6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemesia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Callan MulveyAction | 100% |
Comic book | 50% |
Epic | 15% |
History | 13% |
War | 12% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Some options only on 3D Disc, Japanese options hidden
English SDH, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Bigger, noisier, bloodier, more brutal and more aggressive, absolutely. Director Noam Murro and producer/co-writer Zack Snyder's 300: Rise of an Empire dutifully plays the role of big-budget sequel to Snyder's 2007 surprise box office hit, dishing out a gory, visceral assault on the senses that ups the franchise ante in every conceivable way. As a companion piece, it employs a rarely used sequel-structure, weaving the new story of Athenian hero Themistocles into the fabric of the now-familiar tale of Spartan king Leonidas' fateful stand at Thermopylae. It even distances itself from 300, leaving the shores of Greece to focus on the crucial naval battles raging at sea. All well and good. But is it a better film than its predecessor? Adrenaline junkies will surely shout "tonight we dine in HELL!" And if viewed sheerly as mindless entertainment -- call it Big Dumb Hyper-stylized Historical Fun -- they might be right. Unfortunately, Rise of an Empire lacks some of the poetry, power, pacing and visual prowess of the original, reveling in blunt force trauma that occasionally borders on self-parody.
Rise of an Empire's 1080p/AVC-encoded 2D video presentation and MVC-encoded 3D experience are first-rate stunners, with exceedingly refined images faithful to Murro and DP Simon Duggan's blood-soaked vision, not to mention near-flawless, even in the face of the film's most frenetic action scenes. Colors are desaturated and stylized as intended, with opulent golds, sun-bathed ambers, stormy blues, visceral reds and deep, inky blacks. Contrast remains vibrant throughout too, and detail never falters. Edges are razor sharp -- no ringing or aliasing to contend with -- and textures are revealing. Note the flecks of blood that spray across a warrior's face. The stubble that frames a hardened jaw. The shards and splinters of wood that explode from the hull of a battered ship. The pinpoint specks of dust and glowing embers suspended in the breeze. The spray of water from a crashing wave. And the wear and tear of a battleworn blade. Moreover, grain is intact (although much more subdued than that which assaults the original 300), while significant macroblocking, banding and other issues are nowhere to be found.
In 3D, the film seems even deadlier. Though converted in post, the resulting 3D experience is beautifully realized, with a proficient picture backed by absorbing depth and convincing dimensionality. Because each sea battle, charging legion, supernatural happening and grand vista is, for the most part, a CG creation, the dreaded post-conversion pop-up storybook effect rarely rears its ugly head. And when it does, it appears to be almost entirely a product of intention, with Murro and Duggan evoking comic book composition. Foreground objects pop (at least in scenes that aren't drenched in the at-times dark murkiness of the film's storms), background elements retreat naturally into the distance, and the Athenian and Persian ships exist believably in a spatially sound ocean-scape. Arterial eruptions spray outward. Sword tips all but pierce the fourth wall. More often than not, it's a sight to behold. Viewers whose displays are prone to crosstalk will notice hints of ghosting in a few wide shots (Xerxes standing before the masses and Themistokles addressing his troops, to name two), as well as during some of the busier ship collisions (watch the ropes that run between the sails and masts). However, it's hardly ever a distraction. Aliasing isn't at play either, nor is any other anomaly. All told, 300: Rise of an Empire's video presentations are the stuff of shock and awe, regardless of whether you elect to watch the film in 2D or 3D.
Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track is armed to the teeth and ready for war. The LFE channel exerts its authority again and again, throwing the full weight and power of its fury behind every meaty shlunk of metal meeting bone, every ear-splitting ship to ship collision, every booming crack of thunder or fiery explosion, and every roar, charge and impact of the Athenian forces. Rear speaker activity is aggressive and immersive as well, submerging the listener in the watery chaos of the film's naval battles, the clash of countless swords and the surge of the sea. Directionality is precise, pans are silky smooth and dynamics are outstanding. Better still, no matter how loud or unruly the soundscape becomes, the mix doesn't miss a single opportunity to deliver upon its potential. Dialogue isn't hindered either, with intelligible, perfectly prioritized voices that are never forced to compete with the sounds of war or the ebb and flow of the Junkie XL score. 300: Rise of an Empire is an AV titan.
300: Rise of an Empire doesn't live up to the memory of Leonidas or the boldness of 300, but it's a suitably entertaining sequel, so long as you don't mind Big Dumb Fun invading the second chapter of Snyder's soon to be three-picture saga. The Blu-ray edition knows how to handle itself in battle, though, and brings with it an absolutely stunning video presentation, terrific 3D experience and intimidating DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, as well as a solid complement of special features. Worth the cost of admission? Sure, just dial your expectations down a bit to more easily enjoy the brutal, bloody good time Murro has in store.
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