300 [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of 300 [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: THIS IS SPARTA!
Summary: 5 Stars
Frank Miller adaptations are on a roll. First we got "Sin City," and now we have the story of three hundred Spartans who repelled a massive invasion.
And the adaptation of "300" is a stunning one -- literally stunning, since it bombards the viewer with larger-than-life characters, smashing visuals and tight direction. It goes a bit too fast for its own good, but it's a truly epic film that takes the historical war movie to another level -- all the more so because it actually happened.
As the introduction tells us, the Spartans were the ultimate warrior people. Babies were inspected for weakness or faults, and killed if they had any; as they were growing up, they were taught and toughened by a savage regimen. Their only true hope was to "die beautifully" for their land.
A Persian messenger arrives, telling King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) that the god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) wants the Spartans to bow to him. Leonidas' response: shove the Persians into a pit. But before he can go to war, he must consult the corrupt priesthood of Ephors and their beautiful Oracle. She predicts that Sparta will fall and the gods forbid war at the approach of the Carneaian festival -- courtesy of a hefty bribe from a Spartan traitor.
So Leonidas takes out three hundred of his best men, along with their nervy Arcadian allies, and begin trouncing the Persians. But they are being sabotaged, both by a hunchbacked outcast and by a treacherous councilor, whom Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) is battling. And so at Thermopylae, Leonidas prepares for a final battle against the monstrous Persian Army -- knowing that their story of freedom will live on.
This is not a "sensitive" movie where you have any appreciation for the bad guys -- it's a glorification of three hundred soldiers who died for their land and freedom. It just wouldn't work otherwise. It doesn't blindly adore the Spartans -- we see their darker side in their "weed out the weak" policy -- but it does appreciate them. They respect and care about each other, and Leonidas is as kind as he can be even to Ephialtes, the traitor.
And it's done in a manner appropriate to its comic book origins -- grimy, bloody and epic, but with a stylized look that is almost like CGI. The battles are shockingly good, and full of fantasy-ish creations like the monstrous creatures or the silver-masked Immortals. Even a wall of corpses. But we also get some beautiful visuals as well -- roiling seas, sunlit battlefields, Spartan cities, and the drugged Oracle in her white veil.
While the script gets a bit over-the-top at times, it's hard not to be moved by dialogue that can be darkly funny ("It's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare") or stirring ("He did not wish tribute, nor song, or monuments or poems of war and valor. His wish was simple: "Remember us." That was his hope, should any free soul come across that place, in all the countless centuries yet to be").
Butler and Headey are simply great as Leonidas and Gorgo -- they're both strong, passionate and fearless, and they both do a great job in their separate storylines. But the movie is filled with good performances -- David Wenham as the narrator, Dominic West as a disgusting traitor, Santoro as the decadent, arrogant god-king, and many others.
"300" is a unique, stirring, stunning movie that pushes the action-movie envelope, and gives a thrilling edge to a real-life story of overwhelming power. A brilliant movie.
Movie Review: Go tell the Spartans!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sparta, Lacedaemonian city state in the southern Greek peninsula. The year was 480 B.C. It was the Classical age... a savage age... a golden age. An age when men were Real Men, women were Real Women, and politicians were vile, lascivious, treacherous, narcissistic... OK, so the politicians haven't changed much.
The movie "300" is an adaptation of comic artist Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name. It tells the story, albeit in a fanciful way, of one of the greatest battles in history. The Battle of Thermopylae is taught in nearly every military academy and military history class in the world for both its military and its moral virtues. On the one hand, it is an excellent example of the benefits of training and discipline, and of the excellent tactical use of terrain. On the other hand, it is a shining example of dedication and sacrifice, of free men volunteering to give their lives to protect their homeland, their people, and their way of life.
At the Battle of Thermopylae (greek for Hot Gates, because of the tight passages and hot springs), 300 Spartans, including the Spartan King Leonidas, and a few thousand other Greek soldiers fought the invading army of the Persian emperor Xerxes, which some estimates put at over two million strong. By the third day of battle, most of the other Greeks withdrew and only the Spartans and a few hundred others remained. The Spartans died to the last man to give the other Greek city states time to mount defenses strong enough to hold against the remainder of Xerxes' army.
The Greek poet Simonides of Ceos (556 BC-469 BC) engraved an epitaph for the 300 Spartans on a stone at the site of the battle. It reads "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie." This passage is considered by scholars to be among the noblest phrases ever uttered by man. It does not ask for glory or accolades, only that they be remembered as soldiers who did their duty.
The movie "300" is not the most historically accurate depiction of this famous battle. There were no elephants or rhinoceroses at Thermopylae. The movie's Xerxes looks like a Goa'uld from Stargate SG1, whereas the real Xerxes was more likely closer to Usama Bin Laden in appearance. Many other details were exaggerated and fantastical. However, the movie does get right the central points of sacrifice, heroism, honor, and love of freedom. The Spartans may have been brutal by today's standards, but they were free people living in a brutal world.
Also, many famous moments and phrases chronicled by historians, like "(Persian) arrows will blot out the Sun", "Then we shall fight in the shade", "Come and get them!", and the "Go tell the Spartans..." epigram are faithfully included. Besides, the exaggerations and fantasy would have pleased the ancient Greeks who often idealized their heroes in plays, art, and literature.
The combination of history, heroism, and fantasy makes this movie a wild ride and a must-see.
