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300

300

2007
Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, and using the same greenscreen-heavy look of Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Sin City’ (of which Miller also wrote) – ‘300’ is a big, violent war epic set to be one of the most visually stunning films of 2007. We recommend the trailer.

Story revolves around the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta (in ancient Greece) led his army of 300 against the advancing Persians. Despite losing the battle, their heroics inspire all of Greece to band together against the Persians. The historic battle, and its repercussions, would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy.

Starring Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West

Directed by Zack Snyder ('Dawn of the Dead')

Written by Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael Gordon (based on the graphic novel by Lynn Varley & Frank Miller)

War, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Action | 1hr 57mins | Rated (R16) | contains graphic violence | Origin: USA | Official Site »

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Flicks review

  •  2

    Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz

    Flicks Writer

    Take a bit of Gladiator posturing, give him He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe attire & physique, throw on a pair Sin City shades, wrap him ‘em up in comic book dramatics and some soft-core porn and you’ve got yourself a 300. A visually stunning, boring, laughably serious epic based on the Frank Miller graphic novel.

    Story follows true account of Leonidos (Gerard Butler), the fiercely proud King of Sparta (in ancient Greece). He leads an army of 300 men to defend their home against the gazillions of landing Persians about to unleash hell.

    The entire thing is shot against a green screen (ala Sin City) and it works well, it's quite gorgeous in fact - aside from the very poorly realised creatures. It’s grittier than Robert Rodriguez’s effort, perhaps because it’s on a smaller budget, and the look is better for it – feeling earthier and more fitting somehow. The set design is ridiculously stylized and over the top, but because it’s done so boldly this works too.

    But personally, I can’t buy the seriousness in tone. Granted, it’s maybe part of such a film’s appeal. But you’ll get nothing but laughs from this punter when I hear the narrator (in a film-trailer-like voice) say “When the boy was born, like all Spartans, he was inspected”; and when the enemy says “Our arrows will blot out the sun!”, the Spartan replies thoughtfully “Then we shall fight in the shade”. It just sounds stupid, especially when your package is hanging out in a little pair of y-fronts. And what will they do when the arrows land?

    I feel my point is proven when mid way through, there are a few scenes where some humour/lightness is chucked in. At this point, I suddenly became a little interested as the characters actually seemed like real people.

    The ending’s alright also, and the tale is quite a good one in itself. But in essence, 300 is an excuse for homoerotic parading, gore and titillation that did little to hold my interest.

    Agree? Disagree?...

The people's reviews

19 reviews

  • like half naked men wrestling each other then this is for you

     1

    munchkin

    Superstar (?)

    what a load of Homo Erotic fantasy what a load of trash the comedy rip of was way much better

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • review

     2

    skittles

    Nobody (?)

    Take a bit of Gladiator posturing, give him He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe attire & physique, throw on a pair Sin City shades, wrap him ‘em up in comic book dramatics and some soft-core porn and you’ve got yourself a 300. A visually stunning, boring, laughably serious epic based on the Frank Miller graphic novel.

    Story follows true account of Leonidos (Gerard Butler), the fiercely proud King of Sparta (in ancient Greece). He leads an army of 300 men to defend their home against the gazillions of landing Persians about to unleash hell.

    The entire thing is shot against a green screen (ala Sin City) and it works well, it's quite gorgeous in fact - aside from the very poorly realised creatures. It’s grittier than Robert Rodriguez’s effort, perhaps because it’s on a smaller budget, and the look is better for it – feeling earthier and more fitting somehow. The set design is ridiculously stylized and over the top, but because it’s done so boldly this works too.

    But personally, I can’t buy the seriousness in tone. Granted, it’s maybe part of such a film’s appeal. But you’ll get nothing but laughs from this punter when I hear the narrator (in a film-trailer-like voice) say “When the boy was born, like all Spartans, he was inspected”; and when the enemy says “Our arrows will blot out the sun!”, the Spartan replies thoughtfully “Then we shall fight in the shade”. It just sounds stupid, especially when your package is hanging out in a little pair of y-fronts. And what will they do when the arrows land?

    I feel my point is proven when mid way through, there are a few scenes where some humour/lightness is chucked in. At this point, I suddenly became a little interested as the characters actually seemed like real people.

    The ending’s alright also, and the tale is quite a good one in itself. But in essence, 300 is an excuse for homoerotic parading, gore and titillation that did little to hold my interest.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • 300

     4

    Angela

    Nobody (?)

    In 480BC around the time of the ‘Iron age’ Persian King Xerxes sent his massive army to conquer the lands of Greece. One such part of this land was the city of Sparta ruled by King Leonidas. Sparta, was a city renowned for its warriors, brave and trained to be fearless in the face of imminent doom.

    Leonidas takes a stand (albeit a suicidal one) against Xerxes and leads 300 of his finest soldiers into battle in an attempt to buy time for the rest of Greece to get their act together and prepare for the Persian Invasion. This delay tactic was said to be one of the most famous last stands in history and a testament to the training, dedication, skill, fearlessness and valour of the Spartans. It has also been said that the battle, which followed between the Greeks and the Persians, led the way to modern day democracy.
    All of the historical details aside we have to remember this film was based on a graphic novel not a textbook. Therefore, it becomes a huge and magnificent spectacle for us to digest.

    However, I have to say, this has been done before, again and again and again. From, Braveheart, Gladiator, Troy and Lord of the Rings we have all witnessed the cinematic event of the massive armies screaming for the enemy ready to tear them to shreds. However, in the story of ‘300’ the Spartans are vastly outnumbered and although their starting tactics allowed them to brutally overwhelm the front lines of the Persians they were on their way to death, they knew it and so did we. Thus, the computer generated effects although perhaps a little second-hand did justice to the horrific prospect the Spartans faced in their attempt to hold off the Persians.

