Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by townsend (A) on March 11, 2007 at 17:26:50

In Reply to: Dramatic historical fantasy + 21st century CGI = "300" posted by mr grits on March 11, 2007 at 11:15:04:

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. A pure popcorn movie.

See it on the biggest screen you can find . . . I saw it on the biggest screen (with DLP projector) at the local Cinemark. It probably would have been even better in IMAX format . . . see link below for list of IMAX theaters showing "300."

IMO, if a movie of this kind avoids being corny or cheesy, then it makes the grade. "300" is an honor role movie.

It doesn't take itself too seriously; there are several intentionally humorous lines.

Clearly derivative in part from "Gladiator," with the visual style of Sin City (though I only saw previews of the later).

Two criticisms:
1) They ran the Persian ruler's voice through some kind of vocal filter. I didn't care at all for the resulting tone. It sounded phony.

WARNING PLOT SPOILER: DID NOT READ FURTHER UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN ENLIGHTENED . . .

2) OK, OK, the Spartans are surrounded on all sides at the end. They lock their shields to form a "turtle shell" defense. But there is really no battle at the end . . . next thing you know, they are all dead. I guess it was time to end the movie, but I wanted a knock-down, drag-out final battle scene, in which the Spartans fight for their lives and slowly succumb to the Persian hordes.

Minor quibbles . . . great movie.

• http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/300_imax_dmr.htm   (Open in New Window)