300: Rise of an Empire

Did You Know?

• 300: Rise of an Empire is the sequel to the 2006 film 300 and is based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel Xerxes, which expands on the events of the first movie.
• The film focuses on the Battle of Artemisium, which was a naval conflict that took place at the same time as the Battle of Thermopylae, the focus of the original 300 film.
• The film’s visual style, using heavy CGI and slow-motion effects, is similar to that of the first film, with the action scenes and landscapes designed to create a graphic novel-like atmosphere.
• Eva Green plays the villain Artemisia, a Persian commander who seeks revenge for the brutal death of her family. Green’s performance received praise for bringing depth to her character.
• Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) is the leader of the Greek forces in the film, and his character is portrayed as a charismatic and determined strategist fighting for Greece’s survival against the Persians.
• The film’s naval battles were a major shift from the first 300 film’s land-based conflict, adding a new dynamic to the action sequences and bringing an added sense of scale.
• The movie was heavily influenced by Greek history, though many elements were exaggerated or fictionalized for dramatic effect, including the portrayal of Xerxes and Artemisia.
• Rodrigo Santoro reprises his role as Xerxes, who is depicted as a larger-than-life, godlike figure, continuing his role from the first film.
• 300: Rise of an Empire features a significant amount of computer-generated imagery (CGI), including the recreation of naval battles, allowing for spectacular and larger-than-life visuals.
• The film was released in 3D, but many critics felt that the 3D effects didn’t enhance the film’s experience and that it was primarily a gimmick to capitalize on the post-conversion trend in Hollywood.