If you watched any of the NFL playoffs yesterday you surely saw the TV spots for 300: Rise of an Empire, but I wonder if any of you watched with the dull fascination I experienced. Eight years ago, filmmaking such as this appeared interesting and unique only now I looked at it as lifeless, derivative and detached.
From my perspective, what made Zack Snyder‘s 300 such a success was its unique visual approach. Yes, it was really nothing more than a bunch of slow motion violence drenched in digital blood, but it had the appearance of being something “new”. Now you’d be hard-pressed to come across a summer blockbuster that doesn’t utilize all the same green screen techniques. Fortunately for the 300 franchise it has the ability of being one of the early pioneers in the field of near 100% green screen features turning the graphic novel work of Frank Miller into cinematic worlds, Robert Rodriguez‘s Sin City being another. Maybe this idea of “first” will work in its favor once the new movie is released.
The visual style is attractive and sometimes a lot of fun to watch, but I can’t help but wonder if 300: Rise of an Empire is going to feel dated at this point. The storytelling behind Snyder’s 300 isn’t nearly as interesting as the visuals, which made repeat viewings a little disappointing, though I still find the movie to be a satisfying diversion. Yet, my interest in Rise of an Empire is minimal at best.
Originally slated to hit theaters in 2013, 300: Rise of an Empire arrives on March 7. Check out the newest trailer directly below along with a couple of new posters from the movie.
Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel “Xerxes” and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster 300, this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: Rise of an Empire pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemesia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
