300 : Rise of an Empire (2014, Noam Murro)

While the 300 Spartan soldiers led by their brave King Leonidas march against the powerful army of Xerxes, an Athenian navy commander named Themistocles tries to unite the Greek city-states, including Sparta, to fight for democracy and freedom.

Of heroes and gods

Rise of an Empire begins with the war of Marathon when Themistocles, then a simple soldier kills the Persian King Darius in front of the then prince Xerxes. Themistocles becomes a well respected leader while Xerxes turns into a god king.

  

300: Legacy - This is Greece!

Although the film is about what happens before, during and especially after 300, the title is misleading. Indeed, some of the previous characters are present but this is not about Sparta anymore. The girth and the posture of the warriors can testify that. The shout and force of Gerard Butler are replaced by Sullivan Stapleton’s charisma and subterfuge. However, whereas Rise of an Empire is supposed to be less physical, the war scenes especially the combats at sea have no reason to envy the Spartans.    

What I think: nothing new but pleasant to watch

 

Quotes

Artemisia: Only the gods can defeat Greece, you will be a god king

Xerxes : For glory’s sake, for vengeance’s sake, war!

Themistocles : Better we show them, we chose to die on our feet, rahter than live on our knees

Sullivan Stapleton (Themistocles)