One of the Best Movies Ever Made!

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2007)

300 is the best movie so far this year and possibly the best movie ever made. Black Snake Moan, Alpha Dog, and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer were sensational movies, and this one really rises above them and blows them out of the water. 300 is certainly not your typical war epic; it's filled with more action, plot, character development, and gore than any action film I've ever seen. 300 is based very closely upon the graphic novel by Frank Miller, and is directed and written by Zack Snyder (director of 2004's Dawn of the Dead remake). 300 stars the multi-talented and sensational Gerard Butler, who starred in 2005's Phantom of the Opera, along with a cast of other relatively unknowns.
300 tells the story of The Battle of Thermopylae and many of the events that surround it, and this version throws in lots of flashy special effects, the best action scenes to ever hit the big screen, a perfect cast, and lots of interesting creatures and personalities. Led by Leonidas (Butler), an army of 300 trained Spartan men must face a legion of soldiers led by the ruthless Xerxes that outnumber them by thousands.
300 is extremely effective and careful in its method of storytelling, and we learn the tale of the Spartans both beautifully and effectively. The special effects, among other things, really make the film spectacular. Blood and body parts fly around like bugs, and the action sequences use slow motion in such a way that has never been seen before. The action sequences are clearly the best part about the film; in no other film have there been action scenes that were this gritty, violent, or realistic. The major highlights include some scenes where Leonidas and the others must battle large creatures and different races such as "The Immortals." Every character and creature sticks with you, including a disgusting portrayal of "The Council" that Leonidas must approach with permission to go to war. The cinematography and overall "look" of the film is similar to Sin City (also based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller), but everything is much more stylized and creative. Most of the set pieces and backgrounds are breath-taking and stunning; 300 is a ground-breaking film that sets the stakes extremely high for future action films or graphic novel adaptions. In terms of a translation to film, 300 comes across seamlessly.
As for the acting, Gerard Butler steals all of his scenes as the brooding figure of King Leonidas. He really comes across as a natural leader, and he controls the Spartan army with a fierce determination. Lena Headey plays Queen Gorgo, the wife of Leonidas and a headstrong leader of Sparta. She is very believable in the role, and she has several memorable scenes that are massive highlights of the movie. Rodrigo Santoro plays Xerxes, who is a menacing and disturbing figure in the very few scenes in which he appears.
Overall, 300 is the best action film to date, and one of the best films ever made. The directing, acting, special effects, and cinematography are all top-notch, and this genre of war film has never seen a better adaption. 300 blew away any and all expectations; film doesn't get any better than this landmark film. In the years to come, 300 will certainly be seen as a classic. Don't miss one of the best films ever made300 breaks all of the rules, doesn't hold anything back, has a dash of humor, and the action scenes are classic.