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300 – Sort of Spoiler Free

Since I am already beginning to hear people talk about the political overtones regarding Snyder’s newest film, 300, I thought I would put in my two cents and then move onto the review and never touch upon it again… I 100% agree with Zach Snyder; who set out to craft the best possible adaptation of Frank Miller’s stunning graphic novel, period. Any political connotations you take away from this film are from your own inner beliefs.

As I am still absorbing the visceral beauty of 300, I can state without hesitation that each and every viewer will be able to find their own political belief within the frames of 300. 300 is not a political film. 300 is not a documentary. In fact, 300 is not even a work of historical fiction. 300 is an adaptation and only an adaptation of Frank Miller’s work…

What else is 300?

Simply put, for my money 300 is one of the most beautiful, moving, epic and inspiring cinematic experience I have had in a very long time! Now, I am not talking about the brainless and frat house style fun that was had at Snakes on a Plan. No, I am talking about the intangible feelings you hear stuffy filmmakers speak of when they are talking to James Lipton about the first time they saw Citizen Kane and something in them “clicked”. (I know, he hosts the Actors Studio, but you get my point). Have there been other films with a greater social impact? Yes. Have there been films that made me question my personal ethics and morals? Of course, but these are also films that I rarely want to revisit on a regular basis. Such is not the case with 300. 300 is the film that makes me once again believe in the epic cinematic experience.

I know what some of you are thinking. I am biased. As a die-hard reader, writer and supporter of comics; I simply must stand behind a work based on Frank Miller’s book. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will be hard pressed to find someone with more of a love / hate relationship with Frank Miller than I. When he is on, no one can touch him. When he is off, I find him to be tasteless, crass, misogamist and wholly unreadable. Though it is true, I am someone who considers 300 to be Frank Miller’s greatest work ever. His visual and verbal storytelling is in perfect sync. His art in 300 has movement, passion, life and death within each brushstroke…

So, how well does Miller’s work translate onto the screen?

Perfectly. Even more so than Sin City, which required a strong eye towards noir filming, 300 required the director recreate the dreamlike world of Frank Miller, while still maintaining some air of believability. With a meticulous eye for detail, Zach Snyder made every single shot within 300 a living portrait unto itself. The camera work allows the viewer to act as both participant and witness to the events unfolding on screen. Mind you, there are times when you wished you were neither. Not for lack of quality, but simply because the imagery is so intense, you want to avert your eyes but your heart will not allow it. There should be some mention of the “blood” level in 300, hell, the title is literally written in blood. Yes, it is violent and yet there is beauty in the violence, beauty in the movement of the moment. The violence and art make for strange bedfellows. You know and understand what you are seeing is horrendous and terrible. Yet, you cannot avert your gaze; the imagery is too vibrant, you are afraid to miss one single brushstroke.

As for the blood, it is not as over the top as the trailers would lead you to believe. The blood serves a purpose. The blood is there to remind you of both the sacrifice and the oath each person in this film makes. Some may complain about the constant use of slow motion. Some would comment that Snyder is just trying to add“coolness” to the film. Perhaps, but I would argue that Snyder’s desire to bring a 2D art form to life gave him cause to slow the action down; to allow the viewer to take in the art as presented by Frank Miller and Lynn Varney. (Lynn Varley is Miller’s long time collaborator and inking partner and deserves just as much credit as Miller for 300’s visual style, if not more). Is the film bloody? Yes. Is it anywhere near the gore factor as Mel Gibson’s last three outings? Absolutely not.

The performances are solid from each actor. It is clear that the actors know their characters and their characters place in the world. Gerard Butler (last seen in The Phantom of the Opera) simply radiates kingly presence, yet never once does he display arrogance or disdain toward his fellow countrymen (or women). Butler’s Leonidas is both powerful and compassionate (at least compassion from a Spartan point of view). I heard a few critics complain that his Scottish accent was too noticeable. It never once bothered me. Indeed, all the cast members (from both sides of the Atlantic) simply allowed their natural voices to carry through. This would normally bother me and yet this time I felt no hindrance to the film. As if Snyder knew how their natural voices would help carry their characters. Case in point, David Wenham as the tale-telling Dilios, was simply perfect. I found myself wanting to listen to more stories from this character.

Lena Headey brought true presence and passion to her role as Queen Gorgo. Perhaps even more complex than Leonidas, Lena needed to perfectly balance the affairs of state, passion, motherhood and inflexible love to her king, husband and partner, King Leonidas. I do not care how tough you are… When Queen Gorgo tells her lover, “Spartan, come back with you shield…or on it”, your heart rises to the sky and breaks at the same time. Finally, Rodrigo Santoro as the god-king Xerxes. Now, I know the actor was digitally altered to appear larger than life. Again, this is necessary in order to bring Miller’s work to life, but in the hands of an unprepared actor, this gimmick would seem exactly that… A gimmick. Not so with Santoro. His Xerxes is terrible and awesome. It is easy to see how he commands those to worship him as a god on Earth. There is no weak acting link within 300. Each actor plays his or her part as well as any Spartan Phalanx line.

Finally, the music.

Again, I heard some people take issue with the combination of classic Wagnerian music styling with hard-hitting metal tones. Well, too bad. Snyder and crew were not creating a historical recreation of the Battle of Thermopylae. They were bringing to life the work of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. As such, Tyler Bates created the perfect score. The scope and wonder of both ancient Greece and the might of Persia are represented. But dammit, when the spears and shields begin to clash, Tyler kicks in the electronics and heavy bass line and drags your sorry butt kicking and screaming into the battle. Tyler is not messing around. If Snyder is going to visually assault you, then Tyler is going to give you the auditory treatment. The music reaches a crescendo at just the right moment… and yet, brings you back down to Earth to remind you that war is ugly and painful and leaves no one unscarred. How well the soundtrack holds up without the film, I do not know… However, while I was planted in that musty theater chair, the music was another powerful character that enhanced my enjoyment and wonder of 300.

I have been forced to see many stinkers and even more “eh, so-so” films over the past few months. I was hoping 300 was not going to be one of them. Thankfully, as if you cannot tell, 300 was not. 300 reminded me of what a Hollywood epic is supposed to feel, look and sound like. It has been many years since a film had me cheering, hurting and laughing… 300 is that film… Go experience this movie.

I gotta’ give 300 the first ever 5 out of 5 Critical Hits with a Confirmed Called Shot!