300

Well it was just a little over a year ago when I first heard about 300, this was the time when the only synopsis for the film was "coming 2007". And now it was just released three days ago, and actually just made a cool $70 mill at the box office. Could March be on the way of becoming the new May? whatever that's a whole other topic, lets get on with this.

Right off the bat 300 was a great movie. Not flawless, but a great movie nonetheless. The acting was strong, it was visually pleasing and the characters were really cool. As a man who loves Greek mythology I was pleasantly surprised at the way director Zack Snyder blended this historic tale with the world of mythology. Now it wasn't like they added in centaurs or Medusa or anything, all though that would be cool, it was incorperated in to the film. The Persians, described as "immortals" were portrayed as these beasts, and even one of the characters was a hunchback type character.

One thing I couldn't get over was the colour in that film. You now that magic hour that comes around 4:30-5pm when the sky is Orange-yellow, OK now imagine pouring that over a whole film. It may sound weird, but that colour flatters this film so much, the red robes the Spartans wear stand out so much that you cant keep your eyes off them, which is a clever plot device. The effects were very cool, the CG rhino and elephant were really cool, but if they were on film for one more frame they would have bridged the way of looking too computer-ish, but Snyder I guess new this, a quality that many of today's filmmakers don't share.

The slow-moes, ok the slow-moes are an acquired taste. Personally I don't always like slow-moes, mainly cause no one knows how to pull them off, but this film really pulled it off. I think Snyder knew the right amount to put in especially when he would shake it up from going from slow motion to really fast motion to slow again, really felt kinda cool. Now this could be a problem for some, but I say it was cool, and it's my blog. So it's cool.

Now onto the part that can be argued, the story. Now the story is more of a heroic tale rather than a story. This isn't Gladiator or Spartacus, this a simple story with one reason, 300 FUCKIN' Spartans fight thousands of FUCKIN' Persians. That's it. Snyder did do some character archs with the King Leonidas and his fellow soldiers but characters like the Persian king Xerxes, were more like flesh comic book characters, but in this film that's ok, because he was well executed. Xerxes had such power and command you knew from the beginning that he was in charge. That's all you need.

Tyler Bates did a wonderful score. Unlike Hans Zimmer or James Newton Howard, that usually get attached to these kind of films, Bates' score was very powerful, the battle sequences were so intense and thematic I thought Metallica was gonna appear outta nowhere and start rockin out. Bates also slowed down during the more slower scenes, like with Leonidas and his Queen. Very cool score, look out for Tyler Bates, he's about to get very popular very quickly. So is director Zack Snyder, other than 300 Snyder was responsible for bringing back Dawn of the Dead to screens back in 2004. I think this is a better film, but its still not a bad body of work. He's slated to bring Alan Moore's Watchman to the big screen, hopefully he'll bring to justice to the genius of Alan Moore to the screen, cause The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was GARBAGE!. Ok V for Vendetta was a good example of a Alan Moore comic brought to screen ...."do one like that Zack."

Overall I give this film a 5 outta 5. I really enjoyed it, I consider this the kick off to the summer glut of films, even thought its March. I was heavily entertained, I applauded at many parts, and I went to bed that night sayin', 10 bucks well spent.

5 outta 5