Visually Fascinating

Rating: 9/10 (19 August 2007)

The one thing that will grab you from the start of "300" is that it is visually stunning in telling it's graphic tale. There's no way around how amazed you'll be at this interpretation of the battle. Then there is the story. A story that is left up to you to interpret whether these 300 Spartans were brave or just plain idiots to put their lives out in that way under their King. These warriors and their King were indeed products of their lives and environments - and this is a theme that is being told time and time again...without much new spin on it. That's the ideal of this film and a good one to observe at that.
Much is being aid about "eeeing the film, but in listening to the film, you are told a tale - a historical tale - but instead of the "usual filming" that accompanies things of this nature, I was treated to a fascinating piece of art, ballet, music, strength. That is what makes this film heads above the rest in a graphic telling of a tale you know would not have the positive of endings - but an interpretation of what one thought might have been within the tale. And it was visually stunning of a feat to tell. I picked up very important details in this battle that fit the "time" - primitive weapons (to our standards of today) but used skillfully and well and choreographed in a way on screen where you knew that's all these weapons could do in the battle situations presented. These were men who were born to die, so to speak and they knew their call. Frank Miller gives you his perspective of how graphically he envisioned such a tale.
"300" isn't for everyone, and this graphic telling may have many cringe - but if you do watch, you cannot escape how visually stunning it is, how artful it has been done and how people will do what they need to do to save themselves, those they love - while others will do anything to be superior, take over everything and be more than what they think they are for fame, identification and power.