300 (2006) :: A Movie Review
Monday, 28. May 2007, 09:11:07
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Director: Zack Snyder
Release Date: 16 March 2007 (India)
Genre: Action / Drama / History / War
Review:
An action filled dramatic movie based on the historic Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. where Leonidas, the king of Sparta, led his army of 300 Spartan soldiers against Xerxes and his Persian forces, in Leonidas' own words - "the largest army ever assembled".
As the poster would suggest with "300" across it in blood, the movie depicts an abundance of blood, violence and gore without which the ferocity, passion and the impact of the war could little have been displayed. It is an epic story of shields and swords, blood and war, valour and bravery, wisdom and madness, hypocrisy and malice, rage and passion, patriotism and love and of Spartan might against the Persian invasion where "The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, that even a god-king can bleed."
The beginning is not less terrific than the rest of the movie from when Dilios' [David Wenham] voice narrates - "when the boy was born, like all Spartans, he was inspected..." "From the time he could stand, he was baptised in the fire of combat..." gives an idea of what to expect from what is to follow. He, then, goes on elaborate on Spartan Military Training and the Agoge. The deadly story and beautiful
story is unravelled with "the beast approaches... and it was King Leonidas who provoked it..."
Horsemen, messengers from Persia, arrive seeking "earth and water" [betokening their submission], with an exciting scene in store, which may arouse the curiosity of the viewers until Leonidas 'dismisses' the messengers, who didn't 'choose their words carefully' - "THIS IS SPARTA!" The following ought to give you an idea of Spartan honour.
Messenger: Who does this woman think she is that she can speak among men?
Queen Gorgo: Because only Spartan women give birth to real men.
Spartan King Leonidas: Submission? Well that's gonna be a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it that the Athenians have already refused you, and if those philosophers and boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve...
Theron: [Interrupting] We must be diplomatic.
Spartan King Leonidas: ...and of course Spartans have their reputations to consider.
If you haven't realised already, thus, was the beast provoked, giving birth to the campaign of Xerxes.
Following Spartan (meaningless) tradition, though much to his dislike, Leonidas sought the blessings of the "Ephors" and bribed them. He proposed his plan to march to the North where "in that narrow corridor, numbers (referring to Xerxes' army) will count for nothing... and wave by wave of Persian assault will smash against Spartan shield..." and while he does little to disguise his eagerness for battle, the Ephor reminds him that it is the month of the ancient, sacred festival when 'Sparta wages no war'. Blasphemist as he was, Leonidas paid little heed to them, but acquiesced to 'consulting the Oracle'.
Elder #1: My good king! My good king! The oracle has spoken.
Elder #2: The Ephors has spoken! There must be no march!
Theron: It is the law, my lord. The Spartan army must not go to war.
Spartan King Leonidas: And nor shall we. I've said no such order. I'm here, just taking a stroll, stretching my legs...
[pauses and looks back]
Spartan King Leonidas: Those are my 300 personal bodyguards.
Elder #1: [after the army starts marching in the fields, talking nervously] What should we do?
Theron: [sighs in disbelief] What can we do?
Spartan King Leonidas: [sarcastically] What can you do?
Thus, the courageous King lead his 300 North for what was expected to be a "gleaming moment of glory... a radiant clash of sword and spear, sword and bone and flesh and blood..."
A bit of humour, somehow, made to fit into this bloody movie beautifully, too.
When Daxos who had brought many Arkadian men for the battle, looking perfectly stunned, asks Leonidas whether he brought only three hundred soldiers, the king of Sparta replies in the following manner.
Spartan King Leonidas: You there! What is your profession?
[points to Arkadian soldier behind Daxos]
Arkadian soldier #1: A potter, sir.
Spartan King Leonidas: Hm... and you, Arkadian - what is your profession?
[points to another soldier]
Arkadian soldier #2: I'm a blacksmith, sir.
Spartan King Leonidas: [turns to his soldiers] Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans: Harooh! Harooh! Harooh!
[simultaneous, followed and preceded by immediate silence]
Spartan King Leonidas: [turning to Daxos] You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did.
"Into the Hot Gates we march... into that narrow corridor we march... where Xerxes' numbers count for nothing... Spartans... citizens, soldiers, freed slaves... brave Greeks, all... brothers, fathers, sons... we march... for honour's sake... for duty's sake... for glory's sake... we march... Into Hell's mouth, we march..."
The Spartans had the blessings of Zeus and rain washed away many Persian ships and with them, may Persian warriors. Later, nullifying many ranks of Persian soldiers in the morning, the seemingly invisible Spartans suffers minimal loss, almost disgustingly confident in more than a few occassions.
Xerxes: Consider the fate of your women.
Spartan King Leonidas: Clearly you don't know our women! I might as well have marched them up here judging by what I've seen.
Persian Officer: Spartans, lay down your weapons.
Spartan King Leonidas: Persians! Come and get them!
Persian Messenger: A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!
Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade.
Spartan King Leonidas: There's no reason we can't be civil.
