300 (2007) is the story of the battle at Thermopolaye as revamped by Frank Miller's and Lynn Varley's graphic novel and again by Director Zack Snyder. Gerard Butler stars as King Leonidas, ruler of Sparta, who decides against the wishes of both the senate and the old religious sect to march three hundred of his best men into the mountain pass at Thermopolaye to face down the giant beast that is the Persian army.
Led by the power drunk madman Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), who fashions himself a god-king over all of the Persian Empire, the Persians are determined to take over the world. Through forced slavery, war, murder, mayhem, the Persian Empire moved swiftly from Asia toward the Atlantic ocean devouring the land as they marched.
Teamed with a small contingent of fellow Greeks, the 300 Spartans march into the hot gates of hell, a strategic battleground that would stifle any army, to defend their homeland from the vast Persian army.
Based primarily on the comic, 300 is painstakingly faithful to Frank Miller's vision. Many images in the film are actually transferred from the frames of the comic series itself. Here present are also the many themes (honor, freedom, defense of the homeland, sacrifice, and heroism) that for one reason or another come as a big breath of fresh air over the other kind of stories Hollywood has told us in thirty years.
Violent, visually stunning, and physically exciting, 300 works as pure entertainment with a message about sacrifice and honor that has been missed. The special effects are top-notch, the acting is good, especially from Butler and, Lena Headey, who plays Queen Gorgo, and the cinematography is excellent.
Filmed in the fashion of a graphic novel, 300 is beautiful to watch. Each shot has been rendered with an artistic touch, and under Zack Snyder's careful direction, delivers more than just a film. It delivers an experience.
After 2004's Dawn of the Dead "remake" Snyder is quickly proving that he has the makeup of a talented storyteller and should continue to impress for a long time.
For Its Genre/Era/X: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
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