300 Review

Alright, here's another review for my blog. This particular movie I've been waiting for two years now. and before I start my review, I just want to say this...

Madness? This. Is. SPARTA!!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The movie was brilliant. A few months before I saw the film I went off and finally read a copy of Frank Miller's 300. It was a masterpiece, containg visual arts that spread through out and absolutely leaves you stunned.

The first point this movie probably garnered is the most obvious. The Visuals. It's cinematography is just beautiful. The sienna tint, the ancient epic feel and the highly stylized fight scenes. Jean Pe actually thought the actors were CGI themselves. It perfectly captured the essence of the comic book visual and I have to say, this is the first film that ever made skewered and decapitated bodies actually look gorgeous. The visuals alone is enough to garner the movie price.

Secondly the plot was actually pretty good. The screenplay of course was based on Miller's comic book script, which makes it awesome enough as it is. Miller is a master storyteller. But Zack Snyder masterfully strokes in enough additional content (the Queen Gorgo sublot for example) that actually enhances the story, making it superior even to the comic book's (which admittedly was quite simple). The story isn't going to win any oscars, but it has enough power to carry the weight of the visuals and acting which makes it very effective nonetheless.

If there was another start of the show that could probably top even the jaw-dropping cinematography, it's probably the heart-stopping fight scenes. Although I have to sya at times it felt awkward seeing so many slow-motions in a historical movie, one has to keep in mind it was based on a visual comic book medium, which explaines its highly stylized nature. I realize this may be one if the film's biggest flaw and strenghts as not everyone will agree to this. But the fight scenes are incredibly choreographed and with the help of the visuals, make one intensifying scene after another. Each cut, slice and stab makes you feel the ground shake. The blood splatters are amazingly 2-D, which helps enhance the feel that this indeed is a comic book brought to life. And Snyder's stroke of genius comes in the hand-to-hand fighting, where he slows down the frame-rate to a near stop as the Spartan is getting ready for a kill, before speeding it up again and then slowing it down again. this allows the viewers to absorb the viusal spectacle before them befroe they are brought forward again into the fray, very much like a comic book frame.

Then comes the acting. It was nothing marvelous, certainly not at the level o the technical side (which are the real stars of the show) but it is effective enough. Gerard Buthler (Phantom of the Opera) is the only one who gives a real note-worthy performance. This role will almost certainly get him fame and fortune at last. His Leonidas easily crosses the boundery of goodly king to fearless warrior. Let's just say every time he shouts out "Spartans!!!" you feel your seats shake.

In the end, it was one incredible, intense ride. There is no way it is getting into the Oscars, perhaps maybe for Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. But it suceeds in what it aimed to do, be an intense enjoyable film that leaves a lasting impact and a hallmark for comic-book movies out there. It easily is the superior to Frank Miller's Sin City (which in itself was quite a good movie) and is certainly at level with some of the best comic book movies out there (Batman Begins for example)

9 out of 10