Blog

BY MAGGIE SCOTT

Into the valley….no, crevasse…of death rode…no, walked…the 600….no, the 300…in the mind-boggling film, “300.”

For those who like their literature from Cliff Notes and their history from comic books, this is precisely their cup of tea. Not as eloquent as Homer, but doing Alfred, Lord Tennyson (his “Charge of the Light Brigade”) one better. This overtly propagandistic work based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, and directed/written by Zack Snyder is, in miniscule doses, a lyric paean to the Spartan warriors who martyred themselves fighting the Persians at Thermopylae.

On several occasions one can easily draw parallels between the dicey situation of the small Spartan vanguard and our embattled troops in the Middle East. There are eerie echoes of impassioned rhetoric by our government officials when Sparta’s queen (Lena Headley) at one point declares, “Freedom is not free; it comes at the highest of costs;” and when she pleads with the city’s lawmakers to “send the entire Spartan army for justice, reason, hope.”

Her husband, King Leonides (Gerard Butler), marched out of Sparta knowing that he and his men would not return, either with their shields or on them. His purpose is to rouse the entire country to the threat of Persian conquer and enslavement. Leonides and his 300 truly embody the credo, live free or die. Their exploits are spun into an epochal battle cry by the sole survivor of Thermopylae’s carnage; and it is his
narrative that expressively weaves through the action.

And, what stomach-churning action; shot as if through a mist of pulverized chocolate diamonds. This pervasive mocha latte foam haze mercifully dulls the hue of the gallons of blood that spurt, spray, sprinkle and splash across the screen.

Clad only in sandals, scarlet cloaks, leather loincloths and iron helmets, the Spartans bare their ripped abs to foes and nature’s forces, alike. The least, but certainly the best, of the film’s many staggering sights, these physiques are truly intimidating.

Just as well-oiled as their bodies are the fighting techniques of the 300. Phalanx formations hold the hordes of Persians temporarily at the narrow sea cliff pass. But, inevitably, encounters with such quailing adversaries as King Xerxes’ elite, ninja-like warriors known as Immortals, behemoth elephants, gargantuan rhinos, a Persian Goliath with bad teeth, and showers of arrows wear down even the invincible Spartans.

A new page in duty, honor, sacrifice and glory is written. And a new day has dawned for sword and sandal epics. Snyder is pushing a lot of hot buttons, but there are things to admire about the film artistically and technically, if you can stomach the fact that some of the artistry is in flying heads (in slow motion) and other severed limbs.

A Legendary Pictures production, Warner Bros. Pictures release, rated R for graphic battle sequences, sexuality, nudity.
.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us