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"300 - May I have an extra helping of Testosterone, please?"
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An fantasy-action film directed by Zack Snyder and based on Frank Miller's graphic novel.
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This is perhaps the film that really made Zack Snyder well known. It's what put him in the minds of many movie goers. And it put him in my mind too, but not for the exact same reasons. When I saw 300 for the first time, my first thought was that it was a very stylistic looking film that was filled with a lot of cool, flashy special effects, beautiful choreographed battle sequences. In short, it was a film that looked good. But being someone who also enjoys getting some story and whatnot out of a film, I was wondering if this was actually the movie for me. In some ways it is. I don't mind awesome special effects. But in the end, I'll probably come out of a movie trying to figure out what it's about. Let's take The Matrix... the first one. It has amazing special effects but the philisophical undertones are perhaps the biggest reason most of us remember it. Story and narrative is far more important than special effects.
+3
And for the most part 300 does have a narrative. I was quite imersed as the film first began. Watching as our main character Leonidas grows. The "prologue" if you will, is quite fascinating and interesting to behold. It's narrated quite well too. It's enough to draw you in. Years later when Leonidas is crowned King, he gets a message from some guy named Xerxes that the Spartans should submit to his army. Leonidas doesn't work like that. Instead they kick the messenger into a giant hole. This sets in motion a conflict which Leonidas and his Spartans know they have to take on. Essentially you're getting a war movie about Leonidas leading 300 Spartans against the unusually large army of the Persians. About halfway through when the fighting starts is perhaps when the film begins to dwindle.
There are a lot of good visuals. A ton of them. You'll enjoy watching the fighting because it just looks incredible. As I said, the film is a visual spectacle of sorts. There's a good amount of eye candy in it. The backgrounds look astounding. For those who read Frank Miller's Graphic Novel you'll be quite pleased to know that Zack Snyder used it as a storyboard. As a result it feels like you're watching an interactive graphic novel. The characters look exactly the same as they do in the graphic novel. The scenes and landscapes are very reminiscent of the graphic novel as a whole. In terms of playing it close to its source material, Zack Snyder does this fairly well.
So, like many films of its kind, 300 has spectacular production values. All the Spartans are as brutal and violent as you expect. In terms of making carnage unfold on screen, 300 stands tall.
Unfortunately, in all of its glory of portraying the Spartans as these badass, heroic figures there's little else the movie really does. Lots of action and flashy special effects are cool, but after a time 300 doesn't really tell much of a story or compel us to really care about what happens to the 300 Spartans. We hardly get to know any of the characters or care for their struggle. One can easily say the 300 isn't about that. Well, in some ways I'd agree with that. We can talk about how "cool" Leonidas is, but the characters are all so devoid of personality that in the end the movie boils down to us rooting for assholes to win against even bigger assholes. The only reason we root for the Spartans is because the Persians just happen to be bigger assholes. It has little to do with whether or not the Spartans are actual good guys or anything like that. At least it can be fun to watch, but in the end, there's not much that makes us really care about the Spartan's struggle and that's assuming you can remember why they're fighting in the first place.
If you're squeamish about graphic violence, there's a lot of it in 300. There are few movies where you'll see so much blood splattering al over the place. If you like carnage... you'll be in heaven. If story is your cup of tea you might be divided. There's not much in terms of narrative that carries it. It's fun to watch, but you'll probably remember the film most for its gritty, graphic novel like look than for any substance you'll get from it.
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More 300 (2007 film) reviews
*** out of **** It isn't historically accurate or relevant, and it's decidedly silly; but there's just something about Zack Snyder's big-screen adaptation of the Frank Miller comic book "300" that appeals to me right off the bat. It's the kind of movie that bothers just as many as it entertains; a critically divisive action movie that just barely passes as art in its genre. Quite a few readers will probably find it laughably shallow, but there's a charm to Snyder's style; … more
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Ive been contemplating weather to make this a review of a quick tip, looking at the type of Movie 300 is I think a Quick tip would be better. Now onto the micro review. As we all know 300 is a stylistic retelling of the the famous Spartan battle of Thermopylae were 300 Spartans held back half a Million Persian troops. Like I said the day I finished watching the DVD, "I don't care if its historically inaccurate, 300 is one … more
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300 is based off Frank Miller’s graphic novel about an ancient battle where the King of Sparta led his army against the advancing Persians. Hugely outnumbered, the Greeks held back the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. King Leonidas(Gerard Butler), leads 300 of his best Spartan warriors into battle and begins what was truly a fight to behold. His men fight to the death as one with their shields, swords and spears. They are one as Leonidas … more
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Based on the comic book by Frank Miller, the movie 300 is an epic Tale of 300 Spartans and numerous other Greeks battle against Xerxes and his mega army of Persia. The battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, shows the strength, honor and sheer fighting power that once was the Spartan men. The story being told Through the ages and in many different ways is truly made historic by Frank Miller's story telling. While not a fan of comic books, or movies that look like comic books … more
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300 is quite the confused movie. There are times when its unoriginality is glaring, like in a scene stolen to a tee straight from the finale of Gladiator, juxtaposing the death of our hero King Leonidas with images of his young son and wife running in a dark field of grain. Then there are times when it tries so hard to be unique it’s ludicrous, such as a scene in a Persian army camp where totally inexplicable things are going on including, but not limited to, a near-orgy, a squirming … more
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Compliments (24)
What Pompted You to write a Review? This is one of the best movies I have seen in my life. Not only are the graphics excelent but the whole story line was good. I like how it has some real life events of how the Spartans were. How was the Plot, Acting, Direction? The plot made sense and I don't think it could have been better and that is probaly due to the excelent acting and directing. Were You ENTERTAINED? … more
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The 300 Spartans is based on the battle of Thermopylae between the Persian empire and Greece. Mainly Athens and 300 Spartan Hoplites against the entire Persian empire. The Persians were lead by Xerxes the Great who Persians believed to be a man god. The Greek City States were lead by King Leonidas of Sparta. Although a mere man, King Leonidas was a warrior in every sense of the word! Xerxes the Great was continuing a war with Greece that had been initiated by his father, Darius the Great. … more
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Amazing graphics. Creates a very cool feel to a classic tale.
