The Rocket

Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: MCT Campus [Click to enlarge]

"Seven" was creepy, "61*" was cool and "The Number 23" was a lot of fun, but now, proving once again that more is better, comes the violently fantastic "300."

Frank Miller has come up with some pretty awesome characters. Two years ago his name exploded into the limelight with the success of "Sin City," an adaptation of his graphic novel series.

"Sin City" was full of tough guys who all speak with a raspy, I-eat-ashtrays tone, but "300" rocks the screen with manly, battle-tested heroes of ancient Greece.

Nobleness seeps out of King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his band of 299 other Spartan soldiers, and this made it easy to root for them.

"300" trumps any other "Rocky"-esque underdog story, telling the tale of a few thoroughbred soldiers who stand up for the freedom of their country. These 300 soldiers take on an army of thousands.

The plot is a little cut-and-dried. There are no major quirky twists or innovative storylines, but "300" makes up for its shortcomings tenfold with embolism-inducing action and eye-numbing visuals.

The visuals are so off the chart, your eyes won't just be boggled-they will go numb and fall out.

There are moments in "300" that will make you forget you are watching a movie. Sometimes you might think you are at an art gallery staring at a masterpiece painting.

Only the drool from my dropped jaw could wake me up out of the trance the film put me in.

The Spartans battle Persian foot soldiers, Chinese monsters, rhinos, elephants and giants with ease, laughing and screaming the whole time.

Arrows are flying, blood is splattering and limbs are being tossed about, but the Spartans still have time to throw in quotable lines suitable for T-shirts and bumper stickers alike.

With all of the effects and fun, acting could have been a forgotten component. However, director Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead") squeezed some pretty good performances out of his cast.

Lena Headey ("The Brothers Grimm") rocks as the Spartan queen, Gorgo. Her role could have gotten lost in all the action, but Heady makes Queen Gorgo stand out.

Let's not forget the king himself. Butler's ("The Phantom of the Opera") King Leonidas could have convinced his men to jump off a cliff with his rousing speeches. His pride never wavers and his sense of cool makes him the perfect leader for Sparta.

On the other side of the spectrum is "Lord of the Rings" vet David Wenham. His Dilios is the pansy of the Spartans.

Even though he loses an eye, his uninspiring speech at the end is bad enough to leave a sour taste in your mouth once the credits roll.

Now, normally a healthy mix of violence, nudity and special effects would equal a strictly male-oriented film, but "300" doesn't forget about the ladies.

There is a strong female lead character and 300 well-sculpted men wearing next to nothing. So don't rule out "300" as a possible date movie. Don't assume your lady will be into it, but don't rule it out.

So what's next for "300" scribe Frank Miller? He will be revisiting "Sin City" with two more films. Clive Owen, Jessica Alba and others will return for "Sin City 2," which is due to hit theatres in 2008.

Another huge aspect to the fantastic experience of "300" is the previews that accompanied it.

Before the movie there was a fresh new "Spider-Man 3" trailer that nearly made me pass out with excitement.

"Spider-Man 3" is still a good month-and-a-half away, but Sony is making it harder and harder to wait for the web-slinger's return.

If the action, visuals, fun and acting aren't enough to get you to a theater, do it for the "Spider-Man 3" trailer.

With every surprising spring hit like "300" and the shockingly funny "Wild Hogs," we get closer to a summer that will be sure to empty your pockets.

"300" is a great way to prepare your eyes for the effects-heavy summer blockbusters that are on the horizon.

Ivan Moore is a senior communication major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

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