Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1318 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 co! urse, 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.

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

Movie: 3.5/5 Picture Quality: 4.5/5 Sound Quality: 4.5/5 Extras: 3.5/5
Version: U.S.A / Region Free
VC-1 BD-50
Running time: 1:56:32
Movie size: 24,961,910,784 bytes
Disc size: 34,803,466,472 byytes
Average video bit rate: 16.80 Mbps
LPCM 5.1 4608Kbps 16-bit
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 16-bit
DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps

Mindless stuff but a bench for Blu-Ray production quality
Essentially the director of this film saw the battles from Lord Of The Rings and simply decided to make a 2 hr extended version. Very little plot, character building or decent acting but action and violence ad nauseum. Blu-Ray picture is superb and hi-def sound is stunning however. Worth a watch if you're an action-genre junkie just don't expect an engrossing storyline.

300
When I first left the cinema after seeing this with my mates, I remember feeling the same way as when I left the cinema from seeing Gladiator in 2000. Not because this film is as well-made as Gladiator, but because it has that same epic feel.

First of all, it's obviously ridiculous. It's not meant to be an accurate re-telling of the battle of Thermopylae, but a stylised one based on the images of Frank Miller. It works in that it looks fantastic, in a mythical way, as though this wasn't a real event but something out of one of the many fantasy films we see these days, albeit a lot more bloody.

Gerard Butler is clearly the star here, and his performance is a fantastic one. Not oscar-worthy, but he completely throws himself into the part and I for one would love to see him in more commanding, action-oriented roles as he's certainly got the presence and the build for it.

He's ably supported by Lena Headey, who's probably one of the stronger female characters in this kind of film. Their relationship is beautifully done, and for me the moment that elevates the film above a mindless but entertaining action blockbuster are the moments where the King bids farewell to his Queen. Very well done by the actors indeed.

Whether you like this film or not will depend upon what you want from the film: a historical education or pure entertainment on a number of levels. Treat it as 90% entertainment that happens to have 10% history and you'll have a great time.

On Blu-ray, it looks and sounds great. Not the best hi-def transfer out there, but it's definitely the best way to see this film. The extras are worth checking out, particularly for the cast interviews and the training sessions to show how those guys got in such great shape.

All in all, a solid film on a solid disc. You can't go too far wrong with this one for a good night in.