The 300 Spartans
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Movie Reviews of The 300 Spartans
Movie Review: Another Childhood Memory
Summary: 4 Stars
"300" (2007), arguably a remake of "The 300 Spartans" (1962), should renew interest in this original version. Is a film that is based on a comic book series inspired by the 1962 movie, that covers the same events from the same point of view, and that uses almost the same title a remake? Technically it is, but then the same point could be made about almost every film centered around the "Battle of Little Big Horn".
The 1962 film was hardly a Hollywood epic on the scale of "Ben-Hur" (1959) but it had a respectable budget, some large battle scenes, and a professional production design. I saw it in the theater and still have a copy (somewhere) of John Burke's mass-market paperback that was released concurrently with the film. The "Three Stooges Meet Hercules" only merited a comic book.
"The 300 Spartans" is a simplistic but generally accurate account of the events leading up to and the actual battle at a pass called Thermopylae (basically a narrow road with the mountains on one side and the sea on the other).
King Xerxes had invaded Greece with a massive army but had to funnel his forces through the pass. Greece was made up of hundreds of independent city-states that were not used to cooperating with each other. The most militaristic of them being Sparta and the most nautical being Athens. King Leonidas of Sparta (Richard Egan) was able to reach the pass before Xerxes but he brought only his personal bodyguard of 300 Spartans. He was supported by a few thousand soldiers from other Greek cities and by the fleet from Athens (Athens gets no credit in the film which also fails to explain that almost half of Greece had allied with Xerxes). Eventually Xerxes is able to outflank the Spartans and their allies but much like the events at the Alamo, the holding action buys time to organize an effective resistance to the invasion. The film is quite stirring and inspirational in a one-sided propaganda sort of way.
Diane Baker provides the romantic interest and also vaguely illustrates how the women of Sparta enjoyed an almost unprecedented power within their society (bet you didn't know that).
Egan (best remembered as Elvis' older brother in "Love Me Tender") has an acting style much like that of William Shatner. Sir Ralph Richardson plays his Athenian adversary and he raises the film's acting level several notches. Neither of these guys was exactly a box office draw which fit a film that was not epic in cast or in budget.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Movie Review: By Ahuramazda, they (almost) got it right!
Summary: 4 Stars
What can I say? I much preferred this version to the rubbish Frank Miller/Zack Snyder 'Bombs over Tehran' propaganda. Sure the acting was cheesy and OTT. Sure the costumes, especially those of the Spartans (look at those helmets- those are supposed to be Corinthian helmets??)weren't the best, the sets look like Star Trek cardboard sets, and the close combat scenes were lame. But consider this- the Persians were actually depicted as being human. They had motivations, they had family members(2 of Xerxes' brothers died at Thermopylae), they cared for their womenfolk(but not for their slave troops' women, apparently). The costumes were quite accurate, especially Mardonius and the regular Persian and Medes line infantry. The Immortals' costumes may have been stretching it(they wore colorful costumes, looked like the Persian infantry in '300'), but they at least had wicker shields, wore soft head coverings (the tall helmets and black uniforms were purely for visual effect to contrast against the Spartans' red cloaks- long before the Japanese movie 'Heaven and Earth' depicting Takeda Shingen's famous rivalry with Uesugi Kenshin, where vast samurai armies in black and red lacquered armor clashed), had bows and used weighted spears. Not like Frank 'I Hate Middle Eastern Terrorists' Miller's ridiculous ninja demon 'Immortals'.
Hydarnes here was a professional soldier who, while following orders, did his best to defend his soldiers, advise Xerxes against doing stupid things, and tried to salvage the situation. The Persians used cavalry and chariots. They didn't have African mumakil, war rhinos or ogres.
The Spartans were suitably macho, they didn't need to look lke UFC fighters, these were actual members of the Hellenic Army, Leonidas was stoic without needing to growl and shout all the time. And hey, Frank Miller adopted the design of some of the higher ranking Persian officers for his graphic novel, like Hydarnes and the Persian officer who offers the surviving Spartans one last chance to surrender.
And it wasn't just 300 Spartans. There were helot javelin throwers and archers too. Not just a bunch of UFC dudes in leather speedos. The only thing Zack Snyder got right was the phalanx shield push, and I still preferred the version shown in 'Troy'.
All in all, not too bad. It's nice to see movies where the 'other side' at least has a human face.
Now all we need is a movie where horse archers like the Seljuk Turks and Mongols actually shot composite bows from horseback...
Movie Review: sharp swords, dull dialogue, and some good history
Summary: 4 Stars
Hampered by a somewhat lame script and perhaps not enough high wattage star power to head the cast, this epic is nevertheless quite watchable; based on actual events in the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where a King Leonides of Sparta held the vast Persian army of Xerxes I at bay for three days defending a narrow pass.
The battles are brilliantly staged with its 1001 extras, in massive mano a mano fights, as well as on horseback and in chariots.
