Movie Review: 300

300 seen on Saturday, April 14, 2007
Main Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan
Directed by: Zack Snyder

I saw "300" just about 2 weeks ago. It was being played in the theaters for quite a while before I saw it so I was already "late." Actually my friend and I planned on watching "Blades of Glory" but ended up with "300" since the former had already started for more than 30 minutes when we got there and the lady at the ticket booth wouldn’t grant us admission anymore. So we opted for the next movie in line and it was "300."

I’ve heard a lot of good comments about the movie from friends and I know a lot have been anticipating to see it even before it was released. But I was still reluctant to see this movie because it seemed to me that it was just another big war movie, full of flesh slashed and blood. And I wasn’t sure about the whole graphics part of the movie. When I saw the trailer on TV, I thought it looked cartoonish and didn’t quite like it. Yeah, I was being so close minded about this movie. I guess I was just in a more light, kind of fuzzy warm feeling movie phase at that time.

But now that I’ve seen "300", I’m actually glad I have. I’ve proven my bias perceptions wrong and have understood what all the big buzz on this movie has been about. "300" has wow factor written all over it. The graphics are excellent, nothing like I’ve seen in any other movie. I don’t know much about the history of Greek war so I don’t know if some characters, events and settings were just made up. But it doesn’t really matter to me because the movie kept me curious, interested and definitely entertained.

Actually at first, during the first parts of the movie, I was thinking that it was all just about hunks in war suits showing their well-toned bodies and women’s nipples. (Sorry for the obscene language!) I was also thinking at first that they were trying to make it a really sensual movie, with a dramatic sex scene that went on for about a minute and made me really uncomfortable watching. I was like "Is it really necessary to show these scenes?" But when the movie got to the middle part and beyond, I was beginning to understand the "art" the movie was conveying. I understood that apart from all the action and war, "300" was a drama first and foremost, with a wonderful story.

I read in its trivia page at IMDb.com that mostly it was shot with just blue and green screens around. It’s really amazing what modern technology can do now and I think the special effects people deserve an Oscar for their work on this one. I really want to know how the heck they can pull off people stabbing spears and killing other people without actually doing it in reality; And of course, if the muscles, especially the abs of those hunks were real or just suits or maybe just special effects. Imagine, 300 macho guys?!? Ladies, you gotta see this one! Hehe..just kidding! 🙂

I have to see this movie again sometime, not just for the amazing graphics and jaw dropping special effects, and DEFINITELY NOT just for those 300 hunky macho guys, but also for the story and historical basis that have kept me hooked.

Persian Emissary: This is madness!
Spartan King Leonidas: Madness? This is Sparta!