Let the blood run free

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2007)

It's always been said don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. More often than not, fiction is more entertaining. That's the great thing about Greek mythology, it has historical basis though we shouldn't forget the mythology part. With the 300 it should not forget the based on a comic part. Following in the vein of Sin City, the 300 was written for the page by Frank Miller and brought to the screen by Zack Snyder (The Dawn of the Dead remake). It tells the story the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C when 300 Spartans engage in battle with the advancing Persian army. Led by King Leonidas, (Gerard Butler) the Spartans are vastly outnumbered as the Persians number in the millions. While most armies would be crushed, the Spartans have the finest warriors in the world who have been bred to fight which results in much bloodshed. Shot entirely in blue and green screen the 300 is extremely stylish and looks every part a live action comic book. Snyder has no reservations in shedding as much blood as possible with the claret spraying the screen at every opportunity. Butler appears to be having a ball playing the Spartan King as he continually boasts how superior his men are to enemy King Xeres (Rodrigo Santoro) whilst butchering his men. He commands the screen with a ferocious look that makes you believe that his men can actually beat any number of men, his Scottish accent adding to his assertiveness. The Spartans also look the part, each actor going through a punishing exercise regime in order to achieve the look of the men said to be descended from Hercules. The sub plot of Leonidas' love for his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) shows that he's not a one dimensional character, however the 300 works best when the blood flows, and it flows a lot. Violent, bloody, stylish and fun, the 300 may not be the Greek epic audiences are used to, however it may be the one that future films are measured against.