|A stylistic triumph if a bit lacking elsewhere

Rating: 7/10 (26 September 2010)

Let's think about the aspects of 300 other than what it looks like.
It tells a true story, but twists some elements, omits others, adds fictional bits, and otherwise sacrifices veracity for cinematic effect. The story is not a complex one, by the way, but but it does have some emotional resonance.
The script is serviceable but not great. Dialogue which works in a comic does not always work on screen. Having said that, there is dialogue included which has echoed down the ages, and there are some effective bits of dialogue.
There are monsters added. They aren't necessary, but they are very cinematic.
The cast do tolerably well, although the male members seem mostly to have been selected for athleticism rather than thespianism (those Greeks! I don't know...) It is very violent. Well, I guess that if you're watching a film where 300 men with sharp implements fight thousands of others, also with sharp implements, you have to expect a little violence.
But what does it look like? There's the rub - this film is almost entirely about visual impact. A great deal of effort has been devoted to making 300 look quite unlike anything ever seen on the cinema screen. It is a stunning piece of work visually, although perhaps over-reliant on slow motion (and, particularly, intermittent transitions between slow motion and normal speed).
If you can stomach the violence, then it is worth seeing simply for how wonderful it looks.