A dark, dark empire

When the Zack Snyder-directed “300” invaded cinemas in 2006, it was unlike anything viewers had ever seen. Based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, “300” was a CGI-heavy, darkly dynamic retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae—when 300 Spartans held off the Persian horde at the cost of their lives—that made stars out of Gerard Butler and Lena Headey (as King Leonidas and Queen Gorgo, respectively). There have been unsuccessful attempts at imitating that film’s mix of slow-motion violence and effects-laden design.

Heavily fictionalized

This new film, “300: Rise of an Empire,” is not just a sequel. Based on the forthcoming “Xerxes,” another graphic novel by Miller, “Rise” happens before, during and after the events of “300.” This heavily fictionalized story centers on the brave stand of the Greeks, led by idealistic but cunning general Themistokles (Aussie Sullivan Stapleton of TV’s “Strike Back”), as they face the vastly superior Persian navy under the relentless woman warrior Artemisia (“Casino Royale’s” Eva Green). It also provides glimpses of the origin of Persia’s power-hungry god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and reveals what happened to the Spartans after the 300’s sacrifice at the Hot Gates.

Unusual choice

Director Noam Murro seems to be an unusual choice for this assignment; his only other feature film is the 2008 ensemble dramedy “Smart People.” But the Israeli Murro shares the successful TV ad background of Snyder, who stays on as producer and screenwriter. With the swords-and-sandals combat of “300,” one would imagine that Murro could just ape that feel and still make a fortune at the tills, without really trying.

But, he tries—hard. “Rise” has a much broader, more sweeping range with several battles more than the original film’s one. This is the entire Greek civilization that Themistokles and company are defending. More characters die onscreen and the battles are more spectacular. There are stirring speeches, with Themistokles delivering the best: “Steady your hearts. Look deep into your souls. Seize your glory!”

The biggest change is that, almost all the battles in “Rise” happen on water, with the Greeks and Persians throwing everything they’ve got at each other over the roiling waves (the sea is completely CGI; not a single scene was shot on water). The original “300” had the latest cutting-edge film technology at its disposal; “Rise” has even more impressive film wizardry in its arsenal. While the battles depicted are based on historical ones, the film employs a hyper-real look that gives “Rise” a fantastical quality. It was clearly shot using 3-D and watching it in a 3-D theater will ensure the full impact.

Hyper-violent

“Rise” is also much more hyper-violent than the original “300,” with numerous dismemberments, decapitations and other acts of gore. There is, as Gorgo says, “a tidal wave of heroes’ blood.” So much blood is spilled, that “Rise” is most likely the bloodiest movie ever made. Its R-16 rating is fully deserved.

As Themistokles, Stapleton receives his meatiest screen part to date and takes to it with an action-figure build and a gritty determination. Santoro steals scenes as the 10-foot tall Xerxes, but “Rise” is really Green’s film. Though ostensibly the film’s real villain, she is no cackling cardboard cutout. She is a fully formed character, with motives and motivations aplenty. She plays the double-bladed leader with gusto and she is the closest the film gets to a sympathetic baddie. There are familiar faces here, but it is most interesting to see Headey back playing a heroic role after her hateful turn as Cersei in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

An unabashedly over-the-top spectacle of steel, fire, flesh, blood and water, “Rise” is “300” amplified. Those who savored that first film will devour this hunky, highly stylized bit of sword-wielding history.

(Warner Bros.’ “300: Rise of an Empire” opens in theaters today.)