Reviews of 300

Transvestites invade Sparta; Strippers resist!

Posted : 1 week, 5 days ago on 10 December 2009 12:22 (A review of 300)

Haha. This is one of those movies that never should have happened, atleast according to common sense. The absurdity of 300 is unbelievable. 300 is so crazy and surreal that it's actually good. Here's a movie that acts like it would be serious, but is filled with things that are not possible in any manner. It's awesome to see something like this. Zack Snyder really went all out here when it comes to directorial feats. He is entirely responsible for the fact that this movie is good at all. The visual style that he follows through the entire movie is this weird bronze-like tone, which by all means looks marvellous. Overall, when it comes to visuality, 300 is one of the best movies ever made. I mean any movie that can make half-naked men in thongs look good and cool deserves that right. The fight scenes are definately the best thing in the whole film, and they do work very well. Simply put, they're entertaining to watch. There's nothing more to it. You just enjoy them. The story is somewhat mudane, it's a rather clichéd tale of courage and freedom and such things, but we've heard it all before anyhow. It however is a great excuse to give us Gerald Butler screaming catchy one-liners at the top of his lungs. The man does indeed have a good voice. Most people have complained greatly about the sideplot about Leonidas's wife, calling it too boring. It is boring, yes. But it's also extremely necessary for the movie. Without it, the movie would either be very short, or very boring. It's like a some comedy movies; you hear a joke once, and you laugh your ass off. You hear it again, you laugh again. You hear it the third time, you laught yet again. But if you hear it for over five times, it starts to get dull. Hear if over ten times, it's boring. Hear it over twenty times, you never want to hear it again. But if you insert a few other jokes in between the same joke, you'll laugh at it often. It's the same thing with the action scenes of 300. They would definately get somewhat boring without the sideplot supporting them. With the sideplot you actually have anticipation towards the next scene, until you really just can't wait for it to show up.

All the performances in 300 do their job adequately. Many have complained over Dominic West as the storyteller. I thought he did a good job, but when he was on-screen I really didn't buy it. Butler, as I mentioned earlier, has a powerful voice and he makes it show. I wish he didn't shout all the time, but I guess you can't have everything you want. The rest of the nameless male strippers do well, as does the wife of Leonidas, who's performance contains a nice amount of passion towards what she's doing. Santoro does an extremely odd job as the transvestite godking leader of the persians. I don't know what to say about the guy, except that he was one tall motherfucker. Tyler Bates composed the score for 300, and he should definately be considered a noteworthy composer after this. 300 sounds amazing on occasion, but it sounds too good. You see, a good movie score doesn't take away your attention from the movie itself, it enchances it instead. Bates does steal a few scenes here, as unfortunate as it may be. For the majority of the flick, his work is still good.

300 is a pure entertainment movie. Don't try to search, or don't hope, for any deeper meanings from it, and you won't be dissapointed by the astonishing action scenes.

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Tonite, We Dine In Hell!

Posted : 8 months, 1 week ago on 16 April 2009 12:58 (A review of 300)

I thought that the limited comicbook series was just okay.
But then Zack Snyder & the writers took Frank Miller's story & used this movie to add a whole different dimension to the telling of this early historic battle. While the story itself suffered a bit because it had to be shorten into a "two-hour" movie ( or however long this thing ran), it seemed to be made up by the surrealist matrix-like effects that were used to enhance the story-telling in a manner such as when an artist uses a new medium for his/her artwork.
In this history epic, I have seen the future of film storytelling.
And it works.





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Frank Millar's Vision come to life...

Posted : 1 year, 1 month ago on 6 November 2008 07:18 (A review of 300)

'' Madness? THIS IS SPARTA!''

King Leonidas and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C..

Gerard Butler: King Leonidas

Violent, action-packed, maybe repetitive but visually stunning and imaginative like frank Millar's Novel. loosely based on real events. Truly immense and the scale is gigantic, so much violence it oozes with it.

Did get annoyed with David Wenham's narration a tad, loved the pure macho-ism in this.
Gerard Butler as King Leonidas was absolutely one with the part he plays. He's such a remarkable versatile actor who plays such a strong lead.
Lena Headley as Queen Gorgo also such a strong leading woman among such a male dominated cast yet shes formidable and a good enough actress to remain stand out.
Michael Fassbender and Tom wisdom as Stelios and Astinos had good jokey lines and chemistry in the film.
Andrew Tiernan as the hunchback Ephialties also has depth and meaning. The betrayer, the judas of the story who betrays because he's not accepted, because of his deformed weakness. Abandoned for this, cast away as is the Spartan way. Traitorous but still i can't help but feel sorry for him.
Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes is so moulded into his character i didn't recognize it was him when i first saw this. He's so small in real life and on this he's like a 7ft god-like figure. Really looks woman-esque with all that shrapnel in his face and make up.

''This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your Queen!''

