Spartans copyrighted rock hard abs

Just watched 300 : Rise of an Empire. First thing I notice, only Spartans have rock hard abs. Athenians, not so much, so as the main character, Thermistocles. It is understandable that Spartans are trained to be soldiers, so their bodies are well-sculptured than other Greeks, as if Spartans had copyrighted rock hard abs, and only they can have them. 

So, this movie is less hardcore, less manliness than the original 300. But the movie makers compensated this fact with tonnes of gallons of blood on screen. This movie focus more on other Greeks than Spartans, notably Athenians. Spartans are beef cakes fully pumped with testosterone, and death in battle is a glorious moment to them while Athenians are less hardcore, less crazy than them. However it doesn't make them less a warrior. They are portrayed as bearers of democracy, charaterized by their love for freedom and they fight as hard as the Spartans. Thus Athenians are more relatable for me. 

Another major difference between 300 and this movie is the battleground because it is hardly a battleground so to say. All the battles take place on sea. In this movie, it showcases more tactics such as boat formations and geographical advantages rather than pure fighting force. In 300, they have an advantage and that is the narrow passage of Thermopyles. But other than that, not many tactics used by the Spartans other than their individual figthing skill and superior muscular body. Spartans basically muscle through the Persians. 

In the end, it is a fun movie if you enjoy on screen violence. Apart from the fake blood, I personally did enjoy it. But I don't think it surpasses the first movie. The first 300 is so memorable that I think the name Leonidas is hardburned into memory of everyone who had watched it. And the battle of Thermopyles is also very famous even before the movie. The name Leonidas and the Spartans certainly echo in eternity. Now Leonidas is even making chocolate and it is a well-known belgian chocolate brand.