300

I saw 300[imdb] about two weeks ago, but it didn’t hit me to mention anything about it until now. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Was it not memorable enough that I had to rush home and write up something about it? Not particularly. I think the main thing to blame is the fact that it was St. Patrick’s Day and we caught the Canucks on HD at our friends on the north shore that night (but that’s a post for another time).

Let me just say that I am sick of people saying that it has historical flaws. You think?! It’s based on a graphic novel[wiki], which is just another way of saying “fancy comic book”. The story is based on an actual, historic event, sure. But it’s still a graphic novel, meaning amazing, conceptual designs by creative minds not bound to traditional forms of storytelling.

It’s words with really cool pictures. I think it’s safe to say that anything can happen.

With that out of the way, I liked it a lot. Nearly everything is touched with CGI, but it doesn’t get in the way of the film itself. It’s a great story with just the right amount of acting for a movie on this scale.

I do want to know the secret of getting that buff though. Is it a Spartan thing, blue screen technology, or what? Regardless, it paid homage to the legend that the Spartans mostly likely wanted to leave behind in light of the story that this film portrays. Well, maybe not completely.

There was a moment just after a battle where the Spartans were standing there in victory, music faded away, and it was all quiet in the theatre. Someone in the back whistled at the shot on screen in a very loving manner. A bunch of sweaty, blood covered, dirty warriors stood there as the camera slowly panned back, all wearing their capes, Spartan speedos, sandals, and not much else, maybe a helmet. The whole place laughed at the perfect timing.

On a note of the music, there is a little bit of the industrial rock vibe here and there, but it doesn’t hurt the film as a whole like I feared it could. Orchestra pieces waver in and out of the movie as well, but that Nine Inch Nails vibe comes at perfectly timed moments, especially the battle scenes, which there are a few of.

So on a personal level, I was entertained for close to two hours, and that is the one thing that I ask of any movie. Shot well, great story, and it didn’t feel like I was watching Gladiator at all. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was some of the battle scenes, but that’s not a bad thing. Make me feel a little squirmish, I don’t mind. Movies that make your emotions trigger is all good.