Product Reviews300 (Blu-ray, 2007)

Great example of medium, don't let grains get you down

300 was a surprisingly good film from 2007, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel interpretation of the Battle of Thermopylae between Sparta and imperial Persia. Besides capturing the graphic style of the novel, it also displayed action through a series of dramatic slow-motion shots that punctuate the film's many violent images. All in all, it was a wonderful movie and visual powerhouse that is appropriate for the Blu-ray medium.

However, Blu-ray is also a double-edged sword when it comes to the film's visual style. While the increased clarity and sharpness beautifully display the film's colors and scenes very well, it also very vividly shows the movie's intentional shooting on 35 mm film that leaves a very grainy image throughout. While I understand that that was meant to be used, it was less evident in the big screen and standard DVD adaptations of the film. It almost makes the Blu-ray version difficult to watch. Aside from that, this is a worthy addition to your Blu-ray library.Read full review...

ONE EXTREME BATTLE TO THE END

Features Actors:Gerald Buttler, Rodrigo Santoro
Running Time:116 Min.
Rating:R

In mid-September of 480 BC, a force of 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), along with 700 Thespians volunteers, defended Greece against a massive horde of marauders from Persia at the epic Battle of Thermopylae. Though badly outnumbered by adversaries whose strength was said to be in the hundreds of thousands, the Greeks made one of the most famous last stands in the annals of military engagements.
Leonidas' ingenious strategy was to station his soldiers at the narrowest point in the road of the treacherous terrain through which the Persians would have to pass. As a consequence of this clever tactic, his small, but determined army managed to hold the thundering herd at bay for three days, exacting a heavy toll on rival King Xerxes' (Rodrigo Santoro) troops in the process. Although the ill-fated Spartans fought to the death, they were nonetheless credited with saving the day, because they created a delay which enabled Athens to prevail ultimately against the savage invaders. Perhaps more significantly, historians generally agree that had Greece fallen, the course of Western Civilization would have been irreversibly altered, since it was considered to be the gateway to a Persian conquest of all of Europe.

Hope this helps you decide.Thanks for reading! :)Read full review...

Amazing Heroic True Story !!!!

"300" captures the hyper-stylized look and peculiar sensibility of Graphic Novels on film., that has eluded many a talented director.
Along with British Graphic Novelist Alan Moore ("From Hell", "V for Vendetta"), Frank Miller is regarded as one of the masters of the genre. His Gothic, camp-free revamp of DC Comics' mainstay "Batman", "The Dark Knight Returns", provided the brooding template for Tim Burton's "Batman" (1989). And, in 2005, Miller found a kindred pulp spirit in Robert Rodriguez, who partnered with him to co-direct "Sin City", a smashing adaptation of Miller's noir-esque triptych, shot almost entirely on green screen to render the graphic novel's shadowy, chiaroscuro visuals with exacting fidelity.
Now director Zach Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead") takes a similar digital approach to Miller's "300", albeit on a much grander and technically more ambitious scale, to transport the viewer to the ancient, corpse-strewn 'Battle of Thermopylae', circa 480 BC, when 300 Spartan Warriors fought thousands of invading Persian soldiers. A True Tale of Bravery from Greek History.
Miller's quasi-mythic retelling of the Spartans bravely facing their "beautiful death" against the Persians is a bold and wildly imaginative example of the graphic novel at its creative height.
Co-written by Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, and Michael B. Gordon, the movie is narrated by the Spartan Warrior/storyteller Dilios (David Wenham), who introduces us to the legendary Spartan Ruler, King Leonidas (Gerard Butler). Per the Spartan Code of Honor, Leonidas has trained to be a fearless warrior since childhood. Renowned throughout the ancient world for their extraordinary valor and loyalty, the Spartans have long repulsed would-be conquerors, but they have never faced as intimidating or ruthless an army as the Persian hordes, commanded by the giant Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro).
Despite the looming threat by the Persians, the Spartan Council refuses to give Leonidas permission to lead the Spartan Army into battle. Undaunted, he nonetheless bids farewell to his devoted wife, Gorgo (Lena Headey), and young son to face the Persians head-on, backed by an all-volunteer army of 300 Spartan Warriors. With his trusted advisors Dilios and the Captain (Vincent Regan) at his side, Leonidas prepares to unleash hell against the Persians at the Hot Gates of Thermopylae — a treacherous, seaside pass on the Aegean Sea, where they're prepared to fight to the death in defense of Sparta.
This film is so intensly stylized; presented in such unrelenting Graphic Noel noir., history never seemed so enthralling !!
SEE THIS !!!! It has the guaranteed inability to fail you !!!! Wildly entertaining while revealing such a Heroic True Story !!!!Read full review...