Captain: [stabs a dying Persian] Right Sire.
Even Xerxes, the "god-king", impressed by the Spartans, comes over to watch them.
Xerxes: Yours is a fascinating tribe... defiant even in the face of annihilation. There is much our cultures could share.
Spartan King Leonidas: Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we've been sharing our culture with you all morning.
Eventually, as Leonidas continued to defy Xerxes, the gigantic battles rages between the Spartans and the strongest of the Persian forces, the Immortals. Despite their number, the Spartans had earleir displayed great strength and resilience and with their might, suffered little loss. But, now, the only the battle had only begun.
Dilios: For 500 years they've served the dark will of Persian kings. Eyes as dark as night... teeth, filed to fangs... soulless. The personal guard to King Xerxes himself; the Persian warrior elite. The deadliest fighting force in all of Asia. The Immortals.
Throughout, Leonidas shows who commands the Spartans and led them to glory. In the words of Dilios, "We Spartans have descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life. Spartans: the finest soldiers the world has ever known."
[Spartans cheer]
Spartan King Leonidas: Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
Spartan King Leonidas: A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it.
Spartan King Leonidas: This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. This is where they die.
Spartan King Leonidas: Give them nothing! Buteverything!
Spartan King Leonidas: Unless I miss my guess, we're in for one wild night.
Spartan King Leonidas: Spartans! Readold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die!
Captain: On these shields, boys! take from them your breakfast and eat hearty... For tonight, we dine in hell!
While these brave men wage a brave battle away, Theron, the politicican, seeks to sow seeds of doubt and encumber the road for the Queen. A gripping tale cultiminating in a fantastic end and I'll leave it to you to find out whether it was Leonidas' 300 or the invaders who were victorious!
Cast:
Gerard Butler ... King Leonidas
Lena Headey ... Queen Gorgo
Dominic West ... Theron
David Wenham ... Dilios
Vincent Regan ... Captain
Michael Fassbender ... Stelios
Tom Wisdom ... Astinos
Andrew Pleavin ... Daxos
Andrew Tiernan ... Ephialtes
Rodrigo Santoro ... Xerxes
Giovani Cimmino ... Pleistarchos (as Giovani Antonio Cimmino)
Stephen McHattie ... Loyalist
Greg Kramer ... Ephor #1
Alex Ivanovici ... Ephor #2
Kelly Craig ... Oracle Girl
My Ratings:
Direction: 9/10
Acting: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Editing: 8/10
Screenplay: 9/10
Sound: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.75/10
Read about the 'Glory of Persepolis' in response to the movie '300'.
Director: Zack Snyder
Release Date: 16 March 2007 (India)
Genre: Action / Drama / History / War
Review:
An action filled dramatic movie based on the historic Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. where Leonidas, the king of Sparta, led his army of 300 Spartan soldiers against Xerxes and his Persian forces, in Leonidas' own words - "the largest army ever assembled".
As the poster would suggest with "300" across it in blood, the movie depicts an abundance of blood, violence and gore without which the ferocity, passion and the impact of the war could little have been displayed. It is an epic story of shields and swords, blood and war, valour and bravery, wisdom and madness, hypocrisy and malice, rage and passion, patriotism and love and of Spartan might against the Persian invasion where "The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, that even a god-king can bleed."
The beginning is not less terrific than the rest of the movie from when Dilios' [David Wenham] voice narrates - "when the boy was born, like all Spartans, he was inspected..." "From the time he could stand, he was baptised in the fire of combat..." gives an idea of what to expect from what is to follow. He, then, goes on elaborate on Spartan Military Training and the Agoge. The deadly story and beautiful
story is unravelled with "the beast approaches... and it was King Leonidas who provoked it..."
Horsemen, messengers from Persia, arrive seeking "earth and water" [betokening their submission], with an exciting scene in store, which may arouse the curiosity of the viewers until Leonidas 'dismisses' the messengers, who didn't 'choose their words carefully' - "THIS IS SPARTA!" The following ought to give you an idea of Spartan honour.
Messenger: Who does this woman think she is that she can speak among men?
Queen Gorgo: Because only Spartan women give birth to real men.
Spartan King Leonidas: Submission? Well that's gonna be a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it that the Athenians have already refused you, and if those philosophers and boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve...
Theron: [Interrupting] We must be diplomatic.
Spartan King Leonidas: ...and of course Spartans have their reputations to consider.
If you haven't realised already, thus, was the beast provoked, giving birth to the campaign of Xerxes.
Following Spartan (meaningless) tradition, though much to his dislike, Leonidas sought the blessings of the "Ephors" and bribed them. He proposed his plan to march to the North where "in that narrow corridor, numbers (referring to Xerxes' army) will count for nothing... and wave by wave of Persian assault will smash against Spartan shield..." and while he does little to disguise his eagerness for battle, the Ephor reminds him that it is the month of the ancient, sacred festival when 'Sparta wages no war'. Blasphemist as he was, Leonidas paid little heed to them, but acquiesced to 'consulting the Oracle'.
