300
Thursday, March 08, 2007
300
Slightly under a year ago, I remember sitting in the theaters knowing nothing about graphic novels. I recognize the section in Kinokuniya selling shelves after shelves of them, but I've never stopped at any, simply because I didn't know too much about them. What ignorance that was, I realized, after watching the adaptation of V for Vendetta. I rushed down to the store and grabbed the book swiftly afterwards, and that opened up my eyes to the realm of graphic novels. As you might have already guessed, with a tint of excitement I was ashamed at my ignorance. A whole mountain of treasure and there I was, bypassing the section!
I didn't particularly like Sin City, though I have yet to read the graphic novels. But the movie itself wasn't an attractive piece of work to me. Thus, Frank Miller always had a second place to my all-time favorite Alan Moore. However, when I heard about one of Frank Miller's more unknown work called 300, I was intrigued by the premise of the story. Thus, I embarked on a journey to discover more about the story behind it, and was pleasantly surprised when Zack Snyder was helming it for a 2007 release.
This day has finally come, as I sat in the theater with my knees to my chest, shaking from the blistering cold in the Vivo City cinema, eagerly awaiting the movie to start. I forgot to read through the graphic novel before I came, but I figured it wouldn't matter, just watch the damn film. I've been waiting for this movie for the longest time, and ever since I converted myself into a devotee of graphic novels and Frank Miller, this movie has topped by anticipation charts for months. Today was the day when I finally caught the movie, and DAMN was it a rush of blood to the head. If you haven't watched 300, go and watch it. If you already have, it is time to watch it again.
It tells the story of Spartan King Leonidas leading a horde of 300 Spartan soldiers against the Persian army, the greatest army ever assembled. Against the will of the state, King Leonidas decided against their advices not to go to war, and led his men against Xerxes' Persian army. The result, a bloody war that lasted for three days, with the 300 Spartans dealing significant amount of damage to the Persian army. Though never truly confirmed, the number of Persians against the Spartans was accounted for anywhere between two hundred thousand to two million. Despite the obvious loss in quantity, King Leonidas and his men fought not for the ultimate victory, but the hope for one and the honor involved in dying for one's country.
Frank Miller's graphic novel never claimed to be historically correct. Though the characters were as real as the event that happened, most of the plots and storyline were greatly altered for the heroic sacrifice of the Spartans to shine through in the book. And through the brilliant artistry involved on every page, Frank Miller and Lynn Varley vividly transcended the pages of the book into the minds of the readers. And the movie did exactly that as well.
Like Miller, Snyder never claimed the movie to be historically correct. Instead of adapting a story from the past, he attempted to adapt the graphic novel by the frame. Unlike the other epic movies which involved battles in epic proportions like Troy, Snyder focused more upon the artistry that shone through the pages in Miller's version of the 300 Spartans. The result, a stunning visual treat for the audience in the theaters, and accompanied those was the booming soundtrack and not to forget, the bloodiest and the most gruesome(though cool)battle sequences ever placed on the silver screen.
Every frame in the movie was an imitation of the frames in the books, and more. Details were carefully illustrated in the backgrounds, and that intricate care went right down to the character developments in the story, as well as the screenplay. As the graphic novel itself isn't a very long piece of work, Snyder and the screenwriters did a wonderful job to extend the story beyond the pages of the book, into the areas not covered by the original novel. Most of all, he never deviated from the original style and feel of the story, and thus making us believe that he adapted the book page by page.
Having read the book before hand, I've always had a clear image of King Leonidas and his men. And Gerald Butler was a great choice to play the Spartan King. His great acting aside, those stunt work involved in every fight sequences was awesome. Everything from the flow of the spears and the sword down to the movements of the actors through the crowd of enemies were carefully choreographed, giving us a sense that these Spartans weren't out to have a laugh. But really, they were out to kill, and born to kill at that.
Throughout the movie, one would realize the highly 'stylised' environment as well as the action. This is due to the fact that almost 90% of the movie was filmed inside a studio and in front of a blue screen, to recreate the way the scenes were portrayed in the book itself. They never came off the screen as being anything cheesy or campy. In fact, Snyder did such a great job, one began to wonder if the Hot Gates really do exist. Forget about Neo and Morpheus from the Matrix. Both of them will flee before the onslaught of the 300 Spartans, thirsty for blood and hungry for war.
Like I said before, if you haven't watched 300 yet, go and buy tickets now. If you have already watched it, it is about time you watch it again. Because really, though this movie is a very manly movie due to the male-dominated cast, I think the ladies will have their share of excitement as most of the men pace around the screen half naked most of the time. Besides, everybody loves some gut splattering action once in a while. Go and watch it now, and prepare for glory.