Fans of ancient history and classical studies will find a lot to criticize because it's not an accurate depiction of ancient Greece but you should always make the legend according to John Ford . Unfortunately by concentrating on the visuals there's other aspects lacking . The Spartans don't really come across as real characters from ancient times , more of a crowd of wise cracking macho cyphers.

But despite these flaws this is a truly memorable movie down to the jaw dropping visuals and it's the visuals and music the film will be rightly remembered for. It's a pity that the Oscar voters ignored 300 because certainly make up , cinematography , editing and possibly best supporting actor for Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes should have been nominated at least and this film will be highly regarded in years to come.

''You have many slaves, Xerxes, but few warriors. It won't be long before they fear my spears more than your whips.''

Parts I absolutely loved on 300 are numerous, including a love scene with Butler and Headley, utterly blossoming with passion, their last night of intimacy, for love, a bond persevered.
This movie is more than an action movie for me. It's about love, camaraderie, the defending of what they love, of what they believe in. It's about the power not to give up but follow their destiny and to do what they think is the right thing to do. And it's also about the soul-mates, the King and the Queen.

Loved all the battle scenes and great lines:

''Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty... For tonight, we dine in hell!''
or '' Give them NOTHING! Take from them EVERYTHING!''. ''They look thirsty, let's give them a drink!'', ''Feast hearty men for tonight we dine in HELL!'', I love the reversal here Queen Gorgo says to that black-hearted traitor Theron while skewering him,''This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your Queen.'' The line I love the most and thats so lovely and makes me think of love eternal, ''My Queen! My wife. My love...'' It's so heart-felt and so loving and touches my soul, I cannot help but get emotional from that everytime.

The story was great and the part as you get to the ending credits and the sound is still roaring and pounding it gives you real surge.
For me personally this movie is unique. It's a masterpiece of visual effects, colour, sounds, soundtrack and the absolutely stunning performance of the actors.

A graphic novel-to film masterpiece. Quality filming, take a bow everyone who made this possible.

''The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.''

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Funniest movie of 2007.

Posted : 1 year, 7 months ago on 2 May 2008 02:28 (A review of 300)

Really strikingly beautiful cinematography and action choreography.

But the plot, the acting, the writing-- it's a glorious monument to the power of cheese. I laughed all the way through. It's just sooo outlandish and over-the-top and yet it takes itself sooo seriously that I couldn't help but giggle.

Definitely worth seeing. 8/10.

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I Liked It

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 30 March 2008 11:40 (A review of 300)

I liked this film, just wish it was alittle more realistic.

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300

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 28 March 2008 03:54 (A review of 300)

300 is a movie about 300 spartan warriors who do battle with thousands of warriors from other countries and is a good movie becuase of it entertainment value and action qaulity

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Poonany's Thoughts

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 28 August 2007 10:37 (A review of 300)

Sexual Content
Extended love scene between Leonidas and the queen viewers can see her nude breasts. The adolescent Oracle writhes and sways while wearing a sheer cloth that reveals her breasts. A character unwillingly has sex to procure a politician's favor. Although no nudity is shown in that scene, the aggessor whispers menacingly: "This will not be fast. You will not enjoy this." Xerxes' lair is depicted like an orgy, with various half-dressed Persian women kissing, moaning, and having sex.

Violence
Over-the-top battle-scene violence, including graphic decapitations, severed limbs, mutilated bodies piled high, arrow-filled torsos, etc. Young Spartan boys are forced to furiously fight each other. The Spartan mottos are "No retreat, no surrender" and "No prisoners, no mercy."

Language
Colorfully worded insults like: "motherless dogs," "philosophers and boy-lovers," etc.

Social Behavior
Even in the face of sure defeat, brave soldiers stand firm against tyrannous threats to freedom. A corrupt Spartan councilman is exposed as a traitor and brought to justice. Some stereotyping based on Asian culture, as well as one character's physical disability.

What more can you ask for really!



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I'm fighting in the shade mate!

Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 25 August 2007 03:06 (A review of 300)

I'm a massive fan of the Battle of Thermopylae. There is no greater instance in history where spear and shield meet. Outnumbered and outgunned but never outdone.

There is partial story to the film but it is the visuals and the action that makes me really appreciate this comic-style work.

This movie is masculine enough to fit into the genre of films like Predator, the entire group is just a manly muscle fest which is what recent cinema has been lacking.

Their efforts maybe fruitless but the leadership and valour can't be ignored. After seeing this film, I'd join the Spartans. There is not a real man alive who wouldn't!

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300 review

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 11 June 2007 09:07 (A review of 300)

Frank Miller = amazing Comic writer.
300 = amazing comic.
300 the Movie = amazing.

The story is a bit thin, not to the extent that people are saying, I believe... but the incredible cinematography, effects, and action more than make up for that. Frank miller is quickly turning Comic-based movies into a new art form.

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300

Posted : 2 years, 7 months ago on 25 May 2007 12:57 (A review of 300)

The story could never compare to Braveheart or Gladiator, but the cinematography is spectacular.

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