War as visual spectacle

Rating: 6/10 (7 October 2007)

This visually arresting and very enjoyable adaptation of Miller's graphic novel about the Spartans' stand against the invading Persian armies is a lot of fun, even though plot and characterisation take third seat to visual spectacle and sound design (this is one of those films were a spear won't clatter to the ground when a speaker-blasting BOOM will do!) The look of the film is great - steely cold blues and greys dominate (even though we are told it is August in Greece) - and helps compensate for some melodramatic acting and lack of plotting. At times the film teeters on the verge of camp and there is no denying the homo-erotic element of the film, but, overall, this is a straight forward fantasy/actioner which will have wide appeal.
Although it is based on a graphic novel with its endless parade of eye-popping battle scenes the film seems more like a hi-tech video game bought to the screen, but, again, the sheer visual power of the piece ensures that you hardly notice the lack of structured plot.