The film 300: Rise of an Empire is a stunning visual treat, with most of the battles taking place in the sea, and supported by an excellent 3D design. But one has to navigate through the slush of blood and gore, to appreciate it. Other than the tone and texture,  this movie doesn’t have much in common with 300, that was released in 2007.

A few excerpts from Forbes review. (Web link here)

The film is technically more of a “side-sequel” to Snyder’s 300, with most of the film taking place at the same time as the first picture. The picture has bits of back story and continues after the first film concluded, but mostly it is a concurrent story, showing the same major overall battle on the brutal and unforgiving seas.

She(Eva Green) is worth the price of admission all by herself, and if there were more female roles of this nature in major studio releases I’d complain a heck of a lot less

The film once again shows that be it as a director or a producer, Zack Snyder is among the very best filmmakers in terms of big-scale fantasy action. Everything looks dazzling and everything is perfectly framed and coherently edited for maximum razzle-dazzle.

The first film played well across all demographics, offering beefy eye-candy for women and gay men and large-scale action for men and women of both orientations. This one does the same, with Eva Green also offering prurient interest for those so inclined while also giving the best performance in the film.  

The burning question is whether or not seven years is too long to wait for a sequel to 300.

Couldn’t agree with Scott Mendelson more. I saw 300 in 2007, in San Frisco. And it is a long wait indeed 🙂

All of us have heard about instances when movies get stuck in the cans or not considered saleable, big and known stars out of generosity, contribute their presence in a few scenes/songs and bail those films out.

Sadly, “The Monuments Men” gives you such an impression. (Budget: USD70 MN as per IMDB; No songs)

Directed by George Clooney and supported by an ensemble cast, the movie fails to entertain normal movie going audience with little or no interest in the Arts department. While the Hitle’rs vision to wipe out all the paintings, sculpture etc of great artists is indeed scary and any effort to save it is laudable, the cinematic portrayal of it doesn’t really add up. Perhaps this is the reason why, the character played by George Clooney repeatedly voice overs the question, ‘Is Art really worth all their trouble?’. This question seeps into the story telling and the end product resembles a cross between a History Channel Documentary and a ‘Dirty Dozen’ movie, lacking their respective depth and fun.

Only die hard fans of Bill Murray/Matt Damon/George Clooney (like me),  will be able to sit through the movie and then come out of the movie hall justifying the time and expense in watching it.