One of the best...

Rating: 10/10 (27 April 2007)

To put it in a nutshell, I think that "300" was probably one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life. That's a pretty big statement considering that I've got films like "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" to compare it to, but I've never been quite this impressed before. The film is a visual feast for the eyes...a masterpiece of modern cinema.
I'll try to put the movie in a nutshell here without too much of a spoiler...but I may slip up a bit, so read with caution.
The movie takes place back in the days of ancient Greece at the time of the rise of the Persian empire. The Persian Emperor cum deity Xerxes has begun his acquisition of Greece, and has demanded that the Greek city of Sparta pay him fealty, in a sense. Xerxes really doesn't demand much, only that the Spartans must bow to him and honor him as the god he is. If they would do this, then Xerxes will have no need to march his billion man army on the city. The Spartans are a proud race of hardcore warriors, and Spartan King Leonidas refuses to bow to anyone, much less a Persian.
Leonidas decides to attempt a preemptive strike against Xerxes armies, but is unable to do so due to it being a holy time in Greece--a period where the armies are not allowed to march by the order of the Gods. This being the case, Leonidas gathers a band of 300 of his best warriors to march against Xerxes, acting not as the Spartan army, but as proud, independent Spartans.
This movie is the tale of all that happened during that march...and a few other choice tidbits that went on back in Sparta while they were gone. And that's pretty much all I'm going to give you on this story...
Everything about this movie shows excellence. Acting, editing, art direction, adaptation, costumes...it's ALL perfect. As a plus, I've never seen so many perfect bodies gathered together in one movie before ever, so lovers of the human male and female forms alike will certainly have their fill of eye candy. The flick even has the required Hollywood gratuitous sex scene...and it doesn't take away from the film, not one bit.
To try to compare this movie to another is next to impossible. If I had to do it, I would have to say that it's "Gladiator" meets "Sin City" from within "The Matrix". It's an incredible visual experience and it's not to be missed.