"300" -- Movie Review

This weekend was filled with a fantastic array of boyfriend/girlfriend activities that kept me entertained for four days straight. From a New Hampshire flea market to a Labor Day rally for senator Barack Obama, it was jam packed with fun, good food, and love. Of all the new experiences that the weekend brought, one was a bit more relaxed and isolated. Although my boyfriend and I were in the same room, sharing the same moments, we did not speak to one another (except for those few time when I squealed at the screen for joy or fear). It was two hours that we could each spend observing some wonderful cinematography, but ignoring one another -- and after almost 4 days straight together, I'm pretty certain we both needed it. After the Obama rally on Monday morning, we went back to his sweet digs in Londonderry, NH and watched the highly sensationalized, action packed, and slightly heartbreaking film "300."

Within the first twenty seconds of the story, I began cursing myself for not having paid my $9.50 to see it on a bigger screen. Even though a 19" monitor is pretty big for gaming and whatnot, it does few favors for a movie like "300." I'd like to learn more about the technology behind this film. I'm sure it was shot in a studio somewhere, as the scenery is reminiscent of what one might imagine when reading "Beowulf." I'd have a hard time believing that there is actually a place on this earth with such stunning mountains and fields. It's all very dream-like and glorious, with hard, dark color saturation to tempt even the most timid of movie-goers. The creators use just the right amount of visual effects to pull in the audience in order to help them truly appreciate all of the details that each moment has to offer.

The world of the Spartans is barbaric and terribly unlike anything I can relate to in my daily life. Yet, the basic human fabric was still there. Their way of life was extreme, but their guiding principles were not so very different from our own. It is in this way that the story upholds some relevance for the audience. What was most impressive about a film of such magnitude was that many of the actors were unfamiliar. About half-way through, my boyfriend turned to me and said, "You know, I'm surprised they didn't get someone like Russel Crowe or Brad Pitt for the lead." I mused over this for a moment and broke away from my thoughts with even more respect for the film than before hand. Yes, they could have hired a big name actor to pull in audience numbers, but someone must have felt that the story and talent was strong enough o carry the film without calling in someone who would serve as "name-dropping" advertisement. The only character that I actually recognized clearly was Dilios, the storyteller, who is played by the fantastic David Wenham. I recognized Mr. Wenham from seeing him recently as the rather lame, but rightfully heroic monk Carl in "Van Helsing." Having those images in my head was a little distracting for the first 30 minutes of "300," but I eventually broke away from Carl and was able to attach fully to Dilios and his manly resolve.

Once the movie was over, I had to visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) to learn more about the movie and all of these actors that I was shocked to find myself unfamiliar with. I learned that almost all of them were actually quite known to me, but the majesty of this film completely encompassed them as modern individuals and transformed them into the memorable and distinct characters from the world of the Spartans, Athenians and Persians.