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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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Rating:
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
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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Compliments (3)
Quick Tip by JohnLee.
June 11, 2010
sd
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Quick Tip by dashPillard.
May 22, 2010
mindless action. Excellent visual effects.
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review by Schtinky.
October 30, 2008
I haven't read the graphic novel so this review is based solely on the presentation of the movie. The Spartans of Greece want to keep to their ways, keep their freedom and land and way of life without the interference of the Persians. But here come the Persians anyway. After told by the wise men and the Oracle (consisting of lepers and a drunken adolescent girl) that there would be no war, the King of Sparta "takes a walk" with 300 of his finest warriors "as bodyguards". … more
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Compliments (20)
review by arichards.
November 01, 2008
A graphic novel comes to life Awash with bloody splendor Testosterone fuels the cry No retreat, No surrender! Spartans groom their toughest men Picked from the day they're born When challenged by the Persian king They counter it with scorn The Oracle says not to fight So say the corrupt priests You cannot stop our festival To go and fight like … more
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review by NicanorJourney.
August 19, 2008
300 was a huge success, due largely in part to the splendid CGI backgrounds and limitless display of bloodshed. I was caught up in its success for several months before I watched it a few more times asking "is it really that good?" Although it will appeal to fans of the graphic novel, and mainstream action moviegoers when you pick it apart on a critical level you'll see how it fails to compare to other epics based on similar time periods. In no way those this rock `em sock `em action joy ride hold … more
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review by vemartin.
October 21, 2007
Pros: Seriously excellent CGI special effects; suburb acting Cons: None as far as I'm concerned The Bottom Line: See this film; it is spectacularly graphic, grim, and beautiful. Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie''s plot. I am a student of history and so I was more than intrigued by the movie 300 (2006) the graphic novel retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae in Greece written by Fran Miller. The … more
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review by ssjakira1.
August 18, 2007
Pros: Awesome use of cinematography, coloring, great acting; well done! Cons: Definitely not for everyone (violence and weirdness) The Bottom Line: I'm telling you - Xerxes was a Goa'uld... Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot. I decided my sister and I needed to see a movie. Reno 911? Ghost Rider? We were a little torn until I read so many good reviews about 300. I’d been wary until then, … more
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review by CRSwanson.
August 10, 2007
Ah, the Spartans. Brutal. Violent. Pederastic (they loved their boys, and often, depsite the movie which has them dissing on Athens for that particularity). They were manly men. Not men in tights. But manly men never the less. "300" is not a movie about history. It takes in the past, sure, but only in the same way that something like Excalibur takes plce in the past. It's not a movie set in the real world, but rather set in a world full of exaggerations. It's about these highly … more
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review by MzJen_2_review.
March 22, 2007
I'm so glad I've seen this movie on big screen before it touch on DVD because it's just meant to be watch that way. I was totally bowled over by the visuals, the sound and the actors. The grainy and out of worldly color of the movie, helped in placating the faint hearted, to the scenes of decapitations, limbs flying off in different directions. The soundtrack was most apt. The rock music weaved seamlessly into the ancient setting of the movie quite magically. I've seen movies where they tried to … more
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About the reviewer
Sean A. Rhodes (Sean_Rhodes)
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!