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Amazon.co.uk Review
Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralise the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.
More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylised look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 135 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a review of the actual dvd rather than the film,
By
This review is from: 300 (2 Disc Special Edition) [2007] [DVD] (DVD)
Brief note on the film first: a very stylised version of what the battle of thermopylae may have been like, adapted from a graphic novel and filmed with back projection to make it look as much as like the comic as possible. The result is really quite stunning, and the action and battle sequences very rousing. And bloody. The film is framed with one spartan telling others what happened, and thus what you are seeing is what they think it must have been like. This is a point lots of people seem to have missed.
As regards the dvd: this is a two disc edition, and the first disc contains a widescreen version of the film, with direct scene access, and a commentary from the director and two of the production staff. The second disc has: be one of three hundred: a brief bit with the director giving thanks to those who supported the project online. A documentary about the battle. twenty five minutes long with contributions from historians and it's fascinating stuff. A documentary about the spartans. Short but good. Conversations with the creator of the graphic novel. Brief but interesting. A short and generic production documentary. a look at the making of the film in images. fascinating but moves very fast and be warned if you're eplipetic as the fast moving could give you a fit. lots of short production documentaries, that are all quite interesting, and can be watched as one. A great film. And a very good package for it.
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent (when taken for what it is),
By
This review is from: 300 [2007] [DVD] (DVD)
I approached this film in two minds. I'd read a lot about its inconsistencies and historical distortions, and even suggestions of homophobia and racism.
First time I watched 300, I didn't really enjoy it. This can be put down to watching it on a 15" poor quality TV. I decided to give it a second go - watching it in high definition on a 42", and the difference was staggering. I'm now very much a fan. Regarding the historical mistruths - these are easily explained by it being based on a comic book and not history. 300 has little to no plot, but it is a pure, visually stunning, adrenaline filled, testosterone pumped dream (or nightmare depending on your tastes). Taken for what it is (a comic book brought to life), it's hard to take negative claims against it seriously, because the film itself is not serious outside of its own narrow origins. If you are looking for a film with depth and meaning, please avoid this film at all costs. If you are looking for an exciting, visually impressive comic book action film, then walk this way.
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for everyone,
By
This review is from: 300 [2007] [DVD] (DVD)
Personally I found this film spectacular. The use of CGI to create a sense of fantasy to a true story, all be it a very stretched one, was used brilliantly.
The film is based on a comic by Frank Miller which in turn is based on the story of the 300 spartans. I won't bore you with the history but it is worth pointing this out. If you liked Sin City chances are you'll like this. If you liked Gladiator you'll probably like this. If you liked them both then you'll love it. Stay clear if this sort of genre isn't for you as it really is dependent on that sort of film goer.
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