300 Review

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 year was 480 B.C., and a force of 300 Spartans from the now legendary city-state of Sparta under King Leonidas defends Greece (along with a force of three thousand or so allied Greek troops) from a Persian army led by one Xerxes.  That Persian army numbered in the hundreds of thousands (some sources say the army numbered a million men or more), yet it was held at bay for days by the 300.

The Story-Line

Directed by Zack Snyder (Dawn of The Dead - 2004) 300 begins at the end around a campfire.  At its center is a wizened battle-worn Spartan warrior, Dilios (David Wenham - Van Helsing, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, Moulin Rouge), who is recounting an amazing tale of battle, glory, honor, deception, and magic. The stories hero is King Leonidas (Gerald Butler - Rein of Fire, The Phantom of the Opera), the brave and prudent king of Sparta who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice for his family, convictions and freedom of Sparta's people.

Dilios weaves an amazing tale of how, when a boy, Leonidas slew a large mystical black wolf-like creature. The brave and battle hardened Leonidas went on to become the most competent swordsman, fighter and strategist Sparta ever knew.  He grew into an able and just ruler (well by most), and the beloved husband of Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey - The Brothers Grimm, The Remains of the Day).  Sparta and all of Greece was at peace until the leader of Persia Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro - Lost, Charles Angles: Full Throttle, Love Actually) lands on the shore of Greece with a rather large army.

My Viewpoint

History aside, 300 is a visual feast, and on that level alone well worth the price of a rental.  Frank Miller the man who brought us the graphic novel Sin City, not to mention the resulting movie, has written a very compelling story complete with seriously gorgeous graphics.  With more than a little help from CGI the film makers have turned 300 into, well a graphic novel with a look and fell not unlike the aforementioned Sin City.

There is no shortage of blood lust and battle prowess; the battle scenes are not to be missed with their slow monition sequences reminiscent of ballad.  There is beauty in the bloodletting, and art to the killing of masses with its twisting limbs and muscled Spartan bodies dancing about the battlefield as one unit.  Make no mistake this movie is rated "R" for a reason. 

300 is one of those movies I will eventually own and watch time and again.