March 09, 2007
300
A visual feast! A film that can satisfy the geek, the history buff, and the art house crowd.
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham
Rating: 9/10
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Runtime: 117 minutes
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham
Rating: 9/10
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Runtime: 117 minutes
One of the most visually stunning films I've seen in a long time. Yes, it's another film based on a Frank Miller graphic novel, and yes, it's another attempt to capture the visual style of a graphic novel, but don't expect Sin City. Don't get me wrong, I loved the look of that film, but 300 rises head and shoulders above that. The colors are stunning, and highly varied, but always moody, dark, and strangely muted. The visual effects make no attempt to hide the CGI, but everything the Spartans touch - the spears, the swords, the very stones and tiles they walk on, is all real. Many of the "enemies" the Spartan's must fight are indeed larger than life and CGI'ed to the point of exagerration, but as the movie itself plays an oral history of the battle told from the point of view of the lone survivor, that makes sense. And it's glorious. The battle scenes are both realistic and surreal . . . at the same time. 300 is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name, about the Battle of Thermopylae. A very real battle, and one that has captured the hearts and minds of military historians through the ages. Both Miller's graphic novel and the movie take certain liberties with historical fact, but remain true to the basic truths and to the glory of perhaps the finest warriors ever. The Greek First Army Corps to this day uses a quote from the battle as their emblem - Molon Labe. When instructed by the Persian King, Xerxes, to lay down their arms, King Leonidas responded "Molon Labe!", loosely translated as "Come and get them!"
As one might expect, there are elements of films like Gladiator and Braveheart, but this film is quite different. In a way, it's more of an art film, and I mean that in a good way. It's a simple oral history of a battle, and the director, Zack Snyder, didn't feel the need to pad the story out with too much plot. Big army coming, political issues, traitorous behavior, courageous men of honor go fight, lots of people killed. That's enough story. Now sit back and let the pictures, the action, the colors, and the mood take you there.
You might even find a few suprises. Spartan women come off looking very good in this film. Treated by the men of Sparta (well, the "real" men of Sparta, as equals, even to the extent that King leonidas looks to his Queen for advice and agreement. Strong and confident, the Spartan woman is no thing to be toyed with.
Look, there's no way mere words can do this movie justice. You have to see it. You have to experience it. Don't wait for the DVD . . . this is one of those films that cries out to be seen on the big screen, as much larger than life as the story of the 300 Spartans who gave their last breath to defend a new age of freedom. If that sounded corny, it's only because I'm still hopped up after seeing the movie - it's that damn good.
I can't wait to see it again. Next time - IMAX!!!