Well I just got back from this movie and must say: "What a movie" not as memorable as Gladiator but still way better than Alexander. And worth your $8.50
First the good parts (no spoilers):
Story: I'm a lover of epics, and it was about time someone covered this historical legend. Not really historically correct but who cares, its celluloid not history -- bad guys want to invade, good guys fight to the end (yup, that's pretty historically correct for hollywood)
battles: You haven't seen battle sequences like this since Saving Private Ryan, except now you can cheer and cringe like you're watching a NASCAR pile up. I didn't know you could kill a man in soooooo many ways. I think I know where Xena learned her moves.
Main Characters Who ever casted the main characters did a very good job at casting especially the parts for the King and Queen of Sparta. Puts Angelina Jolie to shame with her phony accent.
Cinematography Its been 8 years since we were first introduced to 'bullet time' in the Matrix and now a small Quebec company has introduced us to what I call 'golden aging', its like that sparkle on the hero's teeth, except its everywhere, very unique when added to the battle sequences: its like watching an art masterpiece from the Louvre museum come to life.
Now the bad Parts:
Cinematography This innovative approach to the movie has had a double edged effect. While stunningly beautiful, sacrificing large expensive sets for cheap blue screen has rendered the picture... well 'flat' like a blue screen. many of the panoramic shots look like picture held up to the camera giving no depth to the setting. When placed in action sequences they are blurred which really makes you see the 'real set' they used for filming. There is one pull out shot which I swear looks exactly like a painting.
Acting There is an inherent danger when you tell a story from Ancient Greece, especially to a modern audience still to sensitive to the sexually liberal tendencies of Ancient Greece. Just watch Oliver Stone's director's cut of 'Alexander' and I promise you, you won't want to 'insert disc two'. Sadly, I feel the director of 300 imported the exaggerated acting of Greek theatre into his movie. The main characters are fine, its just those damn extras with one line, one opportunity to shine in the movie; one line to get their next big gig in Hollywood, who spoil the movie.
Greek mythology: What would a good ol' Greek story be without a few ugly, heathen characters to add to the cast. Again, with a modern audience, this is a faux pas. Many times the audience broke out in laughter, not at the one-liners (and believe me their are some good ones) but at the incredability of some of these creatures (Ever seen a realistic goat head play the flute?).
Typical movie made for Americans No, this is not a cheap shot at our American friends, but I'd say the truly inspiring movies with a strong 'fight for freedom' theme have been ones which concentrated on the human struggle -- not the nationalistic one (Saving Private Ryan, Band of brothers, Gladiator). One of my favorite drinking games is popping in a good ol' American classic that has more flag waving shots than cast members and do a shooter everytime you see the American flag flapping in the wind. Sometimes I just can't make it through the entire film. With this film, substitute the word 'freedom' with the American flag waiving and you could make it about 3/4 of the way through. Sure the Greeks had 'free men' but that was for the very elite of a Greek city-state. Everyone else was either a half-slave or full slave, with no civil or property rights. Strange how Hollywood's idealistic minds still seem to miss that one
Still, with all its petty faults, I'd spend another $8.50 just to see it again.
I rate it 3.5/5
P.S.Just a strange observational note, I watched at Rideau center in Ottawa, and about half the crowd was either Gothic or part of some leather fetish club. Must be all the bare Mr. Octobers in their loin cloths who charge out in slow-mo. Oh well there a few booby scenes for the rest of us.