300

Director: Zack Synder

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West

Most of you must have seen posters for 300, the new adaptation from graphic novels by Frank Miller. The latter is most famously known for Sin City, which apparently was co-produced by the producer of 300. So – same people, same result?

Hardly so.

Both movies have things in common – the over use of special effects, violence and blood, and a somewhat clichéd American hero, doing things no matter what with brute force. They are both original works, standing out from whatever you can see in cinemas. But 300 is different. It is not about bestiality/crime/revenge. It is about defending the people of Sparta. Oh yes, in case you didn’t know, it is held in ancient Greece. It tells of the heroic battle between 300 men from Sparta and millions of Persians come to conquer Greece. And that’s it. One big battle, with a plot that, in conventional movies, would barely hold 30 minutes. But here it is, holding for just under two hours. And tell you what? You don’t get bored.

Some critics I have read complain about graphical attacks, and the director using every CGI effect he can find. This is, I think, unfair. Graphical effects are present throughout the movie, and make it original – make it beautiful and enjoyable. At times you wonder whether it’s a painting from the Renaissance (ok, I exaggerate, but you get the point).

It is pushing the reality towards the myth (and truly it is a myth), and filming it accordingly. Six-packs seem too much? Well, it’s mythological, heroes are perfect, traitors are ugly, semi-gods have weird attributes…

So well done to the director for making this a consistent movie. But, folks, if you don’t like battle scenes, don’t go to 300, because that’s what it is!

Pierre Schramm