So much blood, yet so little heart

300

March is typically a haven for all the movies that studios feel wont stand up against the average summer blockbuster. So it’s surprising to find “300” in among this bunch, considering the hype it’s generated online over the past four or five months. That said, it pretty much has the box office all to itself for the next couple of weeks, so maybe the early release worked in its favour.

“300” is the latest in a long line of comic book adaptations. This is the second one (after Sin City) to be based on a Frank Miller graphic novel, which itself is loosely based on the tale of “The Battle of Thermopylae”. The film all boils down to a gritty battle between a massive invading Persian army and a relatively small band of Spartan warriors (300 to be exact, giving the film its title). In this story, the Spartans are the good guys and the Persians are the bad guys, it’s a simple as that.

Sadly, there is very little to this film besides the glorious fighting. The plot is more or less straightforward, even a little predicable (especially for those who are already familiar with the classic tale). The films brisk pace means that there is little or no time to really establish any central characters (beyond the king and queen). So it’s hard to care about the lives of the 300 Spartans when there are no emotional ties to any of the characters onscreen.

As for acting, it takes a strong presence to stand out amongst all the CGI backgrounds, yet Gerard Butler (playing the lead, King Leonidas) manages to do just that. He not only commands his men, but commands the screen at all times. Lena Heady, playing the only woman in the movie (Queen Gorgo) was merely adequate. Dominic West was equally disappointing. David Wenham made a decent narrator though :P

Much has been written of late on how the film appears to demonise the Persians, and some see it as western propaganda against Iranians. Maybe it’s my own ignorance, but I never once associated the present Iraqi or Arab nations with the Persians in “300”. This film is definitely more of a fantasy more, than a historical epic. During the battle we are bombarded by fantastical creatures that wouldn’t look out of place in a Lord of the Rings movie, so I don’t think anything presented could ever be taken literally.

The most notable aspect of “300” are its stunning visuals. As with Sin City, “300” draws huge inspiration from the style of art in the original comic and a huge amount of work has gone into making the scenes as visually arresting as Frank Millers bold lines and colours. Given the huge amount of post production work, it’s a very impressive directorial feat, especially considering its only Zack Snyders second ever picture. Shooting the actors against a green screen gave the director enormous creative freedom to incorporate some truly breathtaking vistas. The grainy look of the movie allowed the CGI effects to blend together with the actors and backgrounds more convincingly. Every frame has been manipulated in some way (be it the colour, the lighting, or the backgrounds) and the result is like a comic book brought to life. The fight scenes are choreographed exquisitely. But despite the sheer amount of violence on display, there is a distinct lack of horror to the proceedings. The raw brutality of battle feels muted by some of the directorial flushes (the slow-mo shots, for example).

“300” is a marvel to watch, and needs to be seen in the cinema to really appreciate the grandeur of the visuals. But without any meaningful or worthy characters, the film lacks any emotional resonance.

The Good:

The score: Tyler Bates orchestral and rock rhythms provide as much drive and force as the Persian army onscreen.
The visuals: Breathtaking shots, beautifully realised.

The Bad:

The script: The whole point of the movie is that we root for the underdogs, but with little or no characterisation, its hard to feel anything for the outnumbered Spartans.