300 movie review by ambix-indian

Sulekha.com

Movies

HindiTamilTeluguEnglish

Subscribe to Alerts

300 Overview

Starcast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West

Director: Zack Snyder

300 Stills

View All 33 Stills

300 Wallpapers

View All 13 Wallpapers

300 Reviews

Read All Reviews

300 Fan Club

ambix-indian
Reviewed
View All Members »

ambix-indian reviews 300 - 1 year ago
Views 220

Next Previous 300 Movie Review (22 Reviews)

300 is a 2007 film adaptation of the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller , and is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae . The film is directed by Zack Snyder with Frank Miller attached as an executive producer and consultant, and was shot mostly with bluescreen to duplicate the imagery of the original comic book.

Spartan King Leonidas ( Gerard Butler ) and 300 Spartans fight to the last man against Persian King Xerxes ( Rodrigo Santoro ) and his army of over one million soldiers, while in Sparta, Queen Gorgo ( Lena Headey ) attempts to rally support for her husband. The story is framed by a voice-over narrative by the Spartan soldier Dilios ( David Wenham ). Through this narrative technique, various fantastical creatures are introduced, placing 300 within the genre of historical fantasy .

300 was released in both conventional and IMAX theaters in America on March 9 , 2007 . The film broke box office records, although critics were divided over its look and style. Some acclaimed it as an original achievement, while others criticized it for favoring visuals over characterization and its controversial depiction of the ancient Persians.

300
300 theatrical poster
Directedby	Zack Snyder
Producedby	Gianni Nunnari Mark Canton Bernie Goldmann Jeffrey Silver
Writtenby	Screenplay: Zack Snyder Kurt Johnstad Comic Book: Frank Miller
Starring	Gerard Butler Lena Headey David Wenham Dominic West Rodrigo Santoro Andrew Tiernan
Musicby	Tyler Bates
Cinematography	Larry Fong
Editingby	William Hoy
Distributedby	Warner Bros.
Releasedate(s)	March 8 , 2007 March 9 , 2007 March 22 , 2007 April 5 , 2007
Running time	117 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$60 million

A Spartan orator named Dilios narrates of the young Leonidas undergoing his childhood training , explaining the rigors of Spartan life. Leonidas is cast out into the wild, and survives the harsh winter to return to his home, when he is crowned King. Dilios then tells of when a group of Persian messengers arrive at Sparta , demanding Sparta's submission to King Xerxes . Outraged and offended at their behavior, King Leonidas and his guards throw the messengers into a pit, resolving to face the Persians. Leonidas then visits the Oracle , proposing a strategy to repel the numerically-superior enemy, and offers the priests a customary payment in gold. The priests, called Ephors , having already been bribed by Xerxes, interpret the Oracle's message to mean that Sparta should not go to war, so as to not interrupt the sacred Carneian festival .

King Leonidas fighting soldiers of the Persian Empire

Despite the warning, Leonidas gathers 300 of his best soldiers to fight the Persians, selecting only those who have already sired male children, so that their family name can continue even after their death. As they march north, they are joined by a group of Arcadians and other Greeks . Arriving at the narrow cliffs of Thermopylae (referred to as the "Hot Gates"), in sight of the Persian army, they build a wall to halt the Persians' advance. Ephialtes , a hunchbacked Spartan whose parents had fled to save him from customary infanticide , approaches Leonidas, requesting to redeem his father's name in battle, and warning him about a secret goat path that the Persians could use to surround them. Leonidas turns him away as his inability to properly hold the shield would create a weak spot in the phalanx . Before the battle starts, the Persians ask that the 300 drop their arms. Leonidas responds; "Persians! Come and get them !" The Spartans use the phalanx formation, the narrow terrain, and their fighting skill with shield, spear and sword to effectively fight off numerically superior waves of attackers including Xerxes's elite guards, the Immortals . The 300 defend their position while suffering relatively few losses. Xerxes, impressed, personally approaches Leonidas and attempts to bribe him with wealth and power in exchange for his surrender. The Spartan king declines, saying that he will instead make the " God King " bleed. Later, an embittered Ephialtes reveals the location of the goat path to Xerxes, having been promised a lucrative and powerful position in the Persian Empire.

Xerxes encourages Leonidas to surrender

Back in Sparta, Queen Gorgo , upon the advice of a councilman, attempts to enlist the influential Theron to help her persuade the Spartan council to send reinforcements to Leonidas. Theron agrees to help, but demands that Gorgo submit sexually to him; Gorgo reluctantly consents to his advances. Meanwhile, the Greeks realize that Ephialtes has betrayed them, and the Arcadians decide to retreat in the face of certain death. The Spartans refuse to follow, obedient to their law . Leonidas orders only one man, Dilios, to retreat and use his rhetorical skills to tell the story of the 300 to the Spartan people, ensuring that they be remembered. Dilios reluctantly leaves with the Arcadians. At Sparta, Queen Gorgo appears in front of the council, but is not supported by Theron, who furthermore accuses her of adultery. The Queen, enraged at this betrayal, snatches a sword from a nearby soldier and kills Theron. Persian coins fall from his purse, the Council denounces him as a traitor, and unites against Persia.

At Thermopylae, the Persians have surrounded the 300 on all sides. Xerxes's spokesman demands their surrender, saying that Leonidas may keep his title as King of Sparta and become warlord of all Greece, answerable only to Xerxes. When Leonidas orders his man to cut down the messenger, Xerxes orders his troops to attack. The remaining Spartans are killed in the hail of arrows, with Leonidas finally falling after delivering on his promise to "make the 'God King' bleed", wounding him on the cheek with a thrown spear. The Persian king is visibly shaken at this reminder of his own mortality. Dilios eventually returns to Sparta and inspires the council with the bravery of the 300.

Dilios finishes his tale on a new battlefield surrounded by raptly listening soldiers. He concludes that the Persian army, who lost countless numbers defeating a mere 300 Spartans a year earlier, must now be terrified to face 10,000 Spartans and 30,000 Greeks from the other city-states . The roused Greek host charges the Persian army, beginning the Battle of Plataea .

Cast

Gerard Butler as King Leonidas : King of the Spartans
Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo : Leonidas' wife
David Wenham as Dilios : Narrator and Spartan soldier
Dominic West as Theron: A corrupt Spartan politician
Michael Fassbender as Stelios : Young and spirited Spartan soldier
Vincent Regan as Captain Artemis: Leonidas' loyal captain and friend
Rodrigo Santoro as King Xerxes : King of the Persians
Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes : Deformed Spartan outcast
Andrew Pleavin as Daxos: Arcadian soldier
Tom Wisdom as Astinos: Captain Artemis' eldest son
Giovani Cimmino as Pleistarchos : Leonidas' son
Peter Mensah as Persian messenger
Kelly Craig as Oracle girl
Tyler Neitzel as Young Leonidas
Robert Maillet as ber Immortal (Giant)

Awards/Nominations

At the MTV Movie Awards 2007, 300 was nominated for Best Movie, Best Performance for Gerard Butler, Best Breakthrough Performance for Lena Headey, Best Villain for Rodrigo Santoro, and Best Fight for Leonidas battling "the Uber Immortal". It eventually won the award for Best Fight. United 300 , a combined spoof of 300 and United 93 , won the first MTV Movie Spoof Award.

Plus Points: Graphics

Minus Points: "nil"

Movie Rating:

Music Rating: