Impressive visual experience and good acting, but too much violence

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2008)

I give this one a score of 7.5 I think the film has both its strength and weakness. There are things that I really like and things that I hate.
Let's start with the bad points first. Too much violence on the battle scenes. A lot of slaughtering and blood spilling. I don't think that killing is something beautiful and some scenes in this movie are just like violent video games.No children should watch it. There is also unnecessary graphic sex and nakedness(the dance of the fortune teller and the sex between the king and the queen). The modern music does not go well with the ancient war story. Sometimes the background music is like noise to me.
However,I still have to say that this is a successful movie. Before I watch the film, I was thinking that if it turned out to be another brainless violent story, I wouldn't waste my time watching the whole thing. However, once the it started, I couldn't help keep watching it. The visual is really outstanding.Even that stupid dance of the fortune teller looks beautiful. The story is very simple and easy to follow. Nothing new in the plot or dialog, but that's not the main point of the film anyway. The reason behind the war sounds like good reason to me. I'm someone who minds a lot about the theme of movie. If a movie sends out terrible message to the audience, I would hate it so much no matter how well-made it it. (for example, Kill Bill,the film that says to everyone "Revenge is sweet and killing is funny and entertaining" Oh, how I hate that film!) Nevertheless, 300 does not have such a terrible theme. A country has the right to stand and protect its freedom and its land. I think it's fine for a king who fight for the independence of his own country. I think I can see brave people in this story. Men in the past need to be quite tough to survive and they have to fight to the last breath, I can understand that. So, the movie is a bit too violent, but not without good reason to support it. (Braveheart is one of such movies) Another thing is good acting. Gerald Butler makes me believe he's a good and brave king, and a great warrior. The queen is beautiful and elegant. She looks powerful when she talks. (Much better than the one who plays Helen in Troy) I like also, the actor who plays the Persian King.
The clothes that Persian people wear look weired but interesting, suited the film's overall style.
To conclude it, I can't say I hate this movie, but I just don't like some scenes that emphasize violence. It's an entertaining movie that keeps the audience stick to the seat from beginning to end.It's an excellent computer graphic art.The story is about some brave ancient people who fight to protect their independence and dignity, so it's not stupid, although there's nothing new in it.
Just don't take the children to see it, I insist.