300 (Rated R for graphic violence, nudity, and sexuality. 117 minutes)

The movie 300 is a dramatic recounting of the historical battle of Thermopylae.  Dubbed by many historians as the “Greek Alamo”, the battle featured a force of roughly 300 Spartans making a courageous stand against the massive Persian Empire. Using their advanced military skill as well as their knowledge of the local terrain, the Spartan soldiers, led by King Leonidas, were able to keep the Persians at bay for several days and ultimately bought valuable time for the rest of the Greek army to fully prepare.  Attracted by the intriguing story of sacrifice and bravery, famed graphic novelist Frank Miller created an award winning comic book series that retold the ancient battle.  Using innovative filmmaking techniques, director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) brings Miller’s vision to life.

I must first admit that it was incredibly difficult for me to be objective when reviewing this film.  Gender can often play a large role in one’s reaction to a movie as well as its overall impact on the viewer, and 300 is no exception. With its masculine themes of strength and honor, white knuckle action scenes, and delicious eye candy, 300 is essentially a chick flick for guys (although I’m sure the girlfriends who are forced to see this won’t mind the overabundance of chiseled Spartan abs).  As of now, the guy in me thinks that 300 is a masterpiece.  The critic in me, however, while still impressed, remains a bit more on the realistic side.

A great deal of hype has surrounded 300’s unique visual style, and in this aspect the film does not disappoint.  The film is a triumph in technical wizardry from start to finish. Snyder and his team seamlessly blend live-action actors with incredibly detailed computer generated landscapes.  While this technique was already used in the films Sin City and Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow, it is done much more effectively here. From the stark golden light of the lush Spartan countryside, to the dark and shadowy mass of the Persian horde, just about every frame of the film contains an image that pulsates with eye-popping visual splendor.  The thrilling and inventive battle scenes are also top notch and could give the epic clashes in the Lord of the Rings films a serious run for their money.  

Still, the visuals, while the film’s biggest strength, did not surprise me nearly as much as the acting.
For a movie like 300 to work, the actors involved must believe in the world of which they’re a part, something that the relatively unknown cast does extremely well.  Actor Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) brings a fiery rage and passion to the character of King Leonidas that elevates an otherwise standard character.  Lena Headley also brings a strong will and much-needed femininity to the film through her role as the Spartan Queen Gorgo.  Perhaps most impressive is Rodrigo Santoro (“Lost”) as the power-hungry Persian god-king Xerxes.  Decked out in exotic piercing and jewels, as well as being physically enhanced by impressive special effects, Xerxes is an arrogant yet strangely captivating villain who uses his hypnotically androgynous charm to tempt the film’s heroes.

Despite 300’s many strengths, it is not a film for everyone.  The fact is, you’re either into a film like this or you’re not.  And those who are not will easily notice its flaws.  The dialogue, especially the constant narration from a Spartan soldier, is more often than not clichéd and overblown.  I couldn’t help but be reminded of the numerous Braveheart and Gladiator rip-offs while listening to the endless speeches of “never retreating or surrendering.”  The characters themselves are thinly drawn with the fierce Spartan warriors drawn to battle with little doubt and the Persians sinister and arrogant manipulators with little room for complexity.  The over the top action and nonstop battle scenes can be numbing at times and the showy visuals can often evoke the feeling that the movie is more about style than substance.

Finally, history buffs will notice the glaring historical inaccuracies.  To be fair to Snyder, however, the film’s exaggerated and mythical tone makes it clear that it was meant to be more of a comic book film than a history lesson.  And of course, if you’re a fan of these testosterone driven epics, as I am, it’s doubtful that any of these shortcomings will mean anything to you.  So if you fall under this category be sure to see this film on the largest screen possible.  Because when it comes to thrilling cinematic spectacle in all its bombastic excessiveness, 300 does not disappoint.  

3 stars out of 4.