"no not the Biblical Gideon and his 300 warriors... these guys are SPARTAN"
"freestyle cliff diving - was big in ancient Sparta"
300 (15)
Dir. Zack Snyder
Reviewed by Matt Adcock
I am a Spartan, descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to surrender and that death on the battlefield is the greatest glory in life (although film reviewing is obviously a close second)…
Now come and witness Sparta’s finest hour – the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. where 300 Spartan warriors stood against the combined might of over a million aggressors. 300 is an unbelievable achievement, director Zack ‘Dawn of the Dead’ Snyder has brought to vivid, blood soaked life the crunching graphic novel by Frank ‘Sin City’ Miller. It’s powerful, full on macho stuff too, which has battle action that makes Gladiator, Braveheart and Lord of the Rings look positively tame in comparison. 300 is a film that unleashes the inner ‘wild at heart’ warrior in the viewer. If you’ve ever longed to stand by your principles and not be cowed, or just can’t take another day of having your soul sapped by the dreariness of everyday life – choose 300 and learn how from the greatest warriors who ever lived.
If the heroic tale of King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), who took on the self proclaimed ‘god king’ Xerxes and his millions of invading Persians with nothing more than his personal bodyguard of 300 blokes doesn’t move you, it’s time to check for a pulse. This is a guy who sacrifices everything to make a stand for freedom and was empowered to do so by his gorgeous wife Gorgo (Lena Headey). Gorgo not only willingly releases her king to certain death but also takes drastic measures on the home front to fight the insidious political traitors too.
Leonidas really sets the standard for noble warrior Kings and his stand against such insurmountable odds reverberates through history. His father’s heart of love for his family, his men and his country is moving to behold and the few potent moments when limbs are not being cleaved off really struck me.
300 is also the most visually spectacular film I’ve ever witnessed – every frame is a heavily stylised moving enhancement of the original graphic masterpiece. Battle may never look this good again but if total carnage leaves you cold then this really isn’t the film for you. If honour, excitement and entertainment beyond the thresholds of normal cinema is what you seek, there is nothing that can touch this bloody epic.
Enjoy it and then go and see it in IMAX too if you can!!
Darkmatters rating system (out of 5):
Action ööööö - unsurpassed battle glory
Laughs ööö – wry wit and dark humour
Horror ööö – plenty of blood soaked grimness
Babes öööö – Kelly Criag is a total babe!!
Overall ööööö (see it, love it, see it again!!)
"See a graphic novel come to life!!"
"feel the heat of battle!"
See more of Kelly Craig here: Kelly Craig 300s Secret Weapon
Darkmatters: H O M E
2 comments:
WOW! Another 5 stars!
I liked your review Matt, and I agree, this film will just rouse that warrior in you. Leonidas speech was way better than that of Aragorn's.
And yes it's even so much better on IMAX! I am catching it in the ordinary screen this week!
Well personally i think that the movie have great special effects and the battle the choreographies and that stuff, but the plot is not very smart. but is a good movie.
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