Spartan Law

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2007)

It is written that 300 Spartan men stood up against a horde of Persian warriors, one of the greatest armies ever assembled. These 300 soldiers fought valiantly and without hesitation to the throng of enemies before them. This would be there finest hour, a period of history that would be glorified for centuries to come.
Frank Miller (Sin City), whose graphic novels have won critical acclaim the world over, shares his retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae with us in 300. The story of how few stood against many and changed the course of history and warfare. Director Zack Snyder makes his second film since his remake of the 1978 cult-classic Dawn of the Dead.
The year is 480 B.C. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) lead his small band of the bravest and most elite troops in all of Sparta. They all had a wife and children to fight for and carry on their name. They were more than soldiers; they were Spartans. The "God-King" Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) of Persia was on the war path, snatching up all the land he could. Leonidas would sit back and watch as his people were turned into slaves. They would meet at Thermopylae.
Unlike most societies of the day, Spartan's hailed their women and considered them sacred. They believed a true Spartan woman could give birth to a Spartan man. Leonidas' wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) is as tough and strong-willed as her husband. She is more than just a wife but a voice. She plans to sway the politicians to send more troops to help fight with her husband. Theron (Dominic West), who has the power of the council in his hand, tries to thwart her plans because he believes what Leonidas is doing is unjust.
In the meantime, how about a nice, hardy helping of Spartan brutality? Leonidas and his band of cut, lean warriors fight off wave after wave after wave of Persian assault. Everything from the common foot soldier to elephants armed to the tusk. Masked attackers and monstrous beasts try to take a slice out of the Spartans. Their will is relentless and their feet planted firmly on the ground as their cause for battle.
History aside, Frank Miller's interpretation of the event is more or less; gruesome. The battle scenes are epic and not choppy like most action films of today. You don't have to keep guessing who is in what shot or what is exactly going on. The camera is steady and smooth. Swords ablaze and shields shimmering, the Spartans move around the battle with fluid movements as if this were practice for them. The camera zooms in on some shots, emphasizing a slash, chop, or impalement.
Speaking of battle scenes, the fight choreography is hard to match anywhere else. Some shots last for several attacks and don't cut away for a moment of the action. There are some one-on-one shots but most have a foreground action and a background action creating this feeling of being in ancient Greece. Another important thing to mention: this movie is not for the faint of heart. 300 goes beyond hack and slash. Limbs, heads, and gallons of blood cover the field of battle. Spartans show no mercy.
Like his previous work on the big screen, Sin City used a lot of harsh lighting and dark shadows to present a certain mood. 300 has a lot of earth tones; dark, dull, and aged colors. Certain colors stand out like the red robes the Spartan soldiers wear and the golden chains Xerxes wraps himself in.
If any other film had speeches as uplifting and energized as this does, I would probably laugh. After listening to Leonidas talk of honor, glory, and death in battle, I myself wanted to take up arms with him. The dialogue isn't mesmerizing but it certainly does the job.
300 is not your typical film. Do not call it a comic book movie (because a graphic novel is completely different) or a war drama. 300 is unique and has redefined the graphic novel genre. It is technically and visually brilliant. Don't take the kids to see this one. Prepare yourselves for an awesome spectacle of valor, courage, and chiseled abs. To Victory!