Movie Marathon: 300: Rise of an Empire & Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Midway through the first decade of the 2000s, Frank Miller saw two successful adaptations of his graphic novels with the equally graphic Sin City in 2005 directed by Robert Rodriguez and then again in 2006 with 300 directed by Zak Snyder. As a young teenager, I was blown away by the visual style of each film but unfortunately it marked the turning point in Hollywood for a string of pale imitations as the industry moved away locations and towards green screens. Regardless, both films were fun to watch if a little lacking on substance but it would be many years in later in 2014 coincidentally when they would both receive a sequel. 

The first was 300: Rise of an Empire that sought to expand on the battle between the Spartans and the Persian Empire as the focus shifted towards the perspective of the Greeks led by the general, Themistokles of Athens and the naval warfare. Acting as both a prequel and sequel to the iconic 300, Rise of an Empire carried a lot of potential to build on Snyder's success. However problems soon arise with Snyder being largely absent from this leaving director Noam Murro, who has very few credits to his name, filling in as a likely studio plant and the result is a pale imitation at best. 

The story of how the Greeks managed to outwit Xerxes' forces with smaller numbers is a fascinating one that would make for a great cinematic experience and Eva Green's villainous Artemisia gives the film some much needed character but the sloppy direction and pacing fails to satisfy where the original succeeded. Sullivan Stapleton's Themistokles also fails to match the charisma of Gerard Butler's King Leonidas and the same goes for a relatively flat supporting cast.

There were a few moments where the visuals came together but it seems as if something wasn't working in the background to bring together a worthy experience that can stand alongside the original. Making matters worse, the film ends hoping to create a trilogy that never came thus adding to the disappointment so while it has a few mindless entertaining moments, Rise of an Empire just isn't worth your time. 

Later that same year saw another belated sequel with Sin City: A Dame to Kill For but fortunately being directed by Rodriguez again so it was off to a promising start. The first film was a combination of three short stories, stylistically told in a stark black-and-white with dashes of colour, that interweaved with one-another, and the sequel takes three new stories set around the corrupt Basin City and its inhabitants. 

The primary story this time focuses around Dwight (now played by Josh Brolin due to scheduling conflicts with Clive Owen) and his poisonous relationship with the femme-fatale, Ava, played by Eva Green who once again steals the film. Other stories include Joseph Gordon-Levitt tracking down Senator Rourke (Powers Boothe in his final film performance), and Jessica Alba hoping to take revenge against Rourke. Other familiar faces played by Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson and Bruce Willis return as well but nine years after the original, there's something about this that again just doesn't work.

The visuals are still slickly presented but it lacks the grittiness from the original and the same goes for the story which peaks midway through when the entertaining 'A Dame to Kill For' story concludes. What follows are two far less engaging subplots with an abrupt ending that left me feeling meh. A three letter word that neatly summarises this film. 

For all its visual flair, and entertaining performances from Rourke, Boothe and Green, there is not nearly enough substance here. Some might blame the gap between this and the first film for the disappointing box office performance but I think Rodriguez put the best of Miller's work in his first outing. A Dame to Kill For could have been a fun short story but the likely producers needed a theatrical running time and so we have two lower level storylines thrown in which drags the film down. 

2014 was a great year for films when looking back but it's a shame these two couldn't be a part of that and please their fans. Rise of an Empire needed Snyder instead of an imitator and A Dame To Kill For needed a more engaging story. There is still some entertainment to be found here but this is one strong case why sequels should be handled with care if you want to succeed.