Breathtaking

Rating: 9/10 (12 March 2007)

The hype to see 300 has been building since September when the first teaser trailer was released and seen in theaters before the Oscar winning film The Departed. After months of anticipation, 300 was finally released nationwide and nearly every theater was sold out. Many are calling the film the wonder of '07, others, the best film since Sin City. I really couldn't formulate and opinion until I saw it for myself. I found the film o be breathtaking.
300 follows the story right up to and including the Battle of Thermopylae. The main character is the King of Sparta, Leonidas. He's a born fighter and a skilled strategist having been raised in the rough society that was Sparta. Problems quickly arise when Persian Emissaries arrive demanding the surrender of Sparta. Leonidas makes sure that Persia knows his answer when he kills the messenger and his guards. The table is set for the invasion to begin and Leonidas marches his men to the sea to make sure Xerxes and his Persian Army does not enter Sparta unopposed.
What follows is two stories. One of the Spartans at Thermopylae and the other of Queen Gorgo trying to convince the Spartan Council to go to war against Persia. Both stories are very interesting and very well written/acted. The story of Gorgo was shown a tad too much but it made it so that the film was not non stop action. Thermopylae is here most of the fun is at in the film.
Gerard Butler is one of those few actors who makes you want o watch a film over and over again. In 300, he's no different. He's powerful, he's smart, and even funny in a few scenes. Butler is able to portray a powerful king willing to die for his men and his family. Gerard Butler is a phenomenal actor who is making a name for himself. Expect nothing short of an amazing performance from him in 300 along with all his other films.
The battle sequences are over the top and incredible. Everything is choreographed but not made to look that way. Snyder used methods similar to the Matrix in filming the battles. Slowing down the camera, moving the camera's suddenly, etc, etc. The battles are not far apart and filled with historical fact of how armies fought (minus the obvious deviation from how a Greek Phalanx actually looked). They are entertaining and breathtaking. No action fan will be disappointed with the battle sequences.
Filming style was a big thing for this film. Everything is shot in front of a blue screen to give a strange effect to the final product. The scenery used is breathtaking though everything is filmed indoors. The blue screen really made the actors focus on their acting rather than other small things in the film. Snyder was able to make us see a graphic novel come alive when he made the film 300.
300 is bold, it's smart, and above all, it's historical fantasy. History buffs shouldn't go to see the film expecting history but instead a fantasy film with some historical facts to it. I prefer the fantasy element, it helped add to the surreal effect that the blue screen helped with. 300 is violent, it's bloody, and it's not for the faint at heart but if you want to see a top action/adventure/fantasy, watch 300.
4.5/5 stars