Snyder steals show again in visually stunning war "drama"

Rating: 8/10 (19 April 2009)

Brought up to be a strong leader, King Leonidas (Butler) takes 300 Spartans into war against their rivals the Persians.
Based on Frank Miller's best selling novel and surrounding the war in Greece in 480 BC 300 thrives on glorious graphics, hard fought action sequences and a political plot that takes a while to set off but once established becomes exciting and any fan would and should be pleased by the combination of war and action.
Zack Snyder's picture is fast and flowing once the wars get going. The film begins with some muddled conformity to establish the central protagonist Leonidas. We see a young lad learning from his father and the lad, after a battle against a wolf, becomes the King of Sparta. OK so the character is established, moving on we see a Persian enter the village and demand water but based on this opening of a father telling him to stand his ground, Leonidas decides to introduce the man to the town's local black hole and soon we have ourselves facing a raging war prospect between Spartans and Persians.
After a muddled journey to the lake in which we see oracles, a surviving boy and a bizarrely directed war field the plot finally notches up a gear. War begins! And I not being too enthusiastic about the genre found myself entranced by some visually breathtaking action sequences as blood and bones fly across the screens for almost the whole remainder of the film. And whenever action is on the cards, Snyder does not disappoint. His slow down techniques makes Neo look foolish and the consistency juxtaposed with the action and effects almost slaughter fan winning hit Watchmen.
So 300 conforms to fans expectations and from research seems to have justified Frank Miller's graphic novel, so it seems perfect? Well not quite.
300 is visually stunning yes and the action sequences should satisfy any adrenaline junkie or war enthusiast to watch it over and over again. But beneath what we see, we feel an almost soap styled plot that mainly revolves around the King's wife. Lena Headey's Gorgo brings almost an over the top dramatic feel to the film. Her concerns over her family, her untrustworthy actions and general worries are out of place in a picture about politics and war, complete star driven waffle to conform to an unnecessary formula.
What is important to remember however is that 300 is completely diverse from many other war smashes. Though you may be inclined to switch off during the first half an hour it is important to hang on. Performances and bizarre soap subplots aside, Snyder delivers stunning action and memorable visuals to make the 2006 fan stealer a wort