Review: Wild and bloody ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ arrives on DVD, Blu-ray

Posted on June 27, 2014

This year we got a legitimate successor to “300,” its long-awaited sequel, “300: Rise of an Empire,” which arrived on DVD and Blu-ray this week. Even though it’s not directed by Synder, he remains on board as producer and co-writer.

“300,” based on the graphic novel from Frank Miller, told a heavily embellished version of the real life Battle of Thermopylae waged between Greece and Persia around 480 B.C. in which 300 Spartans fought to hold off an army of thousands at a strategic mountain pass.

Bigger, broader and bloodier than the original, “300: Rise of an Empire” somehow manages to capture the style and action of the first film, and dials everything up a notch or three, making it one of those rare sequels that’s not only as good as its predecessor, but may even be better.

“300: Rise of an Empire” is bloody, violent, loud, unrealistic, sure of its own style, and exactly what fans of the first film have been waiting eight years for.

The film is rated R for strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity and some language.

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