The Film

Until about a decade ago comic books and graphic novels were a relatively untapped resource for film adaptation. With the success of a few mega-franchises, Hollywood has realized the story-telling potential in the medium and produced some incredible films that have appealed to both genre fans and a wider audience. 300 is a pure visual feast that acts as both a lesson in cinematic art and in utter baddassery (yes, the film is so cool I had to invent a word).

Directed by Zack Snyder, 300 is thin in the plot department, but that is in no way a negative comment. It is the story of the Battle of Thermopylae where King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) led 300 brave Spartans against the countless hordes of Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). After Xerxes’ messenger demands that Lepnidas surrender Sparta, the king slaughters the messengers and plans to bring full-scale war against Xerxes. Unfortunately, the Spartans old ways require Leonidas to get the blessing of the Oracle before he can lead his army. The Oracle foresees that Sparta will burn and Leonidas is forced to make due with 300 “personal bodyguards” rather than the full force he had in mind. While his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to rally political support back home, Leonidas and his men face off with Xerxes at “The Hot Gates” –a narrow passage that Xerxes must pass through, making his vast numbers meaningless.

300 is a story of pride, of defending what you hold dear against any cost. These are soldiers in the truest sense—ready to die, willing to die. They have no fear, no remorse, and no second thoughts about their mission. Their whole lives as Spartans have led up to this moment. That patriotism and dedication is very intoxicating to watch. Visually, the film is unlike anything you have ever seen. It is as if someone literally put Frank Miller’s paintings on the screen. Shot entirely against green screen and using a wide array of color effects and slow motion, every frame of 300 is a piece of art. The battle scenes, as vicious and bloody as they are, come off like dances that show off the skill and physical talent of the warriors. Unlike many films that attempt to relay the same mood, 300 is not gratuitous, it is merely faithful to the source material.

300 is certainly not for everyone. Ten years from now it may not be heralded as a cinematic icon, but for the time being it is about as entertaining and enjoyable as movies get.

The DVD

The video is offered in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The visuals are phenomenal with no signs of compression errors or grain. The colors and level of detail are top-notch as well. The only way this could look better would be on its respective high-definition discs.

The audio is offered English/Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and English 2.0 Stereo with English/French Subtitles. The audio is a memorable experience as well, featuring countless moments of panning battle effects and booming, epic music. While the dialogue is easy to understand, it does tend to be downplayed by the other audio elements.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with Director Zack Snyder, Writer Kurt Johnstad, and Cinematographer Larry Fong. I have to say that you might as well skip this track. Casual fans will check out the other special features before the commentary track and die-hards won’t learn anything new. Why wasn’t Frank Miller included on this?

“300: Fact or Fiction” is a 25-minute featurette is self-explanatory and serves to compare the story through the real history, Miller’s graphic novel, and Snyder’s film. The piece is put together well but still a bit shallow.

“Who Were the Spartans?” is a 4-minute featurette about what the life of a Spartan was like in actual history. A lengthier examination would have been appreciated, but this will give you some starting points if you wish to investigate the material further.

“The Frank Miller Tapes” is a 14-mintue collection of interviews that give a decent look into Miller’s life and career. Personally I think Miller is so influential that an hour-long documentary is deserved, but this is far better than nothing.

The “Making Of” (6 min) featurette is extremely generic and says next to nothing while “Making 300 In Images” (4 min) has a bunch of behind-the-scenes photos.

12 Webisodes (38 min total) from online are available, each covering a different portion of the production. Together they offer more filmmaking information than most of the other featurettes.

Also offered are 3 Deleted Scenes.

Final Thoughts

300 may be a love-it-or-leave-it film, but those in the “love it” category will have very little to complain about with this spectacular DVD set. – Jeff Ritchie