300
***1/2
rated R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.
1 hr. 56 min.
written by: Michael Gordon, Kurt Johnstad, & Zack Snyder
based on the graphic novel by: Frank Miller & Lynne Varley
produced by Mark Canton, Gianni Nunnari, Bernard Goldman, & Joel Silver
directed by: Zack Snyder
I've been a fan of writer/artist Frank Miller since my teenage hands picked up The Dark Knight Returns back in 1986. I was already into comic books for a coupla years and then this came along. I remember thinking how cool it was to see such an intense tale about a grizzled, out-of-retirement Batman return to rid Gotham City of the criminal element that disgusted him so. He was sick of it all and he was gonna do the only thing he knew....fight. Using not just brawn or weapons but his mind and trickery, a white-haired Bruce Wayne overcame all obstacles and inspired many. After devouring pretty much any of Frank Miller's work, I noticed the protagonists Miller used all tend to have these qualities. Even his original creation Sin City showed a black and white world of hard-boiled men and often tougher women.
These are the type of characters often associated with Miller's work so it's no wonder that in 1998 Dark Horse Comics released a historical epic that he and longtime collaborator, colorist Lynne Varley created that had the same type of characters. Miller immersed himself in Greek history and brought to the comic world King Leonidas. A man who led 300 of Sparta's fiercest warriors and marched north to meet hundreds of thousands of Persians head on in 480 B.C. The epic Battle of Thermopylae would become known as one of the most famous of last stands. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the massive Persian army of Xerxes I as they held their position in a tight rocky pass they called the "Hot Gates" along the shore of the Gulf of Malis. The 300, with the help of Arcadian brawlers blocked the only road through which the army could pass. After three days of battle, a local resident named Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks by revealing a mountain path that led behind the Greek lines. Leonidas' warrior/storyteller Dilios, who lost an eye in battle, was ordered to return to Sparta and use his gift of speech to relay a simple request to the people....remember the 300. Following orders, Dilios retreats along with the Arcadians, and is the only one to look back. King Leonidas stayed behind with his 300 and 700 Thespian volunteers. Certain of their own deaths, they held their position and secured the retreat of the other Greek forces. The Persians succeeded in taking the pass but sustained heavy losses, extremely disproportionate to those of the Greeks. The fierce resistance of the Spartan-led army offered Athens the invaluable time to prepare for a decisive naval battle that would come to determine the outcome of the war.
Don't worry, this is still a movie review. I thought it important to toss in a lil background first. It might be helpful for some to know that director Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead") was inspired by Miller's graphic novel which drew inspiration by the actual historical event. Although Miller had little to do with the actual making of this film, Snyder certainly has a healthy respect for the source material and its creator. The filming style here takes a cue from "Sin City" as it was also shot using blue and green screens in a Montreal soundstage. The art direction is nothing short of amazing and I know some critics have complained that it felt like a video game at times but that's so not the case (even if it was, consider the source). Instead viewers are treated to a fully-realized film adaptation of a bold, sweeping graphic novel. Varley's painted colors can be seen on screen mainly cuz her colors had just as much to do with the book's success as Miller's writing and drawing. It's great to see Snyder take such great care in representing all of their work, from the ornate details of the Persian arrows to the intricate costumes.
Every aspect of production comes together to create a world long ago in such a hyper-stylized dramatic fashion that kept me exhilarated from start to finish. Every frame of each shot is so conscientious that (if you let yourself) you just don't even notice the use of CGI. This is one film worthy of big-screen viewing and if you can an IMAX screen. It's only fitting since Snyder has captured Miller's grandiose scope but even in the quieter, dialogue scenes the camera eye is as careful as a comic book artist choosing which panel goes where and at what angle. Cinematographer Larry Fost ("Lost") holds the camera steady when the actors give their close-up dialogue and during the bloody ballet of battle the camera sways and cuts, moving slowly and then fast, just like the naked eye would if one was there.
Many of the battle scenes are incredible. I was worried Snyder would play too much in slow motion. These days, far too many filmmakers have dined on the Lord of the Rings trilogy one too many times and suck all the thrill out of their action sequences by dialing down the speed. It's not the preciseness of the movements that make sword fights exciting, it's the swiftness of motion and the peril of chaos. Snyder manages the best of both worlds, moving the time signature up and down as the many skirmishes require, letting us appreciate both the skill of the fighting and the danger of its consequences. My favorite scene was when two lone Spartans take on a rush of Persians, bantering back and forth as they cut their enemies to the quick. Snyder and Fong establish a graceful choreography between camera and performer, using morphing effects and advanced cutting and zooming to guide our eye through the carnage. It did remind me a bit of Legolas and Gimli in "Return of the King" still...it was stunning.
