300 has apparently shattered the record for biggest March opening ever. I didn’t even doubt it. Before it was even released, people (like me) have drooled over the excerpts shown, the trailers we’ve seen countless times on the theatre, and the constant sound of “Madness? THIS IS SPARTA!” shouted by Gerard Butler.
But what makes this film stand out more than Gladiator, or Alexander, to me was the cinematography and the actors chosen for their respective roles. I cannot stress it enough – Gerard Butler has indeed played the role of King Leonidas well. His voice presenting the witty lines or the lines that makes you want to fight for him, and especially his presence commands even the audience and makes them sit on the edge of the seat. With regards to the storyline, I’m glad to point that nothing was left out from Frank Miller’s 300 graphic novel. I never found it boring, or dragging. Historically, there have been disputes over the fighting positions, and the historical accuracy of the film, but 300 was never meant to be historically precise. The battle scenes were made to captivate the younger generation, and it was never made to just be a documentary. They were right. I have overheard many young men shouting in the theatre as if they were in the battle. It made me smirk a little. They made the battle of Thermopylae interesting, they made the younger generation appreciate history and courage, honor, dignity. They made us, and especially me, appreciate the 300 Spartans that died. It changed my perspective on the ‘hero’ concept.
The pictures above are customized wallpapers that I created, images obviously from the film itself.
