Film of The Year, without a doubt! 300, based on the Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name, tells the story of the heroic sacrifice of 300 Spartans holding back the invading horde of the Persian army in 480BC.
But don't expect a history lesson in this testosterone-soaked bloodfest of severed limbs, death and mutilation. This is fact filtered through the fantasy lens of Lord Of The Rings - with the 'demonic' Persian army packed with orcs (the Immortals), trolls, giant killer rhinos and elephants and led by an androgynous giant god-king Xerxes, who surrounds himself with a harem of freaks and mutants.
300 is an unashamed blokes' film, with core values of death before dishonour, negotiations through violence and giving your life for your country; with the outnumbered sculpted warriors of Sparta never giving an inch before the overwhelming numbers of the evil and deformed enemy.
Filmed with an ethereal, dream-like quality (nods, obviously to Miller's own Sin City because of its use of computer-generated scenery), with a script packed with great quotes, a strong ensemble cast and an amazing turn from Gerard Butler as Spartan King Leonidas.
Major kudos, also, to writer/director Zack Snyder. The excellent news is that next he's tackling The Watchmen - the ultimate superhero comicbook mini-series; in the hands of this genius it is enough to get any fanboy's pulse racing with anticipation!
300 is as authentic a representation of the truth as a game of Dungeons & Dragons is an accurate portrayal of life in Medieval Europe. It is an issue of Nuts/Loaded/Maxim made into a movie - heroic lads, ultraviolence, gruesome wounds and semi-naked women. Remember, this isn't history: This is SPARTA!
I can certainly testify that this is a man's film as I only made it through the first 20 minutes or so before I settled down for a nice snooze. After the horrid ugly little man had licked the young girl I decided enough was enough and closed my eyes. When I woke up the shouty Spartan man was dying so I knew it had to be near the end - good timing, I thought. Obviously the Acrobatic Flea and I have very different tastes in films but as Mrs Flea-to-be, I'm happy to go along and buy the hot dogs!
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