The story of the Spartans and what led to the infamous battle is told through the "eye" of Dilios (David Wenham, "The Lord of the Rings") who narrates much of the film. Leonidas (Gerard Butler, "The Phantom of the Opera"), is a chiseled Greek god that stands statuesque over his men and really anything around him. If a male lion could stand up on his two hind legs and lead his pride to war, this is what he would look like. These Spartans must have invented the original abdominal machine or BoFlex cuz they are all ripped and chiseled. In fact, the only other place you'll find six packs would be at the local liquor store. Those actors went through some training for this film! Even King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro, "Lost") is a tall and muscled, bronzed godlike man covered in gold jewelry and piercings. Manipulating Santoro's voice through filters to make it come across more ominous and scary was a bit jarring to me. It's obvious that this is a testosterone-infused film and at times all the pumped up busoms and pomposity seems kinda unnecessary but then again maybe that's the comic book aspect coming through.
There are a coupla stand-out performances that actually get more characterization than they had in the comic. Butler was great as Leonidas but it was his wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headley, "The Brothers Grimm") and his Spartan Captain (Vincent Regan, "Troy") that stood out to me. While the King and his 300 are away at battle she is busy persuading the impotent Spartan Council to send support and meets opposition by power-hungry, politico Theron (Dominic West, HBO's "The Wire"). She tells the Persian emissary, "only Spartan women give birth to real men," and as she sees her King off to battle she tells him, "Come back with your shield or on it." Well, alright! Part of that is attributed to Miller's tendency to depict strong women who aren't crybaby weaklings but Snyder does magnify the Queen's role and Headley certainly does well with it. The relationship between the Captain and his young "green" warrior gives the film a decent albeit typical dramatic layer as well. It's performances like these that manage to supersedes all the special effects candy we're being fed.
Bringing a comic book of any genre is usually an arduous and sometimes unnecessary task. With all the special effects in the world there's still so much more that can be portrayed in the comic book medium. A comic book page is a much more suitable place for creating a sense of mythic wonder. Miller is a master of the broad stroke and his style is so recognizable it's hard to imagine it done well on screen. "Sin City" was successful only cuz it was co-directed by Miller. He has an amazing ability of showcasing subtlety through blunt force trauma, something Snyder is unable to master. He can manufacture the ground beneath their feet and the skies above their head, but his actors will still be human, and as a result, I require a little more from them. Then again, to be fair, this movie isn't about amazing characterization but more about bloodshed, courage, death, valor, and rippling abs.
Snyder's horror film experience comes across a bit too much in the depictions of the Persian Army. He gives us grotesque characters on both opposing sides but moreso in the various cultures representing the Persians. I just felt that at times he was taking his debaucherous liberties a bit too far turning characters into the realm of fiction instead of grounding them in historical accuracy. I know the difference between what is real and what is exaggerated of course so none of it bothers me really. I'm not gonna rely one film to satisfy any curiosity of history I may have. I do think that the film would have benefited from less depravity and more reality to ground it. That would have been a nice change. That's no stopping the film's current success in the U.S. right now after it's opening weekend. That's cuz all the geeks and most of the moviegoers don't really care about accuracy in their bloodshed. Yes, there's already controversy surrounding all of this of course.
Why, there's even folks who are also paralleling the movie to the current tension between the U.S. and Iran. Those must be the same people who were comparing Palpatine to George Bush in "Star Wars Episode III." Right, that's what George Lucas was trying to do. Sigh. All I can think is that the timing of this release is unfortunate. Miller has a genuine respect and appreciation for Eastern and Western civilizations. Snyder just isn't showing it,that's not what the movie is about. It's purely a fictionalized account of the battle of Thermopylae, inspired by a comic book after all. If the Persians are outlandish in their piercings and golden chains, and their beasts and behemoths are larger than life, they enter the realm of myth or, at the very least, a propaganda machine. It really doesn't change my perception of any race or culture. If you liked movies like "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Braveheart", and "Gladiator," then you'll most likely go for this. I enjoyed the movie cuz it was great to see a fairly faithful to Miller's work which I've been a fan of. Plus, it was interesting to see the union of a historical event and a comic book based on it despite Snyder's embellishments. Regardless, if you're gonna see this movie, "Prepare for Gory!"