Jasons Blog

So recently i decided to watch the 2006 movie 300. A recommended watch from a friend and a thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes i know that the film was released two years ago, however when it was first released upon seeing the trailers i decided against going to see it. I thought to myself 300 looks like another Gladiator remake claiming it can do bigger and more action packed battles than lord of the rings. And theres been countless films trying to do this which really didn't impress me much such as King Arthur and Eragon. I turns out that i couldn't have been more wrong about 300 its a great watch with an exciting plot and great use of CGI. I would highly recommend the film to anyone.

300 is set in Ancient Greece, Sparta. Three hundred of the strongest Spartan warriors stand against a mighty Persian empire. Directed by Zack Snyder the film is based on Frank millers Graphic novel.

The story starts in the kingdom of Sparta it takes the audience through the story of the training and hardship a boy endures in order to become a spartan warrior. King Leonidas played by Gerard Butler receives a threat from a Persian messenger to submit to the great god king Xerxes or to prepare for war. Leonidas reacts to this by kicking the messenger down a giant well. The king asks the elders and counsels that make spartan laws if he can take the army's north to face Xerxes armies. However some strong figures in the countries government have been bribed by the Persians so he is forbidden to do so.

Rather than admit defeat and submit to Xerxes and the Persian empire Leonidas takes 300 of the best spartan warriors and marches towards the hot gates in the north. The gates are a narrow pass between two cliffs where he plans to hold his men in formation so when Xerxes armies arrive they will have to fight in the narrow space attacking in waves, their numbers counting for nothing.

The scenes that follow in 300 are amazing. As expected after seeing Snyder's Dawn of the dead remake 300 also contains a lot of blood and gore. A lot, perhaps being an under statement the film is packed full of it but don't let this put you off. It provides the audience with the eye candy of frank millers graphic novel and is almost artistic in this sense. The fight scenes are action packed with impressive coriography and camera work. Some of the fight scenes including one from the pilot episode are shot in 360 slow motion. The camera moves around the fighting focusing on one spartan warriors slaughtering the Persians in the heat of battle.

The films battle scenes are far from dull the 300 Spartans fight their way through not only Xerxes's Soldiers but face clouds of arrows, huge monsters, beasts and masked creatures named the Immortals. Although the film is based on legend and real historical basis there is side of it that ties in with Greek mythology and myth.

While Leonidas and his 300 battle away from home, Queen Gorgo struggles to convince the council men to send reinforcements to aid her king. This storyline is not accurate to millers graphic novels but showed a strong feminine character.

The film nearly entirely shot inside studios uses computer generated imagery in many of the scenes. Using blue screens 300 has some stunning visuals that couldn't have been created if filming on location. The music gives this movie a modern feel to it some of which is the genre of rock including a song by nine inch nails.

An heroic story of great courage and companionship with the gore of a good horror and the excitement provided in good action movie, combined with some stunning visuals and special effects.