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Kevin Michael Vance
Writer - Portland, Oregon
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Title: 300
Director: Zack Snyder
Year: 2006
Reviewed: March 25, 2007
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Birthday Cake-Second Highest Rating |
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I give 300, a not so bright, BIRTHDAY CAKE review.
My brother and I had a difference of opinion regarding the movie 300. He liked the way the script and the story dealt with archetypal characters and themes and how the battle of thermopylae was changed and manipulated to take on almost mythical levels. I disliked the nearly ubiquitous C.G.I.- everything from the liberal use of green screens to copious amounts of "cartoony" C.G.I. blood. I also didn't enjoy the way an awesome historical event of nearly biblical proportions was relegated to "juiced-up" screamers in loin clothes shouting freedom as if they were Scottish Highlanders, not Spartans (who, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, died for King and country, not freedom). There was also a sense of unreality throughout the entire film, I mean, I'm pretty sure Xerxes wasn't 10 feet tall, and I'm pretty sure he didn't have a mutant, grotesque obese with bone-saws for hands. 300 is a movie with one speed- Wide Fuckin' Open- and one volume- Fuckin' loud! And that's it. For me, those were the only emotions evoked by this film. There wasn't much subtlety, if any at all, and very little beauty to speak of; either emotionally or intellectually. On a positive note, however, there were some pretty cool fight scenes.
I don't mean to quibble, but the battle of Thermopylae is one of the greatest land and sea battles history has ever seen. As a movie, I would want to see this story done justice. And I do understand that the movie is based not on history, but rather, on Frank Miller's Graphic Novel of the same name, however, that doesn't change the fact that this is one of the greatest stories ever told- few stood against many and for three days, on land and sea, gave as good they got. It's the story that deserves the scope, professionalism, and focus of a director like Ridley Scott.
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