There are some movies that tug at your heartstrings and others that make you laugh till it hurts. 300 does neither. It is pure testosterone in cinematic form. Based on Frank Miller's comic book mini-series of the same name (which is based very loosely on the Battle of Thermopylae), it tells the story of three hundred brave Spartans as they defend their homeland against the seemingly endless legions of the invading Persian army.
Now by that description alone, it sounds like a fairly decent action story, right? Well, amp everything up to eleven and you might have an idea about how visceral and intense this film is. Every moment that King Leonidas (played with a commanding presence by Gerard Butler) and the Spartans are onscreen is a moment that fiercely grips your attention without relinquishing it.
This is a stylistic, fierce, bloody, and unapologetic film. 300 knows that it has heaping amounts of gore and grotesque creatures, and it doesn't care if that offends anybody. In fact, there are times that the gore goes so over the top, that it's almost funny. Director Zack Snyder set out to make an honest translation of Miller's mini-series and he did it in a magnificent fashion. Snyder didn't try to make it PG-13. It was R-rated or nothing. And in this age of making action movies that are watered down in order to allow more people into the films, I respect the filmmakers for not softening the film. It needed to have this over the top feel. It needed be this sensational.
One very important aspect that I must comment on is the cast. They all played their parts wonderfully. Of course the standout was Gerard Butler as King Leonidas. He had such a presence onscreen that if he had turned to the audience and issued a command, we all would have gotten up and followed it without thinking. Also of note was Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo. She was regal, strong, dignified, lovely, and kind. I literally cheered during her scene in the senate. She was willing to do whatever it took to help her husband and her nation and she did it. And finally, there's David Wenham as Dilios, the Spartan narrator. His voice was both soothing and inspiring. The way that he related the tale of the 300 to both the audience and his fellow Spartans was absolutely pitch perfect.
The only problem that I had with the film was the plot holes. (I know: I was surprised as anyone that it wasn't the gore.) They weren't big and I'm sure that I can find out about some of them by reading the history books (or the graphic novel). But the plot holes were there nonetheless.
All in all, it was an entertaining, testosterone-driven, bombastic feast for the eyes. I'm honestly not a Frank Miller fan. His comic work just never clicks with me, but for some reason, this film really did. And as a result, I will be adding it to my DVD collection when it's released. It's not a film about cultural awareness or anything that makes you think too much, but sometimes you just need a good action film. And 300 fits that bill perfectly.
