Saw the much acclaimed and much publicised 300 yesterday. It's a visual treat. The high-contrast images almost create magic. A very believable war sequence between 300 spartans and millions of persians comprising of monsters and freaks. With each throw of spear and swishing of sword, you see body parts blowing up in air, and you are awestruck.
But trust me, how long can you just go on admiring the sfx. With the audience knowing each and every trick that has gone behind the creation, don't you need more to keep their eyes glued to the screen. Something much more than the bollywoodian cliche of wife giving her locket to the husband heaidng towards the battle... Something more than the "motivational" dialogues like 'Tonight, we dine in hell!"... Something more than the queer-looking Xerxes screaming aloud!
Well, the soul was missing.
The film wasn't half as inspiring as Gladiator or Troy. None of the sequences will stay with you after you leave the hall. But still, there are few dialogues you'd like to remember:
- Give them nothing! But take from them everything!
- Then we will fight in the shade
- Return with the shield or on it
I'd like to see the film "The 300 Spartans" released in 1962. Just to see how they'd have created the magic then, without the help of high-class special effects. They must have surely concentrated more on the emotional aspect, right?
PS: The guy who played Xerxes is Rodrigo Santoro, the same guy who played Karl in LOVE ACTUALLY. So here goes, full marks to the make-up guy.
