***!!! CAUTION: HERE BE SPOILERS OF THE MOVIE EVENT OF THE YEAR: 300 !!!***
"A thousand armies of the Persian empire, descend upon you! Our arrows will blot out the sun!" sneers the Emissary. "Then we will fight in the shade," laughs Stelios.
Frank Miller is arguably one of the finest artists of our generation. He has produced tremendous works that have inspired what can only be called Chefs d'Oeuvres. These include Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, his own Sin City, and now the heroic tale of the 300 Spartan soldiers who fought in the Battle of Thermopylae.
Many are quick to say that his stories are only comic books, but they are not. Frank Miller writes Graphic Novels, something far more refined than a mere comic book. Any author worth his wit will choose his words carefully. It is this way with Frank Miller's works as well. He combines his meticulously crafted dialogue with images so precise they put comics to shame.
This latest translation has been hailed as one of the finest adaptations ever conceived. Having read and born witness to both forms, I can see why. Not only do they both cover the same ground, both are so engaging they'd have even the most far-removed audience delving deep into the history of the event that spawned the legend.
300 is beautifully shot. That's really all you need to know to appreciate this movie. The applied filter lends to the entire film a sense of realism no amount of set or costume design ever could. Every angle, every millimeter of reel is perfectly balanced against the formidable content of the plot.
A short summary is as follows: The God-King Xerxes of Persia has come to Sparta's doorstep and is demanding that Sparta kneel before the Persian empire. True to their reputation, the Spartan army refuses and ignites a war. Timing could not be worse as the elder council has decreed that no war shall be waged during the fall harvest, a festival known as the "Carneia." King Leonidas of Sparta assembles 300 of his finest men and proceeds to the Northern shore where he hopes to break the Persian army. The terrain, a mountain pass known as the Hot Gates provides the perfect holding point, as the Persian army is forced into a narrow corridor that cannot be breached. Wave after wave of soldiers presses the attack but to no avail. It is only because of a disfigured and deformed Spartan that Leonidas' army is undone. Leading men through a goat trail that takes them behind the Hot Gates opening, the traitor provides Xerxes with the opportunity for victory. The Spartans are slaughtered but not before Leonidas mars the divine figure of the God-King.
Casting was excellent, with Gerard Butler as King Leonidas and Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes. The supporting actors who fill the roles of other primary Spartan fighters are also well cast, rounding out the ensemble. There is an attempt to really flesh out the characters, but this not the primary goal of the story. Queen Gorgo, portrayed fantastically by Lena Headey, is used to add a sense of purpose to the war and stakes at hand.
The score, like many films of this type, is haunting but also infused with heavy rock influences that carry many of the dramatic action sequences with a surprising grace. This is exemplified early in the movie by the heraldic arrival of the Persian messenger, driving his mount over a hill towards Sparta's capital city. You really feel the importance of his message even before it is spoken by the score that accompanies his arrival and entourage.
And finally, there is an enormous amount of gore, violence, and nudity which are all taken humorously and seriously at the same time without straying too far into the realm of parody. Each spatter and spray of blood is shot, and almost choreographed, with such perfection you expect to be drenched in it by the movie's end. For many, this film is an excuse to put 300 extremely muscular actors into a war and set them loose, as though the Gates of Hell were broken and all manner of horrors were spilling out like blood.
Overall, this is an amazing film and I highly recommend you see it. Don't even stop to think, just go. You won't regret it.
"A new age has come, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it."
- Spartan King Leonidas
Labels: Cinema, Graphic Novels, Movies
