Posted on March 15, 2006
In what could be considered one of the greatest war films of all time, as well as one of the most testosterone-filled motion pictures ever to grace the silver screen, “300” relives the epic story of the battle of Thermopylae.
Frank Miller’s (“Sin City”) graphic novel, adapted to screen by director Zack Snyder (“Dawn of the Dead”), tells the tale of 300 Spartan warriors led by their valiant Herculean King Leonidas (played by Gerard Butler) as they fight vigorously against hundreds of thousands of Persian soldiers looming to conquer and soak up Sparta into their vast empire.
When the Persian armies, led by the flamboyant and self-proclaimed human-god Xerxes (played by Rodrigo Santoro) send Sparta a warning to join their kingdom and live as subordinates or to be slaughtered, Leonidas prepares for the only thing Spartan men know how to do: fight valiantly, never retreat and never surrender.
The 300 Spartans soon find themselves vastly outnumbered against archers, Mongolian demons, immortal warlords and hoards of bloodcurdling creatures from the deepest circles of hell.
While most of this larger-than-life story takes place on the battlefield, one soon finds himself captivated by Leonidas’ luscious wife Queen Gorgo (played by Lena Headey) and the treacherous statesman Theron (played by Dominic West.) Their greed, love of power and stubbornness drive them to perform deceitful deeds to reach their own goals.
Sex, war, backstabbing and incredible amounts of bloodshed help make “300” the greatest war picture since “Gladiator,” which was released nearly eight years ago. What truly separates Snyder’s masterpiece from the rest of the pack is the state of the art technology that creates the most innovative battle scenes since “Saving Private Ryan.” Whether it is a decapitation or a spear-piercing blow to the gut, the film has opened new doors in the realm of graphics.
The digital rendering and creation of monstrous elephants, raging rhinos, repulsive ogres, storms that terrorize the sea and enough arrows to block out the sun were all absolutely perfected. Snyder and his crew of editors and producers have dug into the deepest realms of our imagination, and make audiences believe these horrid beasts and jaw-dropping scenes are authentic.
Unfortunately, like the battle of Sparta, this film is not for the weak. The movie carries an “R” rating, as from beginning to end it is chock full of bloodshed, brief nudity and gut-wrenching violence.
For those brave enough to embark on the journey — prepare for glory! Be warned that you will be witness to the one of the most outstanding battles of the Western world.
Spartan soldiers are considered the greatest soldiers this world has ever seen, and now they are responsible for the greatest battle film the world has ever witnessed.
