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300Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralise the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.
More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylised look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi ... Read More » |
Average User Rating: 80% (289 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | a review of the actual dvd rather than the film
Paul Tapner (poole dorset england) - 1 October 2007 Brief note on the film first: a very stylised version of what the battle of thermopylae may have been like, adapted from a graphic novel and filmed with back projection to make it look as much as like the comic as possible. The result is really quite stunning, and the action and battle sequences very rousing. And bloody. The film is framed with one spartan telling others what happened, and thus what you are seeing is what they think it must have been like. This is a point lots of people seem to have missed. As regards the dvd: this is a two disc edition, and the first disc contains a widescreen version of the film, with direct scene access, and a commentary from the director and two of the production staff. The second disc has: be one of three hundred: a brief bit with the director giving thanks to those who supported the project online. A documentary about the battle. twenty five minutes long with contributions from historians and it's fascinating stuff. A documentary about the spartans. Short but good. Conversations with the creator of the graphic novel. Brief but interesting. A short and generic production documentary. a look at the making of the film in images. fascinating but moves very fast and be warned if you're eplipetic as the fast moving could give you a fit. lots of short production documentaries, that are all quite interesting, and can be watched as one. A great film. And a very good package for it.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Not for everyone
W. Barrington "Mr NPR" (Newport Pagnell, UK) - 30 November 2007 Personally I found this film spectacular. The use of CGI to create a sense of fantasy to a true story, all be it a very stretched one, was used brilliantly. The film is based on a comic by Frank Miller which in turn is based on the story of the 300 spartans. I won't bore you with the history but it is worth pointing this out. If you liked Sin City chances are you'll like this. If you liked Gladiator you'll probably like this. If you liked them both then you'll love it. Stay clear if this sort of genre isn't for you as it really is dependent on that sort of film goer.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | One of the best "unhollywood" movies to date
M. J. Thomas "Mary" (United Kingdom) - 19 November 2007 I have studied the Spartans for educational purposes. The only grievance I would have with this film is that they made Xerxes a bit Julian Clarey due to the effeminate nature that is perceived to be part of the Persian attitude and dress at that time. When I saw this at the cinema I was not surprised to see people walk out because they thought they were going to see a hollywood epic. This is one of the best films I have seen in a long time although it falls shy in some respects to the actual story. Where they got the one eyed hump back from is to be queried and certainly does not fit with the story. Enjoyable definitely, action scenes are interesting and the overall sepia effect, very daring. Troy and Alexander were only perhaps, more watchable because of the "babe" factor concerning the lead men. If you had put some Joe Hope as the lead characters, chances are the films would have failed at the box office. 300 is slow going, but nonetheless, in my opinion an all time great. Congratulations to all involved in attempting to portray a very difficult subject and story.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | An amazing movie, if you just stop and think
Mr. D. A. Vivas (Canterbury, UK) - 11 June 2007 300, based on Lynn Varley and Frank Miller's comic book mini series, is one of the most visually fantastic films ever made, and a more than suitable addition to Frank Miller's legacy after Sin City. Though there are many accusations that can be levelled at it, i think many are unfair, and hopefully, i can give a decent retort to most of them. I think the first thing many people critise about it is the historical inaccuracy. While it is hugely inaccurate historically, the battle of Thermopylae isn't a battle that is well known among most people in the world, unlike Waterloo, Gettysburg, D-Day or the Battle of the Bulge. What this film has done though is remind people of what can be seen (with no exageration) as a turning point in western history, and the amazing sacrifice those 300 made. this alone should be a reason for making this film. If you really want to know what happened at thermopylae, i suggest buying "The Battle of Thermopylae, a campaign in context" by Rupert Matthews, a very accurate but accessible book. reading this will also show how it would be near impossible to make an accurate film of any decent length of this story. Another problem people have raised with me with 300, is the characterisation. While this film lacks secondary and tertiary characters, they are not neccesary to the story. It is the story of Leonidas and his 300. Character development is not needed as it takes place over no more than three days of fighting, and any extra characters brought in would only lead to further historical inaccruacy and a waste of screen time. this is after all a film about a battle, and not much is known about the battle beyond who commanded which force and where it took place. You need only look at the Iliad to see that the greeks considered only the officers names important and not the mens. The introduction of the Queen Gorgo subplot is brought in entirely for the film, and is a bit of neccesary evil to add screentime (adapted from a mini series, remember) and some breaks from the gore. Its easy to forget that we know what will happen to the 300, as this is the retelling of acual events, and this gives the viewer a bit more of a "what next?" feeling, and a story which we definatly know nothing about. My only gripe is the unneccesary nudity and sex, something just not needed to be so explicit. As for computer game feel, again i point to the fact that this is adapted from a comic book mini series, and each episode brings on new bigger enemies. Also the film is mostly CGI on blue and green screen, so it of corse it will remind viewers of a computer game. Beyond all of this, this film is a CGI work of stunning beauty. Every frame drips with tones of sepia, reds and blues. Its clear from the trailers and posters that this film was never meant to be an intellectual feast, but a true cinematic experience, a dazzling show of visuals and sound. Cinema at its core, is no more than sight and sound, and this is one of those few films of recent times that does the basics so well. If you buy this on DVD because you missed it at the cinema, then make sure you have a projector or bloody huge TV and a surround system, or you just won't get the same out of it. If you want an intellectual challenge, then read Ulysses, if you want a sensually stunning experience, buy this DVD.... Read Full Review » |
| 4 / 5 | Go tell the Spartans, passerby, That here, by Spartan law, we lie.
Gisli Jokull Gislason "Jokull" (Iceland) - 20 August 2007 Brilliantly visual movie of the historic stand of Leonidas and his men. True it is not a historic recreation of events - but one could go as far as saying that it captures the spirit. The movie is modernised and follows the comic by Frank Miller closely. This is the second time a movie is based on his books, the other is Sin City and both have been very successful, in my opinon the best transfers of comics to movies. 300 is very graphic and visual, the action is fast paced and the dialoge is good, it is as cool as it gets. Persian: "A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!" Spartan: "Then we will fight in the shade." The movie does get a bad review from a number of sources, mostly based on historical inaccuracy and occasionally for a political standpoint. Regardless of the fact that these accusations have some merit I feel they miss the point in a wider sense. Leonidas, his Spartans, the Greeks, the Persians and the battle of Thermopylae have become familiar names to a new generation. For some this will be a passing interest but others will dwell on the story and eventually some will learn more. For those who wish to look for historical accuracy I recommend History Channels: The Last Stand Of The 300 - The Real Story. While at the same time you should remember that this lavish documentary is made because of the movie 300 and its popularity. Also, it is clear which is likely to attract a wider audience. The stand of Leonidas and the Spartans is legend and worthy of a good tale. 300 is every bit a good tale and in this sense quite fitting to their memory.... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£10.99
Release Date
26 November 2007
Price Range
£4.99 - £9.89