Arguably Sparta at it's best and finest.

Rating: 9/10 (14 March 2007)

I'm not going to give it ten. I'll give it nine going on ten, but not quite full marks. It's not a decision I make lightly. Even now as I type I mentally scrutinize the content.
A ten, to me is earned by films like the whole lotr trilogy, It's a wonderful life, A Clockwork Orange etc. A 10 me is not just classified as Excellent, but absolutely outstanding, and provokes emotional and/or phsycological feelings. I have, I admit given ten in the past to films of a personal favourite to me like The Goonies and Over the Hedge. .I admit that those scores are given with bias because they make me smile and laugh so much on a personal level.
Not that this film is not one of the best pictures in the last five years.
Au Contrare . .
Epic, fantastic, brilliant. .those are some of the choice words I could use. The wow factor in particular, and some whoops and applause from me during some of the battle sequences. Indeed, it seems that despite the special effects, we are given very authentic looking battles. At times I am reminded of Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings with spears and shield close ups, and perhaps even the matrix with the slow/rapid turning camera motions. The comic book blood is very effective, and I am glad they chose to utilise that method.
300 is indeed a landmark experience, with solid performances from beginning to end from a cast of fairly well knowns to not so well knowns. Indeed, Gerard Butler puts in a striking performance as a non A list actor, which should tell is a few things about the Hollywood system. His screen wife, stands just as strong, and plays no second fiddle to a film with so much body (no pun intended) that you can thrive on the testosterone alone.
This film has much historical and mythological value. Especially when King Leonidas (forgive any incorrect spelling) informs the deformed hunchback of his unsuitability to join with the 300 due to the way that the unit operates as one. The monsters, the creatures of this ancient world, whilst indeed a work of dark fantasy become as much a part of the film as the history it represents. And as such, it is quite possible to lose yourself in the authentic looking wardrobe and cgi sets and believe for a while that the dark ages of beasts and chaos did exist. Not since the Harry Hausen films, and Excalibur, and even Caligula have I been this drawn into a world of dark woven and quite frankly sinister shrouds of ancient mythos.
If it has to fall short, it would, I would have to say lose marks on the story content.
I think most of us, a greater majority go to watch this film because of the action. Everything holds up strong on its own two feet in this film, perhaps bar what you might call emotional engagement.
300 is a very 'tough' film; quite frankly merciless in terms of how *weak* the people of Sparta are not allowed to be, or pervade in any way. From the beginning we are shown the cruel but necessary trials and engagements that the very young are made to endure, to eventually become Spartan warriors. And as such, I do not think we,as an audience have any pity to fall back on, since violence and death is a cottage industry.
When we look at the story, there is in fact, not a great deal. It's quite a straight forward concept of not bowing down to an advancing empire; and as such sending a meager but iron tough contingent of Spartans against the millions of the dark Persian horde. Of course, we do get glimpses of the politically corrupt and certain things that seemingly must be done in order to preserve the empire; these however, are small potatoes and sidelines. That it lacks such emotional pull, is perhaps the reason it does not merit its ten. I could also have done without Wehnams pep talk at the end, but then again, they had to close the film out somehow.
That being said, it's not Gladiator, it's not lord of the rings. It 'is' rich, testosterone pumping Spartan grit and blood and battle, and I certainly will not ask for more in that respect.
A must see, a must own, as simple must.
9 and then some out of ten.
I would highly recommend this film.