300 - 'A manly romp with only a few homo-erotic undertones.'

Pros
Brief nudity not so brief


Cons
Despite it's masculine rugged overtones this film actually makes you feel like less of a man





Full Review

These days everyone is talking about '300'. "Have you seen the trailer for 300?" "I hear 300 is over six hours long." "Do numbers really go as high as 300?" The reason is simple. Everyone is going wild for what could quite possibly be the funniest, rip-roaringest, laugh out loud comedy of the year. I loved this movie! I was rolling in the aisles. Literally. There were numerous times I was so doubled over with laughter I physically fell out of my chair and tumbled between the seats. One guy punched me in the head. Ah, but it was worth it. I hadn't had that much fun at a movie since that one time I sneaked in a five pound bag of reese's pieces I bought at the bulk barn.

This new comedy comes from the same team that brought us 'Sin City', the gritty sci-fi thriller about black and white aliens living on earth and the prejudices they must endure. In this latest epic, they take a look at the lighter side of the Spartan/Persian war of ancient Greece. A time when men fought for honour and digitally generated beasts roamed the earth. The story focuses primarily on a group of 300 Spartans with varying accents who must rally together to stop an evil horde of filthy Persians. Even more filthy than the Persians of today. And stop them they do. With hilarious results! It's absolutely refreshing to see that the treasured art of slap-stick has not been lost on the film makers of today. I also understand that this film is actually an adaptation of a graphic novel. Well, if the book is half as funny as the movie I think I may have finally found something to replace my worn out compilation copy of Gary Larson's 'Far Side' cartoons.

Another interesting aspect of the film is the stunning visual interpretation of it. Opting to limit the look of the movie to just a few basic colours. Giving an accurate portrayal of the historical atmosphere of ancient Greece when colours were scarce. Rich yellows scorch the earth. Deep blues drown the sky. Bold reds accentuate the Spartans' scrotal areas. I was in a dreamworld....and I didn't want to leave. But leave I must. And I did. Eventually. Approximately 45 minutes after the credits ended when the theater manager telephoned the police and I was escorted outside. Ah, but it was worth it.

The Bottom Line

This movie is not only a rollicking good time but is also filled with heartfelt lessons that can be attributed to many aspects of your own life. Like honour. And confronting obstacles. But not the whole walking around in red diapers thing. This is apparently frowned upon in modern society.