300

Year: 2006
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Written By: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad
Graphic Novel Written By: Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

RYAN’S REVIEW:

This movie works for me on two levels.  I graduated college with a history degree, even teaching high school world history briefly.  I taught the specific story that 300 is based on and while the movie isn’t really historically accurate it did serve as a perfect base to get the kids interested in the topic.  300 is recent enough that most of the high school freshmen knew of the movie and all liked it. I always enjoyed popular movies I could use while teaching because the kids really respond to them.  This movie also works well for me because it is based on a comic book, and I am a lifelong comic fan.  I haven’t read the specific comic that 300 is based on but I have recently read Frank Miller’s Batman graphic novels, The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. Both were very good, and I have also been impressed by other Miller stories such as Sin City.

As for 300, it was both aesthetically pleasing and financially successful.  It made a name for Zack Snyder who has slowly become a comic book movie specialist. Since 300 he has also done two other DC Comics titles, The Watchmen and Suckerpunch.  He is in fact exceptional at taking the images from the comics and putting them on film.  His skills have brought him the reward/burden of trying to revive the Superman franchise as he is slated to direct the latest installment coming in 2012.  This current installment of Superman is entitled Superman: Man of Steel and is being taken very seriously by the studio, which is a credit to Snyder’s success.  Christopher Nolan has actually been brought into the fold as well, he has a strange role that was first referred to as “Godfather” of the film.  Warner Brothers is obviously hoping Superman will be as successful as Nolan’s Batman films. 300 also made Gerard Butler a instant star. Personally I feel he failed to capitalize on the success 300 brought him, but I’m sure many people would disagree with me there.  I can’t speak to it with any authority because I haven’t seen many of his films, but they have all appeared to be mainly ridiculous movies, Bounty Hunter, The Ugly Truth, and so on.  Michael Fassbender is a total badass in this film, and he is well on his way to being a great actor since his role in Inglourious Basterds and the upcoming X-men film coming out this summer.

300 is a very good film, I would call it good but not great though.  It is perfect for what it is I suppose.  It’s a little over the top at times but that’s appropriate for a comic book film.  It looks cool, the action is awesome, and the actors deliver great performances.  I don’t like the infidelity by Queen Gorgo and I found myself getting bored during the breaks in action.  The action makes it all worth wild though, the actors went through rigorous training to prepare for the film and it paid off.  In the end this movie will have its own place in film history, just as the actual story has its own place in world history.  If nothing else this tale of Spartans is one that inspires bravery, strength, and what can be done alone by determination and will power.

AMBER’S REVIEW:

FOR ME PERSONALLY I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING YELLED AT THE ENTIRE TIME. I THINK FRANK MILLER IS A GENIUS WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING GRAPHIC NOVELS, BUT THIS FILM WAS ALMOST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE. EVERY SCENE SEEMS TO PAUSE TO SHOW A SLOW MOTION SCENE AS IF IT WERE A SHOT IN A COMIC BOOK, WHICH IS COOL, BUT WHEN YOU DO THIS IN FILM IT HAS A VERY 2D FEEL TO IT, AND FOR ME THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A “MOVING PICTURE.” DON’T YOU WORRY, I KNOW I AM THE ODD ONE OUT ON THIS AS ALL OF MY FRIENDS LOVE THIS FILM, EVEN PAID TWICE TO SEE IT IN THE THEATER.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN YELLING AT YOU THIS WHOLE TIME? YOU DO! WELL, I FELT LIKE GERARD BUTLER YELLED AT ME THE ENTIRE FILM. I WOULD LIKE TO END THIS NOW BY SAY..ERR YELLING…”RAHHHHHHH THIS IS MY BLOG POST!!!!!!!!!”