Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #590 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 116 minutes

DVD Description
Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralise the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae. More engaging than Troy, the somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylised look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi

Synopsis
Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, 300 takes over the screen like an invading horde. With all the gushing blood of a horror movie and the scope of a classic epic, the second film from Zack Snyder (who helmed the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD) is an impressive visual spectacle. Gerard Butler (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) plays Leonidas, the king of ancient Sparta. The city is famous for its warrior philosophy, and Leonidas won't kneel to the demands of Persia's King Xerxes (LOST's Rodrigo Santoro). Instead, Leonidas leads his 300-strong army against Xerxes's army of millions. Meanwhile, his wife (Lena Headley, THE BROTHERS GRIMM) campaigns in Sparta for the city to send reinforcements as she butts heads with the treacherous Theron (Dominic West, THE WIRE). With its gore and scale, 300 marks director Snyder as a possible successor to Peter Jackson's throne. Jackson also got his start in horror with BAD TASTE and DEAD ALIVE, and the two men share a penchant for ambitious battle scenes. The huge fights in 300 rival Jackson's efforts in the LORD OF THE RINGS films. David Wenham, who starred in two of the Tolkien-based films, plays Dilios, one of the Spartan soldiers. Though the cast doesn't boast any A-list stars, the actors ably fill their larger-than-life roles. In a film filled with men, Headley stands out as Queen Gorgo. She matches her warrior husband in strength, while showing love toward Leonidas and their son. Though there are scenes that demonstrate the humanity of the characters, 300 is undeniably about bravery and blood, and it succeeds because of the stylish depictions of both.

Customer Reviews

Stylish
It's not every day you see something as visually stunning as the 300. Visually it is unique, stunningly shot from start to end. It's style comes from Frank Miller's graphic novel and Snyder's ability to put it on the screen.

The plot is simple, 300 Spartan warriers are sent to battle an army of 100,000's. The majority of the film depicts this battle, which is as violent as it is stunning to watch.

In the UK this film is 15 rated, which I find amazing. Brutally violent and gory throughout with some nude scenes, I'm surprised that it didn't become an 18. This film isn't for the faint at heart, but those looking for a propoer sword and sandels film, look no further.

Stunning in HD!
This movie is fantastic in HD, the perfect movie to demo the technology. it is visually incredibly rich and beautiful, with many of the scenes composed like classical paintings.

Be aware that the movie is not meant to be historically accurate, it is a movie version of the graphic novel "300", so expect a graphic novel that has been brought to life. The characters are larger than life and the battle scenes are wonderfully stylised.

I was stunned by how beautiful it is, glorious!

Possibly the worst film ever made
A bunch of guys gouge and hack lumps off each other. The end. No plot, no characterisation and hardly any dialogue. It's one non-stop, uninspired and repetitive battle scene. The photography is reduced to a palette of reds and yellows reminiscent of a museum of Byzantine art but with less to interest the eye. Your mission, should you accept it, is to stay awake.