300

It happened early this morning, around 12:10 a.m. Something absolutely amazing. The curtains moved to the side, the lights dimmed, the crowd cheered and then became entirely silent. And for the next two hours, I sat in complete awe of the masterpiece that was and is "300."

For a movie that I've been looking forward to for nearly 6 months, it exceeded every expectation that I had for it. Based on the graphic novels, essentially comic books (and I mean that in a good way), by Frank Miller, this movie was one of the least comic book-like movies ever to be made. The entire movie was filled with the most brilliant cinematography that I have seen so far this year; I'd even go so far as to say that it was better than Pan's Labyrinth which, for me, is saying more than I expected.

When I first heard about this movie, my initial assumption was that it was going to be filled with senseless violence but it wasn't. The gore that was involved was appropriate and fitting, not too much but not too little. Granted, I'm a person who likes to see that type of thing, especially when it's well done and realistic which was a feat that "300" reached for, attained, and exceeded again and again.

David Wenham, who plays Dilios, one of the Spartan soldiers, narrates the film. But it happens in such a way that while you realize you're being narrated to, you don't mind. I've never been a fan of narration in movies. After Double Indemnity and Citizen Kane, I believed the days of movie narration to be over and entirely obsolete. But in "300," it's done so stylistically that it's needed. Almost essential to the plot. And the entire story ends up coming around full circle.

Gerard Butler, one of my favorite actors, brought King Leonidas to life, so much so that it was impossible to escape being brought into the film. You ended up feeling as though you were one of his men throughout the entire thing. And you couldn't help but respect him. Dominic West, who played Theron, was the perfect bad guy. I found myself hating him so purely that by the time I got to the parking lot, I had to remind myself that it was an actor playing a role.

I've been obsessed with the Greek culture since I was in junior high school. So of course, I knew how this one was going to end. Yet still, I sat in my seat waiting for things to happen, and for the course of mythology to change on film. It didn't; they stuck to what was documented, however bittersweetly that may seem to the audience. I both loved and hated that fact.

If you don't want to see 300, see it anyway. If you want to see it, see it today, and again tomorrow. If you haven't heard about it, hear about it now, trust my opinion and go see it. No matter what, you won't be disappointed.