Zack Snyder’s “300” – Movie Review

Based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller, the movie “300” was ranked No. 1 at the box office after its first week. Director Zack Snyder (“Dawn of the Dead”) recreated the novel – loosely based on the Battle of Thermopylae – onto the big screen using CGI and bluescreen effects.

Shot by shot, Snyder tried to bring to life Miller’s novel to bloody perfection. The 300 Spartan soldiers, led by their king Leonidas (Gerard Butler), set out to defend their land against the huge forces of Persia, led by their megalomaniacal leader, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). The muscled and greased-up Spartan warriors proceed without the support of their own aging council or the corrupt priests who appear to be afflicted with leprosy. Abiding by their Spartan code, they defend their land and enjoy a “beautiful death”: glorious death with honor.

The film attempted to showcase a classic battle of good vs. evil, but as the movie progressed the evil invaders appeared to be a big joke. The Persians were portrayed as evil monsters battling the Spartans with everything from elephants to “mystical” weapons hurled by wizards. Just imagine having a bowling ball with wicks thrown at you. This was an attempt, by the director, to make the film feel like a fantasy with the use of CGI. The writers could have done a better job making the Persian invaders more like humans than like beasts. Xerxes himself appears to be very androgynous, with piercings and makeup that would make a drag queen jealous.

In fact, the forces that made up the Persian army were slaves of Xerxes to do his bidding. Xerxes believed that he was a deity and wanted to take over the world through warring with other nations and making their citizens worship him. Doesn’t this sound familiar?

There wasn’t much dialogue in the movie, but the acting performances still managed to be flat; just as in a comic book, I expected a balloon to appear over each person as they spoke. If you want to see violence and blood, leave your brain at home and check out ”300.”