I've seen the movie 300 about twice already so I think that it's about time that I write a review.

300 is based on comic book icon Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same same. I never read THIS PARTICULAR graphic novel although I HAVE READ other things by him. But it doesn't really matter because I'm reviewing the movie and not the novel.

"300" takes place several thousand years ago and it concerns the war between the Spartans and the Persians (Sparta was a city-state in ancient Greece and Persia has evolved into modern day Iran).

The movie starts with the rites of passage of young King Lianedes. He is the king of the Spartans. All Spartan youth are trained in very brutal fashion for their future career in the Spartan military.

The story starts with King Xerxes ( the king of the Persians ) sending a messanger to King Lianedes. The king of Persia wants King Lianedes to submit to the will of Persia and thereby becoming a controlled territory of Persia. In short Ki9ng Leanedes says "Go to Hell!" to the Persians and then all hell literally breaks out.

Through some sort of political reasons the King of the Spartans is only aloud to take 300 of his personal gueard to fight the Persians. He meets the persian army at a mountain passage and he surprisingly continues to fight them off for what seems like months if not years.

The B story of this movie is that King Lieanedes wife ( the Queen of Sparta) is on a crusade to send more soldiers to her embattles husband. What ends up happening is that a Spartan polititian betrays the Queen but then the traitor pays for his treachery with his life. Now that's good stuff!

"300" has quicly become one of my personal all-time favorite movies. The visuals are stunning. The dialogue is stunning. The acting his great ( Gerard Butler does a fantastic job as the warrior-king and Lena Headly doeas and equally good performanse as his desperate Queen).

The only slight jab I might give this movie is that some of the battle scenes go on for a bit too long. But never the less it is still a perfect movie.

I love some of the lines like "Madness? THIS-IS-SPARTA!!!" and "Tonight we dine in hell!!" or "Then we shall fight in ths shade!". This movie is destined to become a cult classic if it has not already done so.

The soundtrack is also wonderful. It's a very original and unusual score. It reminds of of the classical music used in the british cult movie "Excalibur".

The visuals are stunning. I love the use of the color red ( I guess to symbolize the blood spilled by the Spartans) and the earth tones and the dark colors.

Another slight jab against the movie is the King Lianedes's son doesn't quite do too much. I was waiting for the ending were I thought that his son might grow up and become a great warrior-king like his father and plot revenge against the Persians. But I guess that that's not historical fact and that probably why Fraqnk Miller didn't put it in the novel.

As I said earlier I never read the graphic novel but I have a strong feeling that the movie is almost verbatim the script of the novel. I've read some of Frank Millers work as in Sin City and the movie also does a good job of refelecting the words inh Mr. Miller's work.

The interesting thing about Frank Miller's work that I've noticed is that I guess that he is some sort of existentailist. I guess that his view is that thye world may be meaningless but there is something MEANINGFUL about defiance. There is something beautiful about going against the powers that be. It's like Hartagan said in sin City. It's like "punching out God" if you could. I guess I agree with Frank Millers point of view.

So I give 300, five stars. It's that good. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet.


Sincerely,

SteveHW

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age