Ten for 300!

Rating: 10/10 (19 April 2007)

Films that are creatively fresh and different deserve certain praise in my book at the outset, and 300 soars in this regard. It's entire approach to bringing Frank Miller's comic book/novel to the screen is stunning from a visual point of view. The coloration and stylizing are absolutely unique. "Sin City" is similar in ways, but this film has its own metallic, epic, wide angle, heroic take and cast to things. 300 is a genuinely rewarding visual experience just for its cinematic creativity. Beyond this, one needs to have a degree of sophistication to affirm that this IS a comic book/novel approach and it would be foolish to look too deeply at plot holes or character development. This seems to be at the heart of most criticisms I have read of this film. Lighten up! This film is meant to be taken tongue-in-cheek and on its own terms, not over-analyzed for what it isn't even intended to be. That's like critiquing a comedy for not being a serious drama. This is supposed to be action viewing and visceral entertainment, larger than life  not a deeply-nuanced psychological experience. This film should not judged nor dissected in that way; it's meant to be taken lightly and enjoyed as great escapist entertainment BASED ON real events and real characters. Sure it takes liberties! It doesn't purport to be historically accurate, so why get upset about it? It isn't meant to be reality; it's rousing live-action comic book film making at its best. I honestly feel that a fair degree of depth-of-character WAS achieved irregardless of 300's intentionally simplified format. I thought the acting was just fine. I loved the sardonic humor. I loved even the bad guys, even though I know damn well that the Persians weren't like that. It's all right-up-front and in you face and melodramatic and over simplified for fun's sake! 300 is fun. It's also super violent, but in the same over-the-top, exaggerated fashion. The tremendous battle sequences at the heart of the film are terrific and very originally choreographed, both physically and cinematically. Filming doesn't come more visually creative than this ... fast-riding entertainment doesn't come more fun than this. For what it is and sets out to accomplish it is impeccable.