Review of 300 (2007) by Stefan G — 24 Jun 2015

This is one of those films that, since its release, has taken on a life of its own, and for good reasons. Yes, it does embellish history, almost to the point of it being fantastical propaganda, and this often keeps the narrative from being taken very seriously (in fact, much of the ridiculous fantasy elements the producers brought in generate more laughs than awe).

However, the central message isn't lost. The writers are well aware of why the story of the 300 Spartans is so well remembered - it represents a determined few standing up to a massive army despite hopeless odds.

For me, the real reason this film still holds up in this day and age is because of the epic performances. Of course, it is rather over-dramatic, but it hammers home the atmosphere and really gets you to feel for the characters fighting for what they value most.

That's not to say the villains weren't impressive. In fact, the villains, though they don't really get much screen time, were just as interesting as the heroes for the same reasons. It also helps that the film has a gritty, yet imaginatively stylized approach, with the icing on the cake being the violently stylish and epic battle scenes that take up around half of the film's length.

Even though the film's narrative is obviously one-sided (and that shows almost all the time), what matters ultimately is that it's a scintillating film to watch for all the right reasons, and even though it comes across as oozing machismo, it's pure entertainment by its own merits.