An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Derek Malcolm's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Zack Snyder.
Cast: Gerard Butler, Rodrigo Santoro, Lena Headey, Dominic West
Description: Based on Frank Miller's celebrated graphic novel, 300 recounts the epic Battle of Thermopylae, at which King Leonidas and his 300-strong Spartan army fought against the vastly superior Persian army, led by Xerxes. The people of Greece are inspired by Leonidas's heroic efforts against seemingly insurmountable odds, inciting an uprising against the Persians in this visually striking feature which melds live action and computer generated backgrounds.
Country: US. 2006. 116mins
All the rage: Xerxes, King of Persia, leads his army into bloody battle
Fighting off the invaders: Zack Snyder's film recreates the battle of Thermopylae
Should there be any doubt whether history is actually bunk, 300 proves it beyond dispute. It is about the celebrated battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, when 300 Spartans under Leonidas successfully sacrificed themselves by decimating a huge horde of invading Persians under the legendary Xerxes, thus saving Western civilisation.
Zack Snyder's movie, faithfully based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, paints the battle in the primary colours of an all-out action movie.
The brave Spartans are the toughest bunch of hombres who smile at the thought of "a beautiful death", and realise that "freedom isn't free. It must be bought by blood".
They seem to take a morbid delight in hacking their enemies to death: 300 makes Fight Club look like a gentle workout in the gym.
Snyder, who made Dawn of the Dead, mythologises Thermopylae in comicbook terms with brutish battle upon battle as the freshly oiled, suitably pumped up and strutting Spartans play merry hell with the body-pierced, "boy-loving" Persians, equipped with ferocious elephants and rhinos.
If the film looks a treat, it is because it is both stylised and stylish, heightening reality much like an advertisement for a carbon-belching 4x4.
The dialogue is of the kind that fans of comic books delight in, and the acting, with Gerard Butler leading the way as King Leonidas, and Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes, is perfunctory. But you can't fault anybody for their fighting skills, or the production designers for the buckets of blood on display.
The problem is that almost two hours of this kind of stuff palls somewhat. You get the impression that not only does it come from a position near the extreme Right wing of the spectrum, but that its mixture of homophobia and macho posturing has a very odd smell about it.
If the effete Persians are made into probable perverts, up to no good at all on the sexual front, the Spartans seem likely to be very much at home at an exclusive bondage club.
You pity the Spartan queen, Gorgo (Lena Headey), who seems to be there solely to be roughly serviced by Leonidas, as if to underline his heterosexuality.
Wallow in it if you like, but don't think about anything in the film for a moment. It might do you permanent damage.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Incredible looking movie. An amazing experience at the IMAX. Completely over the top but worth every penny. The ultimate guy flick and leaves you lusting for more blood at the end. I could have handled another hour at least!
- Gareth, London, UK
The plot (what there is of one) is a familiar one - we’ve seen it before in every General Custer movie. But 300 is one hell of a spectacle.
It looks like it’s been filmed in Bronze-O-Vision, owing much more to the lavish artwork of Frank Frazetta rather than the other Frank (the one whose graphic novel 300 is based on, Frank Miller).
King Leonidas comes across like a crazed Scottish hard case as portrayed by Gerard Butler. A far cry from his Phantom of the Opera in the movie of the musical, although he does sport a scar or two by the end.
300 tries desperately hard here and there to be Gladiator, but it needn’t.
You don’t go to a spectacular firework display expecting a dense plot, just plenty of oohs and ahhs. Same here. A mad, macho scrap but well worth seeing.
- John Donnelly, London, England
Switch your brain off and you'll love it. It's a cartoon - that's the only way to enjoy it. Think too hard and you'll laugh or scoff.
- Victor Houghton, Rayleigh, Essex
Nice visuals. Dire acting, script and "plot". Sex scene was cringe-worthy and the homophobic and sexist undertones shocking but not entirely unexpected from such a "lads" film.
- Stephen, London
Afternoon:
15°c
