Movie Review: 300
Wading in the shallow end of the pool...
..."300" is a beefcake buffet.
Gerard Butler and David Wenham look fantastic in black leather speedos. So do the other 298 Spartan warriors. Egads, 6-pack abs must have been a job requirement for casting in this movie. "Thank you for coming in to audition sir. Please take off your shirt before we begin."
The art direction and visual style of the film is spectacular. At times it really does look like a graphic novel come to life...which, well...I guess it is. It is at times stunning to look at, but at other times it works against the story itself, turning what was a tragic event in history into an R-rated comic book.
The movie does include some accurate historical facts. The Spartan king, Leonides, did lead his personal company of 300 warriors to guard the Pass of Thermopylae against the invading Persian army, under the command of Xerxes. Part of the Persian navy was destroyed in storms off the coast. The Spartans did repel multiple attacks from the larger Persian forces until a traitor showed the Persians an alternate path around the pass, which allowed them to encircle and massacre Leonides and his men. But beyond that, the film and history part ways.
Leonides did not guard the pass alone. A contingent of soldiers from Athens was also present, as was the Athenian navy, which inflicted heavy losses in the Persian fleet and prevented the Persians from landing an army along the coast behind Leonides. The Persians were not deformed monsters. Xerxes was not an eight foot tall giant and he never set foot on the battlefield. Leonides was the one who sent the Athenians away after he learned that the Persians were going to flank him, keeping his 300 Spartans as a rearguard in the pass, and he was among the first to die in the final battle. And (darn!) the Spartans wore armor...not just speedos.
Basically, you simply can't go see this movie expecting it to be a dramatic documentary or serious portrayal of history. This really is an R-rated comic book in motion, full of splattering blood, rippling muscles, and exaggerated battle choreography. The bad guys are so over the top you almost have to laugh. The dialog is about what you might expect from a comic book too, including some cringe-worthy ultra-macho comments along the lines of, "It's only an eye, my King. The Gods saw fit to give me a spare." And sadly the acting typically borders on melodramatic histrionics, full of posturing and bombastic speeches. I'm amazed Gerard Butler didn't lose his voice making this movie.
Overall, it makes for entertaining popcorn fare if you aren't too squeamish and you just want to enjoy the visual spectacle...or feast on the manflesh eye candy...but just keep in mind that it's 90% style, and only 10% substance.
..."300" is a beefcake buffet.
Gerard Butler and David Wenham look fantastic in black leather speedos. So do the other 298 Spartan warriors. Egads, 6-pack abs must have been a job requirement for casting in this movie. "Thank you for coming in to audition sir. Please take off your shirt before we begin."
The art direction and visual style of the film is spectacular. At times it really does look like a graphic novel come to life...which, well...I guess it is. It is at times stunning to look at, but at other times it works against the story itself, turning what was a tragic event in history into an R-rated comic book.
The movie does include some accurate historical facts. The Spartan king, Leonides, did lead his personal company of 300 warriors to guard the Pass of Thermopylae against the invading Persian army, under the command of Xerxes. Part of the Persian navy was destroyed in storms off the coast. The Spartans did repel multiple attacks from the larger Persian forces until a traitor showed the Persians an alternate path around the pass, which allowed them to encircle and massacre Leonides and his men. But beyond that, the film and history part ways.
Leonides did not guard the pass alone. A contingent of soldiers from Athens was also present, as was the Athenian navy, which inflicted heavy losses in the Persian fleet and prevented the Persians from landing an army along the coast behind Leonides. The Persians were not deformed monsters. Xerxes was not an eight foot tall giant and he never set foot on the battlefield. Leonides was the one who sent the Athenians away after he learned that the Persians were going to flank him, keeping his 300 Spartans as a rearguard in the pass, and he was among the first to die in the final battle. And (darn!) the Spartans wore armor...not just speedos.
Basically, you simply can't go see this movie expecting it to be a dramatic documentary or serious portrayal of history. This really is an R-rated comic book in motion, full of splattering blood, rippling muscles, and exaggerated battle choreography. The bad guys are so over the top you almost have to laugh. The dialog is about what you might expect from a comic book too, including some cringe-worthy ultra-macho comments along the lines of, "It's only an eye, my King. The Gods saw fit to give me a spare." And sadly the acting typically borders on melodramatic histrionics, full of posturing and bombastic speeches. I'm amazed Gerard Butler didn't lose his voice making this movie.
Overall, it makes for entertaining popcorn fare if you aren't too squeamish and you just want to enjoy the visual spectacle...or feast on the manflesh eye candy...but just keep in mind that it's 90% style, and only 10% substance.