Elder #1: My good king! My good king! The oracle has spoken.
Elder #2: The Ephors has spoken! There must be no march!
Theron: It is the law, my lord. The Spartan army must not go to war.
Spartan King Leonidas: And nor shall we. I've said no such order. I'm here, just taking a stroll, stretching my legs...
[pauses and looks back]
Spartan King Leonidas: Those are my 300 personal bodyguards.
Elder #1: [after the army starts marching in the fields, talking nervously] What should we do?
Theron: [sighs in disbelief] What can we do?
Spartan King Leonidas: [sarcastically] What can you do?
Thus, the courageous King lead his 300 North for what was expected to be a "gleaming moment of glory... a radiant clash of sword and spear, sword and bone and flesh and blood..."
A bit of humour, somehow, made to fit into this bloody movie beautifully, too.
When Daxos who had brought many Arkadian men for the battle, looking perfectly stunned, asks Leonidas whether he brought only three hundred soldiers, the king of Sparta replies in the following manner.
Spartan King Leonidas: You there! What is your profession?
[points to Arkadian soldier behind Daxos]
Arkadian soldier #1: A potter, sir.
Spartan King Leonidas: Hm... and you, Arkadian - what is your profession?
[points to another soldier]
Arkadian soldier #2: I'm a blacksmith, sir.
Spartan King Leonidas: [turns to his soldiers] Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans: Harooh! Harooh! Harooh!
[simultaneous, followed and preceded by immediate silence]
Spartan King Leonidas: [turning to Daxos] You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did.
"Into the Hot Gates we march... into that narrow corridor we march... where Xerxes' numbers count for nothing... Spartans... citizens, soldiers, freed slaves... brave Greeks, all... brothers, fathers, sons... we march... for honour's sake... for duty's sake... for glory's sake... we march... Into Hell's mouth, we march..."
The Spartans had the blessings of Zeus and rain washed away many Persian ships and with them, may Persian warriors. Later, nullifying many ranks of Persian soldiers in the morning, the seemingly invisible Spartans suffers minimal loss, almost disgustingly confident in more than a few occassions.
Xerxes: Consider the fate of your women.
Spartan King Leonidas: Clearly you don't know our women! I might as well have marched them up here judging by what I've seen.
Persian Officer: Spartans, lay down your weapons.
Spartan King Leonidas: Persians! Come and get them!
Persian Messenger: A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!
Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade.
Spartan King Leonidas: There's no reason we can't be civil.
Captain: [stabs a dying Persian] Right Sire.
Even Xerxes, the "god-king", impressed by the Spartans, comes over to watch them.
Xerxes: Yours is a fascinating tribe... defiant even in the face of annihilation. There is much our cultures could share.
Spartan King Leonidas: Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we've been sharing our culture with you all morning.
Eventually, as Leonidas continued to defy Xerxes, the gigantic battles rages between the Spartans and the strongest of the Persian forces, the Immortals. Despite their number, the Spartans had earleir displayed great strength and resilience and with their might, suffered little loss. But, now, the only the battle had only begun.
Dilios: For 500 years they've served the dark will of Persian kings. Eyes as dark as night... teeth, filed to fangs... soulless. The personal guard to King Xerxes himself; the Persian warrior elite. The deadliest fighting force in all of Asia. The Immortals.
Throughout, Leonidas shows who commands the Spartans and led them to glory. In the words of Dilios, "We Spartans have descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life. Spartans: the finest soldiers the world has ever known."
[Spartans cheer]
Spartan King Leonidas: Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
Spartan King Leonidas: A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it.
Spartan King Leonidas: This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. This is where they die.
Spartan King Leonidas: Give them nothing! Buteverything!
Spartan King Leonidas: Unless I miss my guess, we're in for one wild night.
Spartan King Leonidas: Spartans! Readold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die!
Captain: On these shields, boys! take from them your breakfast and eat hearty... For tonight, we dine in hell!
While these brave men wage a brave battle away, Theron, the politicican, seeks to sow seeds of doubt and encumber the road for the Queen. A gripping tale cultiminating in a fantastic end and I'll leave it to you to find out whether it was Leonidas' 300 or the invaders who were victorious!
Cast:
Gerard Butler ... King Leonidas
Lena Headey ... Queen Gorgo
Dominic West ... Theron
David Wenham ... Dilios
Vincent Regan ... Captain
Michael Fassbender ... Stelios
Tom Wisdom ... Astinos
Andrew Pleavin ... Daxos
Andrew Tiernan ... Ephialtes
Rodrigo Santoro ... Xerxes
Giovani Cimmino ... Pleistarchos (as Giovani Antonio Cimmino)
Stephen McHattie ... Loyalist
Greg Kramer ... Ephor #1
Alex Ivanovici ... Ephor #2
Kelly Craig ... Oracle Girl
My Ratings:
Direction: 9/10
Acting: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Editing: 8/10
Screenplay: 9/10
Sound: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.75/10
Read about the 'Glory of Persepolis' in response to the movie '300'.
WIDGETIZE