“300”
Director Zach Snyder
Warner bros.
2 paws
Fun fact: Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300” showed a great deal of male nudity and was content with a highly minimalistic plot. Zach Snyder’s film adaptation manages to do the opposite.
“300” is an account of the historical battle in which 300 Spartan soldiers fended off an invading Persian force numbering in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Thanks to their clever utilization of terrain, strict military training and unflagging courage, these Spartan men managed to exact a great toll upon their enemies to help ensure the safety of Greece.
However, audiences looking for some semblance of historical accuracy need not see this film. It is by no means intended to accurately represent anything more than the setting and the odds.
“300” is a highly stylized, CGI-filled movie ““ much like the previous successful adaptation of another of Frank Miller’s comics, “Sin City.”
However, unlike “Sin City,” “300” suffers from a severe lack of narrative. Those who have seen the trailer already know virtually everything about what little there is of the plot.
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) faces the prospect of having his people enslaved. Spartan law forbids him to act against the prophecy of the oracle, who warns against taking his people to war.
Nevertheless, he takes 300 of his best men “on a walk” to meet the enemy at a strategic chokepoint ““ the “hot gates” of Thermopylae ““ where the Persian’s superior numbers will count for little.
In addition, there is a subplot that gives insight into the situation at home, revolving around the queen’s efforts to galvanize the Spartan council to vote for additional troop deployment.
This lackluster attempt at adding political intrigue to divert the audience from the endless green-screen battles is exclusive to the film adaptation. It does not, however, compensate for the fundamental flaw of the film: It’s boring.
“300” primarily consists of a series of excessively lengthy, albeit visually impressive, fight sequences punctuated by zippy, cliched one-liners.
The audience’s tolerance level for a never-ending series of computer effects and dramatic vacillations in camera speed will no doubt be tested.
Unfortunately, this film shows that some stories are best enjoyed in their original medium.
When reading “300,” one can decide exactly how long to contemplate the strikingly rendered scenes of carnage on the battlefield. But this is a freedom surrendered at the theater.
“300” the movie is a history lesson for the ADD-addled, MTV generation. Unless one is seeking completely mindless entertainment and wanton violence ““ admittedly, an entirely valid mood at times ““ this film is a waste of time.