Frank Miller's 300 (2007)

[Scott]

Oh yeah, what was up with the goat-headed fellow in Xerxes' Love Shack?  It was pretty funny.

The scene in the "love shack" was pretty wild kinda like the orgy scene in Conan, but if you want to know more about these type parties and goats you must talk with Ashthecat.

[Mr_Vindictive]

Finally got around to seeing this one in the theater last night.

Amazing.

I really love the stories that Frank Miller creates.  The man is a genius.  That being said, I had doubts about Zack Snyder's ability to direct the movie as his only other film is Dawn Of The Dead remake.  Although that was a good film, it was his only one.

The best thing about 300 for me is the fact that it reminded me of the Jason And The Argonauts type of films.  It's truly epic.  Normally I'm turned off by CGI blood and such but it all seemed to work here.  My only complaint is that I really want to see what happens after the credits. 

[D-Man]

Wow...when did that guy who played the Phantom of The Opera turn into such a badass? 

This movie was awesome.  I agree, the blood could have been a little better, and there was too much slo-mo, but other than that, it's just great to see yet another stylish violence-fest up there on the screen. 

[Mr_Vindictive]

I didn't mind the slo-mo.  I felt it a welcome departure from the quick cut MTV style editing that plagues most action films now.

[Jim H]

Saw it, quite enjoyed it.  Action style was nice, though I'm not a huge fan of the whole "Slow motion, then fast motion, then slow" thing.  They also did it in Fearless (though 300 handles it better). 

And my guess was right.  The Thespians are ignored.  In reality, 700 Thespians stood beside the Spartans.  Stood and died with them, to the last man.

[trekgeezer]

Here's a break down of the troops from the historian Herodotus

Units    Numbers
Spartans    300
Mantineans    500
Tegeans    500
Arcadian Orchomenos    120
Other Arcadians    1,000
Corinthians    400
Phlians    200
Mycenaeans    80
Thespians    700
Thebans    400
Phocians    1,000
Opuntian Locrians    13
Total    5,200+


They did show the Arcadian who look to have the greates number of troops there.

[Ash]

Just got back from seeing this.

Awesome movie!  

Like Skaboi said, It does have that epic feel to it.
I've never seen a film quite like it.

I liked how they tossed in the odd assortment of mutant characters.
I especially liked Xerxe's mutant executioner with blades for hands.
The fight between Leonidas & the big mutant was pretty cool.

The camaraderie between the men in battle was good.
I loved the scene where they're all joking and laughing underneath their shields as thousands of arrows are raining down on them.

And some of the visuals were downright amazing...like when the Spartans push those huge elephants over the cliff and into the sea.
Cool stuff!  

Check out this clip

I'm definitely buying this on DVD the day it comes out.
4 out of 4 stars.  

[Jim H]

Here's a break down of the troops from the historian Herodotus

Units    Numbers
Spartans    300
Mantineans    500
Tegeans    500
Arcadian Orchomenos    120
Other Arcadians    1,000
Corinthians    400
Phlians    200
Mycenaeans    80
Thespians    700
Thebans    400
Phocians    1,000
Opuntian Locrians    13
Total    5,200+


They did show the Arcadian who look to have the greates number of troops there.

I mention the Thespians because the majority of the Greeks fled in hopes of regrouping with a larger army and fighting later.  The Thespians and Spartans stayed behind in a last stand sort of deal, knowing full well that they'd die (though they'd die covering the retreat of the rest of the army).  After the other Greeks left though, most of the fighting was actually done already.

Leonidas also was fulfilling part of the Oracle's prophecy, which said essentially a king had to die to save Sparta.  They delayed the advance enough for the rest of the Greek's to regroup and get their navy in gear.

It is interesting to ponder what would have happened if they hadn't held them as long as they had.  Assuming that Persia had conquered Greece, modern Western thought would probably have never developed. 

One of the great what if questions of history.

[Neville]

Yesterday I started another thread in the "Bad Movies" section 

Don't take me wrong, I loved the film, it's just that it is so over the top and violence-packed that I though it belonged there. It's a fantastic bad movie, so to speak.

There were a few things I didn't like, such as the epilogue or the music, but the movie rocks. It was amazing to be on the badass side for once (not mauch chances of this happening in this PC era), and the visuals are amazing, borrowing heavily from the comic book language, but always speaking in their own voice (Robert Rodriguez, chingao, watch and learn!).

And the narrator alone was lots of fun. I had never realised before how rooted is the objective narrator was before. It was awesome hearing him cheer for the Spartans or berating the Persians. My favourite bit is when the Spartans watch the Persian vessels being crushed against the rocks during a storm and he cheers "It's glorious!".

[daveblackeye15]

I'd say my one complaint with the movie was that I wish they showed a bit more of the actual Spartan fighting style. They only showed that at the very beginning of all the fighting. Perhaps if they meshed their real fighting style with the cool made up stuff I would have been content.

But it was an excellent movie and very cool. Loved the mutataions put here and there.

I guess I'll post this here too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqiSkd1M6k

[Egg]

I thought the movie sucked. The ending was anti-climatic. I liked the movie better when it was called Lord of the Rings. See the much superior Zodiac..

[Egg]

I found nothing remotely "epic" about it. Just alot of cgi nonsense.

[Neville]

If we look at the quantity of parodies, the movie is a success:


It's raining 300 men.

[KYGOTC]

I just saw it friday. I LOVED it. Its only flaw is when the queen says "freedom isnt free". It made the movie seem like it was making a political statement on the war in iraq. lame. 

Everything else was AWXSOME.

[Kooshmeister]

I guess I'll post this here too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqiSkd1M6k

"This is delicious!"
"THIS... IS... CAKE TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!"

Priceless.