300

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2007)

Zach Snyder, the director of the latest Frank Miller graphic novel adaptation, 300, is not under any illusion as to what kind of film he is creating. Taking the backdrop of a real battle, that of Thermopylae in 480 BC where a group of 300 Spartan soldiers held back the entire Persian invading force for three days allowing the rest of Greece to prepare themselves to fight back, he has decided not to go for an historical film, like Troy, but reverse that films' intentions. Whereas Troy took a mythological story and tries to base it in history, 300 takes an historical event and tries to mythologize it. And Snyder wants us to know that from the start: he says himself that he had no problems with changing material from Miller's graphic novel or from history in order to make the film "look cooler".
So we get giant elephants and rhinos, diseased priests, Persian Immortals who look more like ninjas, and the Persian god-king, Xerxes, who's a modest nine feet tall. History be damned, 300 is here to have fun.
The visuals are, of course, the films main selling point. Taking its cue from the other Frank Miller graphic novel recently come to our screens, Sin City, 300 is mostly effects work  indeed, all of the backgrounds are effects, and the film has been given an antique tone that fits with its style, making it look like a visualisation of a story that an ancient bard such as Homer might have told round a roaring fire (speaking of bards, there's one in 300 with a goat's head). The visuals are pretty faultless, staggering even, leaving the only criticisms to come from the story and direction.
The plot is thin, and will be known to most by now  the Persians invade and 300 Spartans, led by their King Leonidas (Butler) go to hold them off, whilst at home his wife Queen Gorgo (Heady) tries to get the corrupt Spartan council (headed by a slimy Dominic West) to send the rest of the army to help. The set up doesn't take too long so that the meat of the film, the actual battles themselves, take up the majority of the film. It's an absolutely storming middle act that impresses with its style and its excitement. One draw back is the overuse of slow motion, which can be great in small doses, but here is employed to excess. Still, it serves its purpose  to show how violent the film is. We see every sword thrust, every limb be carved off its owner, and there's no convenient close ups to distract from what we are meant to be seeing  death. It's comic book violence, and so is not violently shocking, but it's strong nonetheless.
Of the cast, Gerard Butler manages to convince as a leader, his face showing the conflicts running through his mind  bow to the Persians and live, or fight them and probably die. It's the Spartan way of life to be a soldier (as told in the first few minutes of the film) and his decision, though a hard one to do is an easy one to choose. The other Spartans are a little generic 'hard men', with six packs and eyes gleaming, but some attempt is made to inject some humanity  a son looking for his father's recognition for example. The other noteworthy character is the giant Xerxes (Santoro), a man who believes himself to be a god, and who actually isn't that much of a bad man  his offers to the Greeks are genuine (he doesn't want to fight if he doesn't have to) promising Leonidas power and riches if he were to bow before him. He is above normal rules for villains; despite his appearance, he is not a cartoon villain, he is a mix of menacing and kind, so it is hard to pin him down. It is a somewhat surprising angle to take, but works in the film's favour.
Overall 300 is a lot of fun, though not without its flaws. But it is a film that knows what is wants to be, and so in its intentions 300 is a success. It's a visual feast, and in this case it is enough to support the film; the plot is barely there, and most of it is based on real events anyway. The only surprises the film can throw at you are the liberties it takes with history, but these just serve to make the film most imaginative and more thrilling. By the time Leonidas has made good the promise he makes to Xerxes (we won't spoil it here for you), you'll be under no illusion as to how hard the Spartans are, and how cool it would be to be one of them. Don't think too much about it, and 300 will leave a good impression.
Rated: 8/10
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