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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
Synopsis
Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 takes over the screen like an invading horde. With all the gushing blood of a horror movie and the scope of a classic epic, the second film from Zack Snyder (who helmed the 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead") is an impressive visual spectacle. In 300, Gerard Butler ("The Phantom of the Opera") plays Leonidas, the king of ancient Sparta. The city is famous for its warrior philosophy and Leonidas won't kneel to the demands of Persia's King, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro, "Lost"). Instead, Leonidas leads his 300-strong army against Xerxes's army of millions. Meanwhile, his wife (Lena Headey, "The Brothers Grimm") campaigns in Sparta for the city to send reinforcements, as she butts heads with the treacherous Theron (Dominic West, "The Wire").
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
124 of 138 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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.
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The battle of Thermopylae has entered into legend as one of the greatest acts of courage and sacrifice, as 300 Spartan warriors lay down their lives in a battle against insurmountable odds in order to delay the Persian advance across Greece long enough for a proper defence to be mounted. Due to their self sacrifice the Persian threat was repulsed.
This film reimagines this historic battle in a comic book fashion, and a highly entertaining tale that gets one caught right up in the excitement is the result. The high principles of the Spartans, the courage of Leonides and his followers, the exciting fight sequences, all makes for a good action romp. Everything is very much overdone, the bad guys are grotesque, the good guys are strikingly buff, the violence gory. The use of CGI'd blood is plentiful but justified. Not a film for the fainthearted, it is a good entertaining hundred minutes that is a bit different from the herd.
The only weak point is Gerard Butler's very Scottish accent, for much of the film tis great Greek King sounds a lot like Sean Connery. But apart from that it's all good stuff!
This film reimagines this historic battle in a comic book fashion, and a highly entertaining tale that gets one caught right up in the excitement is the result. The high principles of the Spartans, the courage of Leonides and his followers, the exciting fight sequences, all makes for a good action romp. Everything is very much overdone, the bad guys are grotesque, the good guys are strikingly buff, the violence gory. The use of CGI'd blood is plentiful but justified. Not a film for the fainthearted, it is a good entertaining hundred minutes that is a bit different from the herd.
The only weak point is Gerard Butler's very Scottish accent, for much of the film tis great Greek King sounds a lot like Sean Connery. But apart from that it's all good stuff!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Okay but not great
The hype will kill this film far more effectively than it's quality for some viewers. It can't live up to it. Is it a bad film? No. Is it a great film? No. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Burrobaggy
Excellent film, Snyder's best so far.
I have not read the original comic or seen any of Snyder's films apart from this and Watchmen, but, as someone with a keen interest in ancient history and faithful portrayals of... Read more
Published 21 days ago by Ceallaigh
300 will leave you breathless in its sheer scale and realistic CGI...
Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. F. husseiny
Bad quality...
I bought this item and after playing it I was shocked... the quality is terrible, the only thing I can compare the quality of the film too is a cheap copy... Read more
Published 2 months ago by JWilson
Excellent Movie
Are you brave enough fight and risk your life against an enormous Persian army with 300 men at your side?
Well, all this is what happens in the movie called 300. Read more
Well, all this is what happens in the movie called 300. Read more
Published 2 months ago by lagouge
Rubbish
An absolutely rubbish film which will only be of interest to students of CGI.
The plot is loosely based on a historical battle but twisted to become a modern morality... Read more
The plot is loosely based on a historical battle but twisted to become a modern morality... Read more
Published 2 months ago by simben
GROTESQUE.
A friend of mine knowing my interest in history invited me to watch this offering and I must say it is one of the biggest loads of rubbish I have ever seen. Read more
Published 2 months ago by DOGBERRY
A Leather Posing PouchFull of Massive Cobblers
Forget the epic story, forget the ancient history, forget great scripts, forget realism, forget drama, forget cinematography just concentrate on musclemen in leather posing pouches... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Grushenko
Take it for what it is!
Reviewers slating this film for being historically inaccurate are missing the point. 300 is an extremely faithfull adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel, which is why it's... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bad Trooper
Great spear and shield action with extra abs
The movie is a "mythological" retelling of the battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans (along with several thousand allies) blocked the advance of a vast Persian army intent on... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Moray Greig
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