Film Review: 300
17 September 2009
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There was great apprehension when it was announced that the Frank Miller and Lynn Varley graphic novel 300 was to become a feature length film. The epic story with lush visuals was rumored to be unfilmable plus like many great epic novels rarely is ever done justice. It’s no secret that the graphic novel itself was sparse relying more on visual carnage than story and plot which is hallmark to many of Miller’s most controversial work (just take a look at the Frank Miller’s ROBOCOP comic book now in graphic novel form) or the more recent film adaptation SIN CITY.
So it should come as now surprise that 300 under the supervision of director Zack Snyder is a mixed bag. It brings all the grandiose of the graphic novel to the screen plus adds in a subplot involving King Leonidas’s (Gerard Butler) wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), which actually helps the film. Like the graphic novel it is based on 300 is a lush production with incredible cinematography by director of photography Larry Fong who puts you on the battlefield next to every arrow and every blade. This expanse could have been easily been overdone but Fong uses the camera as if the whole film is in a ballet weaving it in and out of multiple battles in numerous long shots without relying to heavily on cutaways and close up angles which is what I was afraid might happen.
Not only is Leonidas well developed but many of his soldiers are as well including Delios (David Wenham) and Captain (Vincent Regan), among others. Each of the main soldiers have a distinct personality without becoming a caricature, which is what hurts so many films in this subgenre.
One of the biggest faults with the film is the fact that the subplot with Queen Gorgo feels like a separate storyline that never really connects with the main storyline. It’s as if they just needed something for her character to do and to break up the battle scenes. Also, all the CGI blood got old really fast not because it wasn’t good but because it was over used. It should have been used sparingly to emphasize a point not to just entertain and become extreme, like the trend has become with most horror films. These two missteps although minor detract from the rest of the film and feel like padding.
300 wasn’t entirely all good but it wasn’t ROBOCOP 2 or 3 either (two other Frank Miller properties not done well).
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There was great apprehension when it was announced that the Frank Miller and Lynn Varley graphic novel 300 was to become a feature length film. The epic story with lush visuals was rumored to be unfilmable plus like many great epic novels rarely is ever done justice. It’s no secret that the graphic novel itself was sparse relying more on visual carnage than story and plot which is hallmark to many of Miller’s most controversial work (just take a look at the Frank Miller’s ROBOCOP comic book now in graphic novel form) or the more recent film adaptation SIN CITY.
So it should come as now surprise that 300 under the supervision of director Zack Snyder is a mixed bag. It brings all the grandiose of the graphic novel to the screen plus adds in a subplot involving King Leonidas’s (Gerard Butler) wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), which actually helps the film. Like the graphic novel it is based on 300 is a lush production with incredible cinematography by director of photography Larry Fong who puts you on the battlefield next to every arrow and every blade. This expanse could have been easily been overdone but Fong uses the camera as if the whole film is in a ballet weaving it in and out of multiple battles in numerous long shots without relying to heavily on cutaways and close up angles which is what I was afraid might happen.
Not only is Leonidas well developed but many of his soldiers are as well including Delios (David Wenham) and Captain (Vincent Regan), among others. Each of the main soldiers have a distinct personality without becoming a caricature, which is what hurts so many films in this subgenre.
One of the biggest faults with the film is the fact that the subplot with Queen Gorgo feels like a separate storyline that never really connects with the main storyline. It’s as if they just needed something for her character to do and to break up the battle scenes. Also, all the CGI blood got old really fast not because it wasn’t good but because it was over used. It should have been used sparingly to emphasize a point not to just entertain and become extreme, like the trend has become with most horror films. These two missteps although minor detract from the rest of the film and feel like padding.
300 wasn’t entirely all good but it wasn’t ROBOCOP 2 or 3 either (two other Frank Miller properties not done well).
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