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film: 300
director: Zack Snyder
cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey
Warner Brothers / 2007
score: 75
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by Kaare Kvenild
Without a doubt, the most original looking film of the
year. Zach Snyder took the techniques used in "Sin
City" and perfected them with "300." "300" was filmed
entirely on green screen sets, and then had the
backgrounds digitally painted on during editing,
making a very unique digital cinematography unlike any
film ever made. The look is incredible.
Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel which is in turn
based on an historical event, "300" tells the tale of a
band of 300 Spartan warriors battling the armies of
Xerxes which numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
The action is fierce and non-stop. The violence is
brutal, but because the blood is also put in digitally
during editing, I would not say the film is gory as
the blood is obviously fake.
The acting is straight forward and by the book. But
where the acting lacks in creativity it more than
makes up for in the quality. Gerard Butler is so
intense as King Leonidas that he is scary; Butler was
perfectly cast as Leonidas. Lena Headey is a bright
spot in the cast as Queen Gorgo. She expands the role
to show just how much of a warrior the women of Sparta
were as well. Headey makes Gorgo the strongest
character in 300, fighting the battle on the home
front. And Snyder’s directing is superb. With just
two films under his belt ("300" - 2007 and "Dawn of the
Dead" - 2004), Snyder is now one of the most sought
after directors in movies today. After watching "300"
it's easy to see why, and it also makes viewers
eagerly anticipate, his next film, "Watchmen."
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