Fans of the original 300 were treated to a special worldwide premiere of the new instalment in the series on Wednesday, when 300: Rise of an Empire was previewed in 3D at cinemas across the globe. Ster Kinekor at Sandton City played host to Gauteng’s premiere, and showed its guests the meaning of hospitality by showering them with free cocktails, popcorn, drinks and generous giveaways before the movie started.

At 8 o’clock the fans were ushered into the theatre and remained glued to the screen for the entirety of prequel-come-sequel that 300: Rise of an Empire offers. The story unfolds before, during, and after the events of the original 300. Athenian Themistokles is pitted against the invading forces of Persia, who are led by King Xerxes; a vengeful mortal-turned-god (Rodrigo Santoro).

Themistokles is fighting for a free and united Greece, while the Persians are trying to burn Athens to the ground and destroy Greece. King Xerxes is desperate to avenge his father, who Themistokles himself had killed in battle earlier. James Bond fans will remember Eva Green from Casino Royale, where her performance alongside 007 was praised heavily by critics and fans alike. She is equally as convincing in her role as King Xerxes’ bloodthirsty, ruthless ally and battle commander, Artemisia. The Spartans do feature in this movie, but sparingly – and there is no Gerard Butler to be seen.

The movie is shot in muted colours, with Themistokles’ blue cape providing the only real flashes of bright colour, which adds to the dark and dramatic atmosphere. It features plenty of bloodshed and gore, but has some great 3D effects and is worth a trip to the big screen. While nobody would argue that your grandmother or small children are going to enjoy it, it fits the bill perfectly for a Friday night movie that requires little concentration but plenty of chances to forget about the world for a bit. 300: Rise of an Empire will not challenge your beliefs, or prompt deep thinking, but it will provide you with an hour and a half of entertainment and enjoyment. It is out in cinemas on March 7^th, so sit back, grab some popcorn and spend a Friday night getting lost in dramatic fight scenes, and admiring the 3D effects.