300: Rise of an Empire

I was thinking, why does it make sense to continue something that is closed and stands perfectly on its own? The intentions are obviously purely commercial, which is evident in the story itself, which forcibly tries to fit into the events of the first film and succeeds in avoiding most of the characters from the first film. It doesn't change the fact that it's just flashy masturbation over the modern concept of action, which is indeed brutal, but that's still not enough, right? Some percentage for a naked Eva Green. That view is worth it. (17/08/2014)

Another great action movie full of awesome effects and especially slow-motion shots. I didn't mind that it’s been done before, because I like this type of movies, but there are quite a few flaws. Most importantly, the main characters in the two movies lack consistency, and there are virtually no memorable moments that I wouldn’t forget in a week. Don’t even get me started on historical accuracy or logic in the movie (a bunch of poets and sculptors, as they described themselves in one of the battles, can defeat an elite Persian army ...). The laws of gravity also don’t seem to fully apply here (exemplified by a digital horse as if straight out of “Assassin's Creed”). I might give it another watch some day, when I feel like some mindless entertainment. But I still prefer the first installment. (21/08/2014)

A highly spectacular, comic-book-like bloody football match with an irresistible animalistic sex scene at half-time (which turned me on) and a subsequent poetic statement in the climax (which brought me to my knees). Praise goes to the film’s creators for the opulent conception of a sequel as a massive tune-up of the first instalment, which now seems modest in comparison. (03/04/2014)

Compared to the first one, there is more emphasis on the story, the exteriors are more varied and the "red" action at times tries to give the impression of real battle strategy, which I consider a good step in contrast to the monotonous chopping and endless slow-motion of Snyder (although this one has too much slow-motion, too). However, the only thing that elevates this cool, visually messy parade of abs and heroic platitudes slightly above the level of the first one is the head-cutting, eye-murdering, hard-fucking but outrageously attractive and sexy Eva Green, who endows her role with such charisma that Leonidas would quickly stick his head in the sand in front of her. For her sake, I not only throw in an extra star, but even declare the second 300 a very, very enjoyable and exciting waste of time. 55% (22/03/2014)

If it weren’t for Eva Green, there would barely be a third of the movie. Her charm has breathed life into this adaptation which is far more like a comic book movie than the first 300. It all stands or falls on whether she appears on the screen. Anyways, I was sort of sick and tired of this comic book feel. The first 300 was stylish and raw. But I’d compare this one to Sin City. Everything is purposely fake and wannabe cool. I’m not saying that it was disappointing, I’m really not. But it practically has just a single ace up its sleeve – Eva Green. Everything else is awfully fleeting. (10/07/2015)