CBR NEWS: First review -- "300" The Movie

[Jonah Weiland]

While the release of the film "300" based on Frank Miller's graphic novel is still many months away, CBR News got an advance look at the film and has some early thoughts on Zack Snyder's film.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8202

[elheffe]

Well, that looks interesting.

[Jared]

I definatly want to see this. Though having read the excellent "Gates of Fire" a few months ago, I do wish that it had been the Thermopolaye project to get off the ground. I haven't read "300", the descriptions make it sound like history crossed with "God of War." Since this is such a famous actual event, I might have trouble suspending disbelief for orcish Immortals and barely-clothed Spartans.

I really like Gerard Butler's work, and I hope this movie finally makes him a star.

[Jonah Weiland]

I definatly want to see this. Though having read the excellent "Gates of Fire" a few months ago, I do wish that it had been the Thermopolaye project to get off the ground. I haven't read "300", the descriptions make it sound like history crossed with "God of War." Since this is such a famous actual event, I might have trouble suspending disbelief for orcish Immortals and barely-clothed Spartans.

I really like Gerard Butler's work, and I hope this movie finally makes him a star.Well, there's already been one movie based on this story made, so the question has to be asked do we really need another historical epic on the same story? Then you have to consider how poorly two recent sand and sandals films did and you come to the conclusion that doing a stylized piece may play a lot better with mass audiences than a historical epic will right now.

Me, I'm really looking forward to this film. I got to spend some time with the filmmakers on the set in January and these people were all amazing. Terribly creative, smart individuals who have a clear understanding of genre entertainment. This will likely surprise people.

[meethraa]

Zack Snyder has a very good track record on my book. And it's freakin' Frank Miller, so yeah, can't wait for this one.

[EZMOHR]

One of my most anticipated movies of 2007. And mark my words...Snyder is on the fast track to being a name director. Not bad for a dude who did commercials.

[enediol]

I've been anticipating this film every since I head the graphic novel was the source. I'll be there on opening day.

[MadBastard]

I am a huge fan of the book as a dramatization of a pivotal battle at the beginning of civilization. Sure, it's got some glaring historical inaccuracies. Frank Miller admits as much in many interviews.

However, my first problem with the movie is that it is being marketed as what really happened. A couple of examples of the worst errors are:

• King Leonidas was not the only king of Sparta, but one of three kings. He achieved this position by killing his half-brother. Despite his portrayal in the graphic novel, Leonidas was a deeply religious man who believed that killing one of his own family would bring down the wrath of the gods on him. In order to redeem himself, he led the 300, a small portion of a much larger Greek force, to do battle with the Persians.

• The Spartans were not fighting for the freedom of all men, but for the survival of their own society. At Sparta's height there were 15 slaves for every one Spartan soldier.


If you want to read about men fighting for freedom, go read about the Athenians. While the Athenians also had slaves, they were fighting for an ideal. Spartans were considerably more practical. However, if you look past the splash pages in comic books and TV ads, it becomes clear that no one involved in making the film claims historical accuracy. It is an historical epic.

But the film looks like it isn't just satisfied with being an epic. It wants to be a hyper-epic. There's not a subtle moment. The best example I've seen is where Leonidas screams, "THIS…IS…SPARTA!" When I read the novel I didn't get the feeling he was screaming in that scene. Apparently, dumping a messenger from the most powerful empire on Earth down a well just wasn't dramatic enough. It seems that each moment of the film is designed to slam the viewer with the idea that this…is…an…important…film! Also, the direct interpretation of Miller's art to screen makes it look like The Matrix meets ancient Greece.

I suppose we always have the "it's just a comic book" thing to fall back on. I'm just tired of that one.

If you're interested in learning more about what most likely happened then check out Thermopylae: The Battle for the West (http://www.amazon.com/Thermopylae-Battle-West-Ernle-Bradford/dp/0306805316). It tells the whole story, not just the Spartan side of it. It's also a great read that's almost as much fun as the graphic novel of the same subject.