I just saw 300 and I have to say I thought the movie was overrated. Having struggled to find a thread to talk about this movie, mostly reading H D threads I found the DVD picture quality quite disappointing although no doubt due to a deliberate grainy look. Making the point of HD immaterial. Anyway ignoring stylistic choices I thought the film was a case of style over substance. I think all too often the film went for slo-mo instead of taking in the action, ruining the action from my point view. I also felt that had the film had a more realistic vision would have made the action better , instead of the CGI bloodletting and decapitation I think more traditional methods could have had a lot more impact.
I felt the same about resident evil extinction relying on CGI blood letting, spraying CGI blood which doesn't have the same impact as well done practical effects. It really took away the violence making me wonder how it was rated as an 18? These kind of effects are fine on cheap independent films but for a large film like 300 I expected more.
I also didn't think 300 had much of an epic feel given a film of this nature. In addition I think that the size and finesse of these men looked all wrong. Given that this was set hundreds if not a 1000 or two ago, men didn't have six packs and probably were not as large as the majority of these men. They didn't have the food, and nutrition to develop such bodies which makes 300 in my opinion opinion look ridiculous. I'm sure the look from much older films from the Sixties like Ben Hur or whatever is more appropriate.
Anyway regardless of my personal thoughts about the look of the actors. I thought it could have hit higher levels.
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I would have liked to have seen a better final battle for the "300". I honestly felt that they just seemed to give up and die, even though I predicted the assassination attempt on the Persian king/God. Nevertheless I would have expected even given their imminent demise to conjure up an attack that could have been more inflow with the rest of the film. It's more like they seemed to just give up and die, whereas earlier in the film they seem to have a more thoughtful planned way of war far advanced of their enemy.
Shame could have been much better. Although I suspect will be better on second viewing.