"300:Rise of an Empire", The Greek-Persian War Continues. Opens Aug 2

Image from 300 Facebook page

As soon as I finished watching the "300" directed by Zack Snyder back in 2007, I knew and since then anticipated for a follow up film, a prequel or a sequel. Now after 6 years of waiting, a new 300 movie is ready to be shown to the Spartan-Persian movie fans in the US on August 2 at least, 300: Rise of an Empire. So I hope that the Philippine screening will have the same date.

I don't know how to address the 300:Rise of an Empire if it's a prequel, sequel or a "paralleloquel" as the events in this movie take place the same time as the events in the previous one or parallel to the 300. The new 300 movie is based on the upcoming graphic novel "Xerxes" by Frank Miller, he is also the same man who created the 300 graphic novel.

Like what I have been mentioning in my prior posts, the 300 is my favorite movie of all, that is why I enthusiastically anticipating for a new treatment since it debuted in the big screen. But there is one thing I don't like (so far) about this adaptation, it is not directed by Zack Snyder. He was originally offered to helm this one, but since Snyder was doing the "Man of Steel" which is also one of the films I wait for this year to see, Noam Murro took his place. But Zack Snyder is one of the producers of this new movie so we still have his "touch" on this one.

Official Synopsis:

This new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield -on the sea- as Greek general Themistocles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course

of the war. 300: Rise of an Empire pits Themistocles against the massive evading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemesia, vengeful commander of Persian navy.

The main character is played by Sullivan Stapleton as the Greek commander Themistocles. Rodrigo Santoro and Lena Headey are reprising their roles as Xerxes and Queen Gorgo respectively in this movie. Eva Green plays as Artemesia, the commander of the Persian navy.

As of today, only few images and a teaser porter have been released by Warner Bros. and so far the look and feel of those photos are similar to the previous 300 movie which I like. For now, I expect a teaser or full trailer to be released in the next month or two, and from there we will see if the excitement will be the same as the first time we saw the other movie led by King Leonidas.

How do I feel about the 300: Rise of an Empire? More than excited! I hope to see it in iMax here in Davao.

The image below is the first official poster for the 300: Rise of an Empire that was posted on 300 official Facebook page on April 17 with a caption that says: "Here's the first poster for 300: Rise of an Empire! Seize your Glory! - Zack Snyder

Unlike in the 300 where most of the battle scenes between the Spartans and the forces of Xerxes took place in the narrow terrain called "The Hot Gates", in this Rise of an Empire we are going to see battle scenes to happen in an open sea according to movie blogs and reports and prior to the release of the poster above, there was a teaser photo that published showing Greek warriors in full combat mode. See it below.

Image from 300 Facebook page