    Bloodbaths, carnage, gore, beheading and maiming are the main meal of the battle scenes which are definitely not to be viewed by the weak at heart. A man’s movie I hear you cry?? Maybe, but I wonder how many of those testosterone fuelled men growling about how magnificently gruesome the fight scenes were, noticed the truly homoerotic connotations of 300. The attempt to conceal this by the gratuitous female nudity failed miserably and what was left was a demi god (Xerxes) straight off a mardis gras float fighting 300 extremely buff, deliciously half naked men. So, ladies if your partner is desperate to take you to the movies for this one and you are not keen, you should be! This film is as much for the girls as it is the boys intentionally or not…

    Overall, the concept and choice of cast is nowhere near as charismatic as the film interpretation of Frank Millers ‘Sin City’ but its steely grace, just like the Spartan Warriors keeps you mesmerised through to the end. Instead of waiting for the DVD, do see this at the cinema as a small screen would do no justice to the enormity of the story and the vision of 300. Plus, the men…oh the men…

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Are you people kidding?

     1

    Peter H

    Nobody (?)

    Looks good - not great, and otherwise is just dribble. So boring, predictable & laughable.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Watch it. Now.

     5

    Superstar kez

    Nobody (?)

    This has to be one of the most amazing movies I have seen it my time. It blew me away to think that this movie has been given an average rating of four stars, because I would give it six, were it possible. The fighting scenes mixed with the passionate love scenes made this movie so appealing to the visual sense that I had to see it more then once.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Review

     3

    Mandy

    Nobody (?)

    What a great visual experience, it was great to see an ancient battle portrayed in a graphic and fantasical style. The actor that played the King of Sparta had a great screen presence which made you not notice that there was about 300 fight scenes in the movie and a weak plot. I wouldn't recomend this to people who's favourite genres are romantic comedies or heartfelt family dramas. If you are a comic art fan or like actions and are bored of the traditional blockbuster type I would recommend.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Awesome entertainment

     4

    Dee

    Nobody (?)

    Gripping and visually stunning - loved the passion and powerful characters - yet not so gory to be over the top as so many movies can be. Definitely worth seeing. Dee

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • 113 + 187 = 300

     2

    Mo-man

    Nobody (?)

    300 was mildly entertaining. Nice action scenes and some nice gore in there too.
    But.....what's up with paying $14 to see a movie at 1pm on a Wednesday afternoon.
    Sort it out Village idiots

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Warrior Mentality

     4

    Tray

    Nobody (?)

    Yay.
    Who doesn't want to see their man fighting it out for His wife and country. Let alone 300 of them. Passionate, commited and with a purpose. This movie was all guts and bravado, fantasy with a smidgeon of historic reference. Which someone should have told me as I was expecting another 'Gladiator'. Once I figured out it was supposed to be a fantasy, (which wasnt til I saw the guy with the claws!) I could settle in, enjoy and ...lower my expectations.
    That done, I loved it. Effects cool. Story not so much. Accents were distracting. Closed my eyes during the sex scenes but still caught the premise that, Yep, He sure does love His woman.
    So all you gals out there...Go and see it. If only to see how a real man should act.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Epic adventure

     4

    Sarah

    Nobody (?)

    This movie is old world epic. With all the drama, pomp, arrogance, brawn and intrigue of ancient Greece. Ladies will appreciate the hot bods of the rugged Spartan men. Koorrr blimey!
    Guys will love the gorey, graphic battle scenes that make up much of the movie. Great use of slow mo and new film techniques mean they don't get boring. The love story and ample female flesh add another dimension.
    At times the plot does slow down a bit but this film really just stands as a testiment to the wonders of modern technology.
    Certainly worth viewing on the big screen. An entertaining night out.

    Agree? Disagree?...

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Press Reviews

  • BBC

     4

    300 is not a complicated film. It's going to be widely ridiculed and rightly so, because viewed with the slightest critical distance it becomes extremely funny, but taken on it's own terms - as Greek myth meets Looney Tunes - it's kind of a masterpiece...
    Read full review

  • Empire Magazine [UK]

     3

    Visually stunning, thoroughly belligerent and as shallow as a pygmy’s paddling pool, this is a whole heap of style tinged with just a smidgen of substance...
    Read full review

  • FilmThreat.com [USA]

     4

    300 is a feast for the senses (well, two of them anyway) and an impressive technical achievement. More than that, it's a hell of a lot of fun...
    Read full review

  • Los Angeles Times

    300 is something to see, but unless you love violence as much as a Spartan, Quentin Tarantino or a video-game-playing teenage boy, you will not be endlessly fascinated...
    Read full review

  • Premiere Magazine [USA]

     2

    1/2 That it's so flat as an action movie probably has a lot to do with why people might prefer to jawbone over its putatively controversial aspects--there's really not much of a “wow” factor to revel in...
    Read full review

  • Rolling Stone [USA]

     3

    300 is a movie blood-drunk on its own artful excess. Guys of all ages and sexes won't be able to resist it...
    Read full review

  • The New York Times

    Another movie -- Matt Stone and Trey Parker's "Team America," whose wooden puppets were more compelling actors than most of the cast of 300 -- calculated the cost [of freedom] at $1.05. I would happily pay a nickel less, in quarters or arcade tokens, for a vigorous 10-minute session with the video game that 300 aspires to become...
    Read full review

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