Wonderfound! Want More...

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2007)

I was wonderfound sitting in a theatre on Friday night with 1000 people. When the Legendary Pictures symbol came up then the "300" title flashed across the screen in bold red... people cheered, teenagers yelled, and a tear formed in my eye. This is what movies at a theatre is all about. Someone in the crowd yelled "Tonight we dine in hell..." The crowd laughed and cheered. And it is true... this film "Won the Crowd." As so beautifully spoken in "Gadiator." The colors were so rich I was on sensory overload... then Gerard Butler appeared on screen. What a force of nature... charming, dangerous, powerful... but there was humanity in his eyes even though he looked like Hercules; a superhero. He cried, "This is Sparta!!!!" and the whole crowd cheered and I saw many teenagers giving each other high fives. This movie is not just entertainment... it is an experience; must be seen with a large crowd. Anybody who has played organized football, any contact sport, or served in the military will feel like one on Leonidas's men... Who would not die for that man? This is no historical epic but something entirely new... a Historical fantasy, horror, western, Passion film. Leonidas sacrificed himself for his people and the concept of freedom, albeit in Spartan society freedom for the few but the concept spread. Leondidas is like a Christ of Freedom. Mr. Butler was elemental... he roared like a lion and growled so small in tender scenes he could not have done it better. Leonidas stands with Douglas's Sparticus, Crowe's Maximus, and Gibson's William Wallace as one of the true heroes of sword movies. Much can be said for the supporters... David Winham (Spelling, sorry) was magnificent... Gorga was so strong, Xerxes was like a vision of beauty and evil. When you go see this film, forget all you know and have seen and enjoy it... appreciate the time these men and women put into their bodies, the stunts, the SGI, and Zack Synder's amazing craft of storytelling... who had the skill and humbleness to let Miller's vision come to life almost effortlessly. And to Mr. Miller: Please write more stuff for films, we need you. Do not compare this to Gladiator and Braveheart... it is a different animal all together. And lastly I want more! Make this a trilogy starring David Winham and bring in Leonidas's son. There is so much more to the war the Greeks and Persians fought so many years ago... nuff said.