300 compliments

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2007)

In the Netherlands very little was known in advance about 300. However, when it hit, it HIT like a ten ton hammer.
Being an avid fan of Sin City, this motion picture topped my "must see" list. After having watched the trailer more than 30 times I must say that the movie exceeded my expectations by far!
Comments on content First I adore the way the children are trained during the agoge, breeding steel like soldiers who's only way of living is striving to die well in battle. Second the idealism shown forth by all the spartan soldiers very much appealed to my imagination and my own value-system. Being fearless, without mercy and adamant in their resolve, they carried the "spartan flag" high upon their breasts.
Comments on form The landscape scenes (so what if its cgi?) are sublime beyond what words can describe. Although sometimes you see the blue screen looming its head (the part where the 300 walk away through the field of hay), the graphics are perfect! Subtle details which denote strength and insanity are carefully (e.g. where the monster, when attacking Leonidas, just gripped the sword at the blade instead of the hilt) hidden away but do arrest the attention in a subtle way. The fight scenes are very nice (e.g. integration of slow motion at crucial moments), not too cruel (not that I would've mind) and denote strength supreme.
In a nutshell: this is a must see for all who adore epic battles, very nice graphics and special effects! Two thumbs up!