A secondary plot consists of a young couple (Diane Baker and Barry Coe) in love against all odds, and are the diversion to an otherwise rather one-note story of Spartans/Greeks vs. Persians.
Richard Egan ably leads his men as Leonides the Lion King of Sparta, but somehow does not have the stature as an actor to really captivate our attention, and other actors include Ralph Richardson as Themistocles of Athens, and David Farrar as Xerxes I.
The cinematography by Geoffrey Unger ("2001: A Space Odyssey") is spectacular, and the transfer to DVD excellent with rich reds in the costumes and the deepest of blue seas, and the score by Manos Hadjidakis ("Never on Sunday") is marvelous and adds a lot to the film.
Director Rudolph Mate had a long career as a brilliant cinematographer going back to the silent film era with the 1928 masterpiece "Passion de Jeanne d'Arc" to later films like "Pride of the Yankees", and this was to be his next to last film as a director.
One can learn history even from a Hollywood epic, as I never knew of the existence of Artemisia the Warrior Queen of Halicarnassus, here played by Anne Wakefield. When I first watched the film, I assumed she had been included to add some female pulchritude to the action, but upon some reading on the subject after viewing the film, learned she had ruled after her husband's death and was an ally to Xerxes I in 480 B.C., taking part in the Battle of Salamis, and cleverly maneuvering to safety when the battle was lost. Herodotus even gave her the rare praise of having "the virtue of courage", normally only bestowed on men, as it also meant "manliness".
Well worth watching for its historical accuracy, battle scenes, terrific costuming, beautiful scenery and score, so that though the film is not particularly involving, it has quite a lot to offer.
DVD extras include the theatrical trailer, and total running time is 114 minutes.
Movie Review: Dated but still fun
Summary: 4 Stars
I remember this movie from my childhood. At the time I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Years later and having read more I see the movie is what it is; a Hollywood production. It's not entirely accurate but it does follow the narrative.
A simple guideline of the story is thus; the the Great Persian King Xerxes invades the city states of Greece. They decide to fight but can't decide how and of course time is needed to raise the army. They decide on a defense action at the pass of Thermopylae. They look to the Spartans but they won't move until a holy festival is finished. The Spartan King Leonidas recognizes the danger and marches forth with his body guard of 300. Along the way he picks up another 6-7000 Greeks and the tiny army faces a Persian army of 100000.
The battle rages on and with better weapons and army. Better tactics and a narrow pass made the Greek Hoplite Phalanx almost unbeatable. The Greeks inflict numerous losses and look like they will win until a traitor shows the Persians another pass which allows them to send a force to attack the Greeks from both sides. Leonidas decides to stand and he and the remaining Greeks(he sent away many of the allies) are annihilated.
Even though the Battle is a loss; it serves to inspire the Greeks and it shattered the view of Persian invincibility.
The acting of the film can be argued as somewhat wooden but it is product of its time.
There are some goofs in the film. Look to the Javelins as the Spartans throw them at the Immortals. They are blunt and you can see some guys dropping their weapons to catch them!
The DVD says it has special features but they are nothing really interesting. You get movie clips, 3 TV spots, a theater trailer and the theater trailer in Spanish.
Overall, it's still a good film.
With all the remakes going on today; this would be a GREAT film to remake.
Movie Review: Only One Reason To See 300 Spartans
Summary: 4 Stars
"The 300 Spartans" is the story of an impossible, yet inspiring, stand by 300 Greek soldiers against the greatest army in the ancient world. Richard Egan, a buff, second string matinee idol, is King Leonidas of Sparta. His attempts to back the full scope of his military in defence of Thermopylae is hampered by political squabbling. Undaunted, Leonidas sets out to destroy Persian king, Xerxes - all the while realizing just how futile his journey is and how tragic his destiny shall be. The usual prerequisites of half naked women and massively overdone battle sequences - that all Hollywood epics circa the mid 50s to late 60s had - are reinstated for this film. Visually, it's stunning. Dramatically: below par and very long on spectacle over substance.TRANSFER: Fox gives us a very clean, very nice looking anamorphic transfer of this would be classic. Colors are rich, vibrant and bold. Contrast and black levels are dead on. There is some fading present during several night sequences. Film grain is noticeable but not distracting. Age related artifacts are kept to a minimum. Digital anomalies (edge enhancement, pixelization) are present but do not distract. The audio is 5.1 and nicely brings back the stereophonic appeal of classic Cinemascope movies. There's a sonic breadth to the musical score that does not extend to dialogue sequences.
EXTRAS: Theatrical trailers and a few TV spots. Big deal!
BOTTOM LINE: This is a movie for people who truly love and admire Hollywood epics. But it does not represent the height or even the best that the genre can offer. If you're starved for this sort of entertainment, I would recommend either "Ben-Hur" or "Cleopatra" over this film.