300 review
The previews of 300 make it look stupid. There is no way I'll see this movie, I thought to myself months ago on seeing the trailer. But, through a twist of fate, I decided to see it.
Awesome. Perhaps the closest comparison is to Braveheart; only not as realistic, not quite as good, but not as long either.
For a movie based on a graphic novel, 300 takes its themes very seriously. Flawed democracy triumphs over autocracy, liberty trumps authoritarianism, and life ought be lived in pursuit of a purpose. Perhaps the reason why the movie doesn't do even better is that some of the more fanciful elements seem to clash with those themes.
The Iranians have filed complaints at the UN over the movie's treatment of Xerxes. But perhaps that says more about them than it does the movie. Yes, Xerxes was made into a rather fanciful villian, but such is the essence of manichaean good vs. evil storytelling. The fact that Ahmandinejad and his government see themselves as heirs to the Persian Empire trumps the "democracy is good" message for them.
8/10.
Posted by Evan @ 03/19/07 09:24 PM
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