300 is the second Frank Miller Graphic novel to make it to the big screen and like 300's predecessor Sin City it has a stunning graphic novel feel where reality is clearly not sought after but believability is dead on.  300 is loosely based on the historical Battle of Thermopylae.  There the King of the Spartan’s assembled roughly 300 men whom stood up to Xerxes and his vast Persian Army by holding a narrow passage. For those of you unaware, Persia is now known as Iran and spread as far as Iraq and through-out the middle east. At this battle King Leonidas (played by Gerard Butler) fought side by side with his Spartan warriors to the death.  This battle inspired what is now considered the country of Greece to stand up to the Persian empire.

Because 300 is based on a graphic novel (which to those of you unaware a graphic novel is better known as a comic book) there are many freedoms in fantasy applied to the story.  Normally fantasy requires some plausibility to suspend disbelief when watching a movie involving fantasy.  Because of the nature of filming, there is a clear intent to make the movie feel like a comic book page.  The lighting is abnormal the colors are saturated; everything is exaggerated to a point you easily accept this world for what it is.

The acting is great for many reasons.  The actors shed their egos or perhaps blew them up in order to achieve the macho persona needed to be such great Spartan warriors.  Gerald Butler in particular is almost completely transformed from his good looking model looks into Leonidas, King of Sparta.  If you are not familiar with Gerald Butler he’s been in a slew of movies in the past few years and one of his most prominent is that of the Phantom in the movie version, Phantom of the Opera.  

Although this is one of the first movies done with complete CGI (filmed entirely in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and no location shooting what-so-ever, what really carries this movie is Gerard Butler’s utter command of the screen.  He looks wise, he looks tough and ever fiber of him is convincing as a King.  He nails this role so well that you have to see him coming on strong from here as a very busy actor.  One reason Gerard is so believable as a King is that he that he sells the idea of being a Spartan so well.  Spartans are a unique social class in all of history, because the are purest to fighting, taught never to retreat or surrender the Spartan is a warrior unlike any other known in history.  Gerard Butler takes the screen as Leonidas King of the Spartans and through his strength and charisma holds draws you in to a fantastic story that really has no business being believed. 

The fight scenes are busy but actually depart somewhat from the normal clash and kill moves you may have seen in any other battle fight scene.  Legs are cut off after an adversary passes a Spartan for instance. 

300 is a guy’s movie undoubtedly.  However 300 appeals to both genders in the manner in which it celebrates both men and women as worthy and noble fighters standing up for right over wrong and overcoming evil.  Both male and female leads standing up for freedom and both making their own sacrifices for the good of others. 

This is rated R movie and for good reason.   Not only is it over the top in graphic carnage, such as multiple beheadings and dismembered bodies, there is a explicit sexual content.  The eroticism is almost pornographic and to some it may be just that.  But children should not attend.  You won’t just be able to cover their eyes when you see the scenes coming you’d have to cover their ears and it’s just not worth embarrassing yourself or your children among other reasons.  Don’t take them for all the any of the reasons above.  The content just is not suitable for any child and I think the age limit of 18 is most likely just right under the circumstances.

As a movie going experience I give 300 a rare 10 out of 10 for hitting every note.  From acting, to story, special effects, originality and more.  The only reason not to see this movie is if you don’t like action movies with violence or gore.   As a story it works very well with the right pauses and high-notes and even the over the top violence is not dolled out without reason or purpose and in fact, not over done.