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The Cinematography was great but not too big of a fan of the plot
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This...is...BORING! I just never got into 300 as much as my friends, though I appreciate the effort they gave it.
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About the reviewer
Sean A. Rhodes (Sean_Rhodes)
Ranked #5
Ranked #5
I'm a more analytical person. I believe that the purpose of the review is not for me to give you my opinion but for me to give you an analysis and help you decide if you want to get it. If you reading … more
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About this movie
Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 takes over the screen like an invading horde. With all the gushing blood of a horror movie and the scope of a classic epic, the second film from Zack Snyder (who helmed the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD) is an impressive visual spectacle. Gerard Butler (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) plays Leonidas, the king of ancient Sparta. The city is famous for its warrior philosophy, and Leonidas won't kneel to the demands of Persia's King Xerxes (LOST's Rodrigo Santoro). Instead, Leonidas leads his 300-strong army against Xerxes's army of millions. Meanwhile, his wife (Lena Headey, THE BROTHERS GRIMM) campaigns in Sparta for the city to send reinforcements as she butts heads with the treacherous Theron (Dominic West, THE WIRE).
300 is a 2007 American action film adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller, a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant. It was filmed mostly with a super-imposition chroma key technique, to help replicate the imagery of the original comic book.
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) leads 300 Spartans into battle against Persian "God-King" Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his army of more than one million soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband. The story is framed by a voice-over ...
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300 is a 2007 American action film adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller, a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant. It was filmed mostly with a super-imposition chroma key technique, to help replicate the imagery of the original comic book.
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) leads 300 Spartans into battle against Persian "God-King" Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his army of more than one million soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband. The story is framed by a voice-over ...
Cast:
Rodrigo Santoro,
Dominic West,
Tom Rack,
Stephen McHattie,
Gerard Butler,
Peter Mensah,
David Wenham,
John Dunn-Hill,
Vincent Regan,
Lena Headey,
Michael Fassbender,
Tom Wisdom,
Andrew Pleavin,
Andrew Tiernan,
Giovani Antonio Cimmino,
Greg Kramer,
Alex Ivanovici,
Kelly Craig,
Eli Snyder,
Tyler Neitzel,
Tim Connolly,
Marie-Julie Rivest,
Sébastian St Germain,
Arthur Holden,
Michael Sinelnikoff,
Dennis St. John,
Neil Napier,
Dylan Scott Smith,
Maurizio Terrazzano,
Robert Paradis,
Kwasi Songui,
Alexandra Beaton,
Frédéric Smith,
Loucas Minchillo,
Nicholas Minchillo,
David J. Francis,
James Bradford,
Andrew Shaver,
Robin Wilcock,
Kent McQuaid,
Marcel Jeannin,
Jere Gillis,
Jeremy Thibodeau,
Tyrone Benskin,
Robert Maillet,
Patrick Sabongui,
Leon Laderach,
David Lapommeray,
Vervi Mauricio,
Charles Papasoff,
Isabelle Champeau,
Veronique-Natale Szalankiewicz,
Maeva Nadon,
David Thibodeau,
David Schaap,
Jean-Michel Pare,
Stuart Myiow,
Andréanne Ross,
Sara Giacalone,
Ariadne Bourbonniere,
Isabelle Fournel,
Sandrine Mérette-Attiow,
Elisabeth Etienne,
Danielle Hubbard,
Ruan Vibegaard,
Geneviéve Guilbault,
Bonnie Mak,
Amélie Sorel,
Caroline Aspirot,
Gina Gagnon,
Tania Trudell,
Stephanie Aubry,
Mercedes Leggett,
Stéphania Gambarova,
Chanelle Lamothe,
Sabrina-Jasmine Guilbault,
Manny Cortez Tuazon,
Cindy,
Atif Siddiqi,
Camille Rizkallah,
Trudi Hanley,
Neon Cobran,
Gary A. Hecker
Director:
Zack Snyder
Genre:
Action,
Drama,
Fantasy,
War
Release Date:
March 9, 2007
MPAA Rating:
R
Screen Writer:
Michael Gordon,
Zack Snyder
DVD Release Date:
July 31, 2007
Runtime:
116 minutes
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures,
Village Roadshow Pictures,
Legendary Pictures
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Catch you later, Sean, I'll be back to read your Tarantino review and it'd better be a great rating LOL!