid, muscular guys. In between battles they're skinny, pampered Hollyweird actors. The difference is so striking it's absurd.The main bad guy, I'll call her Bitchocles because I can't remember her name, constantly complains her generals can't give her victory. But other than butchering all of Xerxes' advisors, so she can convince him to go to war, she shows 0 ability at strategy or warfare. How about a suggestion? How about a plan? Nah, Bitchocles would rather butcher her own men when they fail.The action isn't bad. Lots of blood flows and spatters in slo-mo, all the better to show off the in battle scene CGI muscle bodies.

The first time you watch it, you may expect it to be like the first 300 movie. In fact, it is, but it's story line is developing in parallel with the first one, and is different.Because of some expectations, it's at the second watching that I've been really able to admire all the beauty and the perfection of this second story.Everything in this movie is perfect. The actors are fabulous, the costumes are beautiful, the soundtrack is marvellous, and all the work they put into the visual effects, make every shot a feast for the eyes.I mean, seriously, you could stop the movie at any frame and it would make a poster of it. It's how beautiful and perfect it is.So forget all the negative reviews, and watch it by yourself, and if possible, twice.