film: review

> 300 (2006)
The coolest 2-hour trailer ever made!

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Written by: Zack Synder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael Gordon (screenplay) Frank Miller, Lynn Varley (graphic novel)

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headley, Dominic West, and more

Genre: Action / Adventure / Drama / War

Our Rating: 8/10

I have new respect for director Zack Snyder. The man knows how to entertain the people. He took a real chance remaking Romero’s zombie classic Dawn of the Dead, but somehow pulled it off and made it fresh. Now with 300 he takes on a massively epic battle and tries to do it all in green screen. It could have been a giant disaster, especially with a cast of unknowns, but again, he gives us everything we could ever want from a giant, bloody popcorn movie.

The testosterone drips from every frame on the screen and the movie is so gorgeous that virtually any image taken from it would make a fabulous poster. I call 300 a 2-hour long trailer because it plays out exactly like the trailers and commercials have been hyping it up to be: a giant, bare-chested, violent battle that is filled to the brim with style. There’s not really much story here, and my only negative really is the oftentimes cheesy voiceover work done by David Wenham (who also plays “Dilios” in the film). But really what’s not to love?

If you’re not in the mood for a “thinker”, and you just want to be entertained, then 300 brings it in buckets. Synder’s next battle is with The Watchmen, and now I’m confident as ever that he’ll be able to do that story justice.

I saw this film at Cinemark’s Tinseltown 17 Theatres on Peach Street in Erie, PA.

related links:
300 - official site

MPAA rating: R
for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity

length: 117 minutes