300 (2007, Blu-ray Disc)

Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 takes over the screen like an invading horde. With all the gushing blood of a horror movie and the scope of a classic epic, the second film from Zack Snyder (who helmed the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD) is an impressive visual spectacle. Gerard Butler (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) plays Leonidas, the king of ancient Sparta. The city is famous for its warrior philosophy, and Leonidas won’t kneel to the demands of Persia's King Xerxes (LOST's Rodrigo Santoro). Instead, Leonidas leads his 300-strong army against Xerxes's army of millions. Meanwhile, his wife (Lena Headley, THE BROTHERS GRIMM) campaigns in Sparta for the city to send reinforcements as she butts heads with the treacherous Theron (Dominic West, THE WIRE). With its gore and scale, 300 marks director Snyder as a possible successor to Peter Jackson's throne. Jackson also got his start in horror with BAD TASTE and DEAD ALIVE, and the two men share a penchant for ambitious battle scenes. The huge fights in 300 rival Jackson's efforts in the LORD OF THE RINGS films. David Wenham, who starred in two of the Tolkien-based films, plays Dilios, one of the Spartan soldiers. Though the cast doesn't boast any A-list stars, the actors ably fill their larger-than-life roles. In a film filled with men, Headley stands out as Queen Gorgo. She matches her warrior husband in strength, while showing love toward Leonidas and their son. Though there are scenes that demonstrate the humanity of the characters, 300 is undeniably about bravery and blood, and it succeeds because of the stylish depictions of both.Read full review...

300 Blu-ray

This is a great movie. It probably isn't a movie that you would let a little kid watch, because it has alot of blood and gore in it. Alot of the movie is actually true, like at the beginning when it tells how the spartans became warriors and other parts of the movie. It will tell you what parts are true and what parts are fiction in the special features area of the DVD. This movie follows the story of king Leonidas (from birth to death). In the movie the so called gods want let Sparta raise an army to face the Persian invaders lead by god-king Xerxes. So King Leonidas takes 300 of his best soldiers to face the invaders. When he finally meets Xerxes, Xerxes thinks that he can not be defeated or even feel pain. So king Leonidas promises him that he will feel pain. Although this movie doesn't have any big name actors, they play their parts amazingly well. I would definatly recommend this movie if you are a fan of action packed movies. If you are the type that gets sick easily when you see alot of blood or body parts flying every where, this probably isn't the movie for you.Read full review...

MOVIE IN FULL HD

Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae. More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers.Read full review...

300 Percent Excellent!

One of the greatest stories ever known told in the best possible way - via Frank Miller. The Battle of Thermopylae was an amazing example of courage, wits and pride. Gerard Butler leads a wonderful cast that puts you in Greece when the Persians came to expand their vast empire.
The movie isn't totally accurate to history, however, key elements are there but one has to understand the premise. This movie is a story being told by a commander to the entire Spartan army a year after the 300 Spartans showed King Xerxes I, what true warriors, lead by King Leonidas I, could do. The story is exagerated wonderfully to rile the Spartan Army.
This movie does contain some brief but evident nudity and lots of gore. If your stomach is weak for forced amputations, gallons of blood, or sexual activity, this movie is not for you. If you like spiced up history with a twist of Frank Miller, enjoy!Read full review...

Stylish Violence - Interesting concept - Not for kids

The use of green screens to make a special effects movie is maximized in this flicks. Excellent use of live actors blended with CGI. Blu-Ray suprisingly is more impressive in the Sound Quality than in the picture.

The movie is based on the FRANK MILLER Comic Books of the same title: 300. The story is based on the real life battle of the Spartans.

Lots of hand-to-hand combat, lots of blood. I thought the comics were better than the movie. It is a bit much for live-action, a better story when it is laid out on the written page.Read full review...

And I Thought Sin City Was Bad

Much like the movie Sin City we have more terrible dialogue, and no imagination whatsoever, or maybe too much. Let me sum the movie up for you, soldiers fight a losing battle near a mountain pass in slow motion. This could have been a very intriguing, creative, and moving film, but instead was degraded to the unimaginative Frank Miller style writing. the battle scenes were boring, very drawn out, unmoving, needlessly violent, unrealistic, and captured for some reason in slow motion about 95 percent of the time. I bet if you cut out the slow motion effect you would probably have a good 20 minutes of actual film. It also seemed to me that the entire movie was dumbly fabricated, and didn't draw from any part of history. I also didn't know that every family back then owned a bowflex so they could get a total body work out in half the time. No depth whatsoever, and very mind boggling that there are so many people who think this is actually a very good movie, and a part of history. The people I watched this movie with left after about 40 minutes into the film. I thought I would give Frank another chance to redeem himself, but Much like Sin City, don't waste your time.

RATING 0 / 5 STARS

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Wow! Amazing Story! Fantastic Visuals!

When 300 was released in theaters it did really well and deserved every positive review! It is so much better than the sequel which, unfortunately I saw first. It was good mostly because of Eva Green and it was entertaining, but it didn't compel me to see 300. After a couple of years I finally went ahead and purchased 300 out of curiosity and the price was right. I just finished watching the film on Blu-ray, it is completely engaging, you feel and root for the characters and it feels more historically accurate than the sequel. The sequel, 300 Rise of an Empire, assumes that the success of it's predecessor was because of the violence and gore and action, but forgot to have a well written script and well drawn characters. It simply just relied too much on back-to-back mind-numbing violence. If you have never seen 300, BUY IT TODAY! I give 300 a rating of ⭐⭐⭐⭐!Read full review...

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