The 300

[Ouroboros]

Recently posted is this journal / teaser #5 for the latest comic book to make it to the big screen: 'The 300', telling the story of the Spartan stand at Thermopylae.

Interestingly, this featurette focussing on the stunt work. I'm surprised at the amount of apparent blue-screen work which is going to be contained in the movie.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/300...re5/large.html

Looks good, although they appear to have gone in for a worrying amount of spear-twirling and synchonised movement. I would have preferred a little more of a down-and-dirty angle on things, but it's still early days.

The cast also look to be in phenomenal shape. I haven't seen so many six-packs since my last trip to the off-license. The journal on their physical fitness training is also fascinating viewing.

It can be found on the main site: http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/

[kater]

Yeah it looks decent, interesting though they chose 300 to adapt/use - it's quite a brief, stylized, telling of the event and even with it being Frank Miller there can't be too many people familiar with it. I would have thought something like Gates of Fire would have been a far more interesting base to use if it's the storyline they are looking to use rather than the name.

[Ouroboros]

It looks like they're working hard to adapt the visual look of 'The 300'. I think this will be a major way in which this is different from 'Gladiator' or 'Troy', although inevitably this is a movie which is naturally going to appeal to the same demographic segment of the audience as these movies.

Having looked more closely at the main site, and the conceptual art, it seems like they're going to go for an almost Sin-city style fusion of live action with digitally-altered backgrounds.

[kater]

I noticed that with the images of the warriors themselves, as you said there seems to be a lot of blue screen and the style is somewhere between Sin City and A Scanner Darkly - which is to say a fantastic mix if they can nail it. If nothing else it seems to be a project that will explore the live-action/animation mix that is creating an interesting new section of visual imagery in recent cinema. It's quite bold for a relatively small scale film and it could prove a benchmark in terms of cost for such a process. I wasn't overly fussed with the comic but I'm looking forward to see how this film turns out.

[Evil Agent]

So did anyone see "300" yet?

I saw it on the weekend, and it was awesome.

THE GOOD: One of the coolest looking films I've ever seen, the landscapes and people looked surreal! The Spartans looked so wicked, despite their ridiculously toned muscles and insane levels of testosterone. The Persian army looked amazing, as did their strangely androgynous God-King. Visually, it succeeds in every way.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD: The movie is not great in terms of acting, or plot. Nor is it very historically accurate. It could also be called sexist, and possibly racist. But if it is looked as purely as an adaptation of a comic book, I think it succeeds tremendously.

VERDICT: A must-own, for any big fan of epic, ancient battles, violent graphic novels, or the ancient world.

[ArthurFrayn]

doesn't look good from the trailer. it looks dumb.and I like war movies.

[Shehzad]

I enjoyed it. Stylistically well made, with some great action. A fun movie, overall.

[Ouroboros]

Haven't seen it yet ... I don't think it's out here until next week or the week after.

I'm not expecting something historically accurate. This is, as one commentator put it, "A fantasy take on a historical event". The SFX look sensational, and I predict this will do very well ... everywhere except Iran, possibly . For anyone wondering, it's worth mentioning that the elements that have pissed of the Iranians (like the depiction of Xerxes as some kind of giant pseudo-transexual) are directly taken from Miller's original "300" graphic novel. Why he chose to depict them that way is anyone's guess, and I think we can rule out him forseeing the current hullabaloo.

I expect the Michael Mann version of 'Gates of Fire', if it ever gets made, will probably be a better bet for something approaching what the 'reality' might have been.

[Gildor]

I've heard one of the lines of dialogue goes something like;

'You have a good thrust'

Between combatants.

Its playing at the Manchetser IMAX too, woo, can't wait for this.

[Evil Agent]

doesn't look good from the trailer. it looks dumb.and I like war movies.

Care to elaborate? I really get tired of comments calling something "dumb" with no justification or explanation. Especially since you have only seen the trailer. I also don't think you should put a thumbs down icon in your post, when you haven't even seen the film.

[Wulfa_Jones]

Been looking forward to it for a while now... really liked Millers novel and this looks like a pretty close adapt. I understand that they pretty much used the graphic novel as the story board for the movie.

I've read mixed reviews of it... some reviewers seem to be forgetting that it is based on a graphic novel and is supposed to be OTT. Tradditional/general press seems to be giving it an "ok", while specialist press (i.e. Sci-fi mags/sites, film magazines etc) are giving it much stronger reviews.

It's looks visually stunning and I can't wait to go see it as soon as it's released in the UK - which I think is next Friday.

The director, Zack Synder (dawn of the dead remake), is planning to direct Moores Watchmen next. Based on the success of 300 at the US box office, I can't see him having a problem getting it green lit.

[ArthurFrayn]

Care to elaborate? I really get tired of comments calling something "dumb" with no justification or explanation. Especially since you have only seen the trailer. I also don't think you should put a thumbs down icon in your post, when you haven't even seen the film.

I clearly said that I only saw the trailer. Anybody reading my post would take that for what it's worth.I'm basically saying the trailer does not incite me to see the movie.
Elaboration:
It looks overproduced, over SFXed; it's looks like something plastic out of a can. The sound clips of the dialogue sound inane. It looks like a gladiator movie starring the WWF.

I wouldn't worry about my thumb, the film made a gazillion dollars out of the gate.
Here you go- a thumbs up, so they cancel each other out.

The movie is not great in terms of acting, or plot. Nor is it very historically accurate. It could also be called sexist, and possibly racist.

Uhhuh...
Why are you busting my onions if this is part of your own review? Are all the things you note above what one would expect from a smart film?

[dragoncd]

I just saw it last night in an Imax theatre. I think the movie needs to be taken in context; and when one does that it is pretty incredible. I have never seen a gorier movie (with a liberal dose of girl on girl thrown in) and not get rated NC-17. This movie was incredibly done as far as the intent - make a guts, gory, glory badass guy movie. I think it succeeded amazingly.

Now granted, the plot wasn't great - the script won't win any awards; but the actors did the best they could with it and focused on what they were supposed to do: Stand around looking huge and ripped, kill a bunch of people in a spectacular fashion, and then die with honor. Checkmate.

[The Dark Truth]

Now granted, the plot wasn't great - the script won't win any awards; but the actors did the best they could with it and focused on what they were supposed to do: Stand around looking huge and ripped, kill a bunch of people in a spectacular fashion, and then die with honor. Checkmate.

This is a good summary of it. I would rate it a 5 on a 10 point scale. Shallow movie, but if you just want some intense battle scenes it will deliver in spades; however, won't deliver much else.

[sic's mom]

The hubby and the kids went and saw it and loved it. I had to work and didn't have a chance, but I do want to see it. To me it looks like the ultimate "man movie"" and the dh and son definately agreed, although both my girls liked it as well. Always been big Miller fans in this house and would love to see them do an adaptation of Dark Knight Returns. Doubt if that will ever happen though.