Release Date: 09 December 2006 in USA (Austin Butt-Numb-A-Thon)
Rated: Rated R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.
Runtime: 117
Genres: Action, Fantasy, War
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbender
In 480 B.C. there was one lone civilization that stood for freedom, humanity and progress while deeply rooted in the traditions of the past.
That civilization was Sparta, part of the unified collection of states and provinces that formed Greece. Sparta was the first democratic civilization where all men were free under the law, and women were permitted to speak freely among men.
Through many attempts by enemies and warlords to conquer the city over centuries, the people of Sparta knew that their freedom and principles did not come free or easy. Because of this, all Spartan men were taken from their homes at the age of seven to live a fierce and brutal life of training in the wilderness. From this early age the men of Sparta were trained to kill, not fear death, and defend the honor of their beliefs more bravely than any group in history.
When adult men had completed their training they would return again to live among the people of the city, ready at a moments notice to defend her if the call should go out.
From this environment is where Sparta’s King Leonidas came from. Fulfilling his destiny at only 11 years of age Leonidas slew a giant hungry wolf without fear or hesitation, and wore its fresh skin as he walked through the kingdom’s gates. Leonidas was noble and proud, and by the age of 40 was one of the greatest kings in Sparta’s history.
It is in this time frame that the Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), the king of Persia and self-proclaimed god, began to assemble armies and invade any and all kingdoms in his path, attempting to become the first king to rule over the entire known world.
When a Persian messenger rides to the kingdom to demand Sparta’s surrender he is not only openly defied by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), but by his wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) as well.
Sparta’s defiance triggers a full scale invasion by the Persians, who plan to take Sparta by force. King Leonidas intends to show the Persian army the full wrath of Sparta.
Unfortunately for Leonidas the religious figures and politicians of his kingdom are already corrupted and being bribed by the Persians. Receiving vast amounts of Persian gold the policy makers need only to thwart their own king. The advisors of Sparta decree that King Leonidas must not go to war or be in violation of his own laws and be subject to punishment.
With his hands tied Leonidas finds a loop hole by deciding to assemble his own force of armed body guards. The body guards consist of the 300 greatest fighting men of the kingdom of Sparta, and must accompany the king any time he is outside the walls of his kingdom.
The king decides to takes his group, joined by citizen volunteers from another Greek settlement, to a narrow mountain passing near the sea known as the “Hell Gate”. Here the lone king and his band of 300 warrior brothers will make a final stand and hold back the army of no less than 200,000 Persian warriors.
For the most part this movie was incredibly faithful to the graphic novel by Frank Miller which it is based on.
In viewing this film any average moviegoer will be stunned by the sheer beauty of it. 300 is a cinematic marvel that is both visually stunning and breathtaking.
Excellent adaptation and screenwriting by Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad brings real humanity to the story and viewers will quickly find themselves emotionally drawn to the character relationships within this film.
Gerard Butler and Lena Headey, as the king and queen of Sparta, give the performance of their careers in this movie. Other cast members such as Rodrigo Santiago, David Wenham (Dilios) and Vincent Regan (Captain) also turn in stellar performances.
The beauty and glory of the ancient civilization of Sparta truly live again in this film.
Although heavy on action the film is not so much short on story as it is providing only what we need to know. There is nothing wrong with that. This movie also breaks the trend of epic battle movies having to have an epic running time. The 117 minute length not only works for this movie, but works in its favor in my books. The creators have mastered the art of leaving the audience wanting more.
This is a film that I will definitely go see again when it is officially released in theatres.
Not to downplay the theatrical success of Frank Miller’s other theatrical adaptations, such as Sin City, but 300 sets a new bar for quality of graphic novel adaptations to film and surpasses its other comic based predecessors by leaps and bounds.
A knock out movie that is sure to set records in the 2007 film season.
