Movies / Comics Movie Reviews

300 One More Review

By Mitch Emerson
March 9, 2007 - 09:08

In the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. -Yahoo! Movies

Frank Miller has done it again. 300 is a visually stunning and action packed piece of work. Zack Snyder has taken what was done by Rodriguez and Tarantino with Sin City and upped the ante. Using the same method of green screen filming, Snyder has created a beautifully epic land based on what Miller did with the comic. I am ashamed to admit that I have never read 300 and must say I am that much more happy that I didn't. See, when any book or comic is made into a film you can't help but compare it to the original medium and sometimes that can deter from the experience even if the film does it right. So I was able to sit back (and then on the edge of my seat) and enjoy the film. Full of epic battles, spraying blood, decapitations, freaks of nature, God like giants, beautiful women and walls of dead bodies , 300 is just pure eye candy at its best.

Gerard Butler is perfectly cast. Ripped, muscled, and full of courage and rage, I wouldn't want to get on his bad side, lol. Only having seen him in Phantom of the Opera and Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, I didn't really know what to expect. Butler delivers a performance worthy of a King and it shows. Besides the courage and rage he has a passion that is echoed in every man under his command. David Wenham is another great casting choice as Dilios who is the narrator of the story as well as a warrior. His narrative voice is the perfect tool to tell the story. Behind every good man is a great woman and that is even more true here. Queen Gorgo, played by Lena Headey, is one of the more interesting characters in 300. If I understand correctly, her characters story in the movie has had quite a bit added to it. Some fans say it's unnecessary but I feel that her story helps to give us a break from all the intense action. And she is perfect as an extremely strong and supportive Queen who is trying to convince the ruling council to send reinforcements to Leonidas.

The effects? I can't say enough so it will have to suffice to say that they are some of the best I have ever seen. Just beautiful. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, head over to www.apple.com/quicktime/movies and check it out for an example.

All I can really say is that Sin City was a little tiny Halloween sized candy bar compared to the awe of 300. Great acting, great costumes, great action, this movie is my second favorite of the year after Children of Men (I count COM as this year because that's when I saw it) and before Pan's Labrinth. I don't care about historical accuracy in my movies, if I wanted accuracy I'd watch a documentary. I'm in it for the entertainment value boys and girls. And entertained I was. Go see it, buy it on DVD when it comes out. We need more movies that look this good.

Until King Leonidas and King Ralph become bosom buddies,
keep reading

Mitch E

Best Lines:

Spartan King Leonidas: Give them nothing! But take from them everything!

Spartan King Leonidas: This is where we fight. This is where they die.

Xerxes: Cruel Leonidas demanded that you stand. I require only that you kneel.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12