As Theron, Dominic West (The Forgotten) plays a through-and-through bad guy with gusto. Too bad his character is really one-dimensional. Vincent Regan (Troy) is admirable as the heroic Captain. David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings) seems a bit weak as fellow Spartan Dilios, but redeems himself as the story's narrator. Andrew Tierman (Murphy's Law) dons heavy prosthetics and makeup to play Ephialtes, and his performance is one of the more layered in the film. And Rodrigo Santoro (Love Actually) is almost unrecognizable as Xerxes, effusing a cold arrogance that is fit for a king. Also, they all earn kudos for working so hard to build those spectacular pecs and abs, and for being brave enough to show up in nothing more than red capes and leather briefs.
The script and storyboard by Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, and Michael Gordon follows Frank Miller's graphic novel closely. The storytelling is rather straightforward, with over-the-top narration and on the nose dialogue. Except for the tortured soul Ephialtes, good and evil are clearly defined. The story has a surreal fantasy feel to it, and the characters are all larger-than-life with no ambiguity. It seems that the writers are determined to create some catch phrases ("We are SPARTANS!" Leonidas proclaims before kicking a Persian messenger off into a well), which generally work very well for the genre. They have done a good job creating a fluid storyline with Queen Gorgo's subplot as a counterbalance. That creates good tension and drama, even though we all know the story and the ending so well. Unfortunately, the story is a bit thin over all, so it drags in places and some of the action feels somewhat repetitious.
Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) compensates with a stunning visual style that gives the film a surreal, fantastical look. Even though it's based on historical events, 300 is made as a fantasy. Except for the actors, their costumes and the props, almost everything else is created by CG, which has created a lush, dream-like world in sepia tone. The monochromatic color scheme might get a little tiring after a while, but Synder should be commended for creating a consistent and mostly stunning vision. Every frame is beautifully constructed, and many scenes work like a Frank Frazetta painting set in motion.
Article comments
1 - gan
Everyone seems to be surprised by how well this movie is doing, and yet the reason is so clear:
'300' is about achieving glory and victory in war no matter how impossible the odds, and despite what an obvious assessment of the facts would suggest. In short, it is a fantasy that we Americans are desperately yearning for at this particular moment, as one very real fact has become unavoidably clear and final: the war in Iraq has been totally, and unconditionally lost. And yet, the atmosphere of denial is so thick in this country, you would need a battle axe to cut through it. The American National Ego, a collective identity formed around a self image of unquestioned superiority over all other nations and peoples, has been eviscerated in Iraq, torn to pieces by a smaller, underequipped, yet strategically superior guerilla force. (Ironically, the smaller Iraqi surgents share more in common with the Spartans than the US). Unable to grapple with this fact, and by doing so re-direct our foreign policy based upon a sober, if painful asessment of the facts, we instead, escape into our fantasies.
An ostrich may bury it's head in the sand, but US consumers simply go to the movies.
2 - James
Dude, it's just a movie
3 - Phillip Winn
Plus, there are at least two sides to any view of the film. For example, here are Victor Davis Hanson and Ephraim Lytle, holding opposite views on the history behind the movie.
4 - mzafrica
I would like to know the name of the guy that played the persian messenger. I think he is so handsome. Could someone please tell me his name. thanks
5 - Ray
Peter Mensah played the messenger.