Movie Review: War Is Beautiful And So Is 300
Summary: 5 Stars
War is something that has been around since the existence of man, we as a species are naturally violent and although some people will disagree. To an extent war and violence is beautiful, depending on how it is portrayed and 300 is one of them films that portrays war in its greatest beauty. The beauty of the war told in this film is the beauty that only 300 men defended their land against the invasion of The Persian King Xerxes and his army of men almost 20 times as big. The defending of a kings family and home against an army who he is unconcerned of its size is simply beautiful as it tells of the human nature of self sacrifice to save those we love.
To those familiar with the original 1962 film "The 300 Spartans" this can simply be described as a jazzed up remake of the original, which can cater for todays audience. This is certainly CGI friendly with pretty much 80% of the whole film setting being in CGI. Also some of the major events in the film slow down and is shown in complete slow motion which I feel added to the drama and impact of the battle scenes and a particular individual event.
Being jazzed up, I think I made a bit of an understatement as some of the major villains in this film are so overdone it becomes quite ridiculous. Whether that be Xerxes being close to 10 feet tall or whether that be the oricles looking too un-human to be passed off as real. This in a way I think is too much as it pulls away from some of the true hystorical elements that inspired this story. Some people would think that the fancy gore effects or the strange looking villains would be a cool thing, but being a true fan of cinema this was one of the only things I hated about this film.
The acting is dramatic, the action is intense and Gerard Butler makes a spectacular King and is a great leading man. He seems to express a passion and charisma that you don't regularly notice in a role like this. The fight scenes are plentiful and seem to have been choreographed to an extent which makes it truly inspiring and there doesn't seem to be a single point where you can say "looks like they missed a step there"
On a lighter note the film is very camp with the whole army being very rugged with washboard abs and seeming to wear what can only be described as tight fitted underpants. This has also received a bit of criticism for containing racist undertones with the whole enemy army being black or dark skinned. This is something to be left up to the viewer as I didn't really see the big deal or the justification in that criticism, although I do suspect some people will understand the criticism.
I would suggest that you rent this before you buy it, it's what I like to call a Marmite movie.
You either love it or you hate it.
Movie Review: The Few. The Proud.
Summary: 5 Stars
When King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) asks a few of a group of hundreds allied soldiers what their professions are, the responses could not be more diverse. When King Leonidas asks his group of 300 Spartans what their professions are, the response is 100% unified....Soldiers.
300 is Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae (circa 480 B.C.) that pitted a small army of Spartans against legions of Persians. And the graphic novel comes to life via the excellent direction of Dawn of the Dead's Zack Snyder Dawn of the Dead (2004 Widescreen Unrated Director's Cut) .
Rest assured, Butler is not singing opera or doing theater ( The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition) ) in 300. He is one lean, mean, bad motor-scooter as King Leonidas. His task?...To defeat the Persian army led by Xerxes (played superbly by Rodrigo Santoro {perhaps most famous for his Season 3 role in the TV series Lost Lost - The Complete Third Season }.
King Leonidas' Queen, Gorgo, does her share of dealing out pain as well. She is played by Lena Headey who takes on the tough-girl role of Sarah Connor Terminator 2 - Judgment Day (Extreme DVD) of Terminator fame in the upcoming 2008 FOX TV series.
The action in 300 rarely let's up, and when it does you're glued to the screen by stunning visuals and captivating acting.
Much of 300's graphic novel look and feel are preserved in the screen adaptation. The battles are brutal, but captured in an almost surreal vision of turning the pages of the graphic novel.
300 is one for the collectors bin. Put it right next to your copy of Gladiator Gladiator (Widescreen Edition) .
The Few. The Proud. The Spartans. Add 300 to your cart.
Movie Review: Do not listen to the ignorant comments of those who bash either format
Summary: 5 Stars
EDIT: since someone tried to insult me for saying that the picture and sound should be identical, here is a note from Hi-Def Digest:
"Both the BD-50 Blu-ray and HD DVD/DVD combo versions will feature identical 1080p/VC-1 transfers and, in a welcome move from Warner, matching Dolby TrueHD (48kHz/16-bit) 5.1 surround tracks."
Don't let people sway your opinion with their ignorant comments about HD DVD or Blu-Ray. Buy the format that you prefer and be happy with it.
I have both Blu-Ray and HD DVD and find that they are exactly equal in picture quality. In cases like "300," and a few other titles, the HD DVD has more features or unique features, but that doesn't matter to many people. If you read the specifications for the disc and find that you really believe that the extra features make one format or the other more attractive, then you should go with that disc.
The HD DVD version of "300" has some sort of blue screen, no CGI, feature or something... I won't be watching that at any time, as I just don't care about it. For me it just comes down to price. I will buy whichever format has the movie I want at the best price. The Blu-Ray version is $4 cheaper than the HD DVD version right now... if the extra features on the HD DVD are worth $4 or more, buy the HD DVD version. If the extra features on the HD DVD version are not worth $4, buy the Blu-Ray disc.
THE PICTURE AND SOUND SHOULD BE IDENTICAL. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE SHOULD BE THE EXTRAS.
If you only have a player for one format, be happy with that format and leave the other alone. All of you on BOTH sides of this bashing stuff are acting like little children who want to be big bullies and I find it ridiculous. I refuse to pick a side, as I benefit from BOTH sides and purchase contents for BOTH formats.
There are two formats and it is going to stay that way. Universal players will be released soon enough and those of you who don't have players will be able to buy a single player to play all content. That is the solution to this ridiculous bickering; co-existence.