Wacko's Drunken Reel by Reel of Frank Miller's 300

Frank Miller’s 300

Directed by
Zack Snyder

Writing credits
Zack Snyder (screenplay) &
Kurt Johnstad (screenplay) ...

Review: 300

Being a fan of Frank Miller’s work, art & story alike, one can only imagine how thrilled I was to be able to state that within a four year time span I would be able to theatre jockey two rides such as Sin City & the honorably barbaric 300.

Those that are not familiar with the graphic novel that this visual explosion is based upon…do yourself a favor & stop right here go purchase the paper & enjoy…then climb in your car & go see 300 in the theatre in 3 or 4 days because it will no doubt be sold out when you arrive enthusiastically to purchase your ticket.

While the movie does not deviate to far from the pulp & bulk of the graphic novel by Frank Miller, there are some shots that didn’t make it into the moving media…but trust you me…what you see if far FAR worth what you paid for.

You’ll read many reviews slating the film as being a rip off of Troy, Gladiator, & a movie that pales in comparison to Sin City. When you do…please…shrug them off & laugh that someone is that very ignorant to lump Troy & Gladiator into the mix with 300 because it is those that falter in comparison. The Sin City comparison evokes even more laughter. Two totally different periods here folks, totally different values, & a much deeper moral high ground.

Quite simply…artistically, stylistically, & theoretically…300 is past comparisons. It stands it’s ground alone on all 600 of it’s feet & it will not be pushed aside. Nor rendered asunder.

The movie is simple, sweet, & straight to the point…the great Sparta is standing on the edge of the abyss as it is only a word’s spat away from being invaded by the indescribably gargantuan Persian army who‘s intentions are to enslave the women & children, take their lands, & force the Spartan‘s to yield & kneel before the God-king Xerses. The only voice of opposition & Spartan morale is King Leonidas and the loyal 300 Spartans who would like nothing more than to find honor in dying by their kings side. Legally, the King’s war can not be waged unless the Oracle gives the order…she does not & the politicians refuse to back their King. No matter…for country, family, honor, & Sparta…off they go to wage there way of insurmountable odds. While away…the Queen in all of her truly angelic beauty & underlying ferociousness must deal with the politicians in her “own special way” in order to convince them to release the entire Spartan army in hopes of saving Sparta & giving Leonidas a fighting chance…as if they really needed it. The plan & the plot is quite simple: Death for life, wife, & country…toss glory into that mix & you get the idea that the 300 know their fate. Seriously, that’s it…no more depth…no more mind numbing who dunnits…this is the story & this is 300 at it’s best…& it is that in a nutshell…one of the best.


Again, going into this movie…loving the concept visually on paper…well…it did indeed translate very well onto film. The movie drags in an R rating…& I was honestly shocked that they could pull it out. Loads of severed limbs, chin to skull dagger plunges, blood from head to toe, & decapitation to boot…this one had me turning my head several times & screaming out the traditional “Wacko Wooooo!” in sheer glee & shock & thrill.


The battles in this movie are not as epic in scope as recent fills such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Troy, Alexander, & fodder of the sort…but it’s much more convicning & the action shots are thrown at you with break neck speed only to hit stop to slow motion just as the blade rips through the skin. Sounds like one in the same as the others…but go see it. You will be shocked. creative.

In voice, presence, & appearance alone Leonidas, (Gerard Butler) is quite honestly amazing. The greatest shots of the movie are all on his face…close-ups where the man never utters a word speak thousands at once. He goes from calm, to cool, to slicing & hammering from decapitated head to severed-limb. He’s subtly perfect…& there ain’t a subtle moment in this movie…really.

Dawn of the Dead director Snyder stamped winner all over this one. I won’t go deeper into boring you with sucking up to the man…but he did a bang up job.

Many have already pigeon holed this one for fan boys & movie geeks, but they my friends are wrong, this one got a standing ovation from the entire sold out crew in the house & it was as diverse an audience as I have seen in years.

Make up your own minds…but missing this movie or going into it on some shady review or opinion that it’s mindless or just another comic book movie only proves that they don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about.

Go see this one.