Slightly under a year ago, I remember sitting in the theaters knowing nothing about graphic novels. I recognize the section in Kinokuniya selling shelves after shelves of them, but I've never stopped at any, simply because I didn't know too much about them. What ignorance that was, I realized, after watching the adaptation of V for Vendetta. I rushed down to the store and grabbed the book swiftly afterwards, and that opened up my eyes to the realm of graphic novels. As you might have already guessed, with a tint of excitement I was ashamed at my ignorance. A whole mountain of treasure and there I was, bypassing the section!
I didn't particularly like Sin City, though I have yet to read the graphic novels. But the movie itself wasn't an attractive piece of work to me. Thus, Frank Miller always had a second place to my all-time favorite Alan Moore. However, when I heard about one of Frank Miller's more unknown work called 300, I was intrigued by the premise of the story. Thus, I embarked on a journey to discover more about the story behind it, and was pleasantly surprised when Zack Snyder was helming it for a 2007 release.
This day has finally come, as I sat in the theater with my knees to my chest, shaking from the blistering cold in the Vivo City cinema, eagerly awaiting the movie to start. I forgot to read through the graphic novel before I came, but I figured it wouldn't matter, just watch the damn film. I've been waiting for this movie for the longest time, and ever since I converted myself into a devotee of graphic novels and Frank Miller, this movie has topped by anticipation charts for months. Today was the day when I finally caught the movie, and DAMN was it a rush of blood to the head. If you haven't watched 300, go and watch it. If you already have, it is time to watch it again.
It tells the story of Spartan King Leonidas leading a horde of 300 Spartan soldiers against the Persian army, the greatest army ever assembled. Against the will of the state, King Leonidas decided against their advices not to go to war, and led his men against Xerxes' Persian army. The result, a bloody war that lasted for three days, with the 300 Spartans dealing significant amount of damage to the Persian army. Though never truly confirmed, the number of Persians against the Spartans was accounted for anywhere between two hundred thousand to two million. Despite the obvious loss in quantity, King Leonidas and his men fought not for the ultimate victory, but the hope for one and the honor involved in dying for one's country.
Frank Miller's graphic novel never claimed to be historically correct. Though the characters were as real as the event that happened, most of the plots and storyline were greatly altered for the heroic sacrifice of the Spartans to shine through in the book. And through the brilliant artistry involved on every page, Frank Miller and Lynn Varley vividly transcended the pages of the book into the minds of the readers. And the movie did exactly that as well.
Like Miller, Snyder never claimed the movie to be historically correct. Instead of adapting a story from the past, he attempted to adapt the graphic novel by the frame. Unlike the other epic movies which involved battles in epic proportions like Troy, Snyder focused more upon the artistry that shone through the pages in Miller's version of the 300 Spartans. The result, a stunning visual treat for the audience in the theaters, and accompanied those was the booming soundtrack and not to forget, the bloodiest and the most gruesome(though cool)battle sequences ever placed on the silver screen.
Every frame in the movie was an imitation of the frames in the books, and more. Details were carefully illustrated in the backgrounds, and that intricate care went right down to the character developments in the story, as well as the screenplay. As the graphic novel itself isn't a very long piece of work, Snyder and the screenwriters did a wonderful job to extend the story beyond the pages of the book, into the areas not covered by the original novel. Most of all, he never deviated from the original style and feel of the story, and thus making us believe that he adapted the book page by page.
Having read the book before hand, I've always had a clear image of King Leonidas and his men. And Gerald Butler was a great choice to play the Spartan King. His great acting aside, those stunt work involved in every fight sequences was awesome. Everything from the flow of the spears and the sword down to the movements of the actors through the crowd of enemies were carefully choreographed, giving us a sense that these Spartans weren't out to have a laugh. But really, they were out to kill, and born to kill at that.
Throughout the movie, one would realize the highly 'stylised' environment as well as the action. This is due to the fact that almost 90% of the movie was filmed inside a studio and in front of a blue screen, to recreate the way the scenes were portrayed in the book itself. They never came off the screen as being anything cheesy or campy. In fact, Snyder did such a great job, one began to wonder if the Hot Gates really do exist. Forget about Neo and Morpheus from the Matrix. Both of them will flee before the onslaught of the 300 Spartans, thirsty for blood and hungry for war.
Like I said before, if you haven't watched 300 yet, go and buy tickets now. If you have already watched it, it is about time you watch it again. Because really, though this movie is a very manly movie due to the male-dominated cast, I think the ladies will have their share of excitement as most of the men pace around the screen half naked most of the time. Besides, everybody loves some gut splattering action once in a while. Go and watch it now, and prepare for glory.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, March 08, 2007 at 8:28 PM.
You can skip to the end and leave a response.
