300

Director Zack Snyder successfully breathes cinematic life into Frank Miller's graphic novel, 300, a retelling of the ancient battle of Thermopylae between King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his Persian army. However, do not expect realism or historical accuracy; this is a WWF professional wrestling match with all the smack-down and trash-talking you would expect from a Hulk Hogan or a Randy "Macho Man" Savage. This does not detract from the viewing; rather, it adds to the visceral experience.

Overall, the acting performances are on par with the emerging graphic-novel genre. Gerard Butler gives a great action-hero performance as King Leonidas. His testosterone-driven characterization will surely place him alongside such A-list action talent as The Rock, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg. Lena Headey also displays Spartan machismo in her performance as the king's wife.

The look of the film is breathtaking and maintains the authenticity of a graphic novel. For example, scenes either start or finish as a tableau, a unique approach to pay homage to a comic-book panel. The saturated-color palette used by Larry Fong, the film's director of photography, is also pulled straight from the book. The fight scenes are well choreographed but become repetitive by the third act as the dramatic tension dissipates. However, the action itself could at times be used as a panel for a graphic novel.

Will there be a sequel? Probably not, since the film is inspired by an historical event. But I do expect studios to green-light more films based on graphic novels after the success of Frank Miller's Sin City and last year's V for Vendetta. Ultimately, 300 will continue the success of such films with its appeal to males using graphic-novel images, incessant comic-book violence, and warrior mentality.

                                                        James R. Janowsky