A look at the highly anticipated Greek epic.
Can 300 succeed where Troy and Alexander failed? That’s the question facing Warner Bros. as the studio gears up for the March release of its latest Greek-themed epic. After the spectacular demise of those previous efforts, it’s understandable that movie fans might be hesitant to embrace another piece of Hellenistic fare. Warner Bros., however, has several reasons to feel confident that 300 will buck the recent depressing trend:
Frank Miller
300 is based on the wildly popular comic book author’s famed graphic novel, a retelling of the ancient battle of Thermopylae. The battle, in which a small group of Spartan soldiers almost defeated the entire Persian army, is arguably the most compelling in Greek lore. Seen through the eyes of the comic world’s most celebrated storyteller, it becomes all the more intriguing.
Internet Buzz
The 300 trailer hit the web a few weeks ago to rave reviews, and folks rushed to Apple’s website to view the Quicktime video in all of its high-definition glory. The slick montage of clips, available at Apple.com, succeeded in whetting the appetites of notoriously skeptical fanboys.
Lower Expectations
With no major stars or hellish location shoots, 300 was able to avoid most of the problems that caused the budgets of Troy and Alexander to spiral out of control. Its budget, estimated at around $60 million, is rather modest for a major studio action/adventure release.
ReelzChannel.com recently attended an exclusive preview in which 300 director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead), screened several clips from the film for members of the press.
The clips, taken from various points in the film, showcase the extremely stylized, almost glossy look hinted at by the trailer. Snyder’s aesthetic is a romantic one, a heightened reality featuring larger-than-life characters and otherworldly creatures. The battle scenes are violent and visceral, yet elegant in their execution. Judging from the scenes we viewed, it’s not a stretch to say that the real star of 300 is the movie’s breathtaking look.
In addition to introducing clips, Snyder talked briefly about his experience getting the film made. When he first pitched the project to the studio, he was politely rebuffed. “The first time we met with Warner Brothers it was before I did Dawn and I remember talking to them about it and they were getting ready to go make Troy,” said Snyder. “I’ve got to say, I understand that they were not into a movie about Greeks because they had Troy and they had Brad Pitt and I had just me and a graphic novel.”
Then came the success of Sin City, which suddenly opened the doors to just about anything with the name Frank Miller attached to it. “Time, I think, is a thing that heals all wounds and gets people excited again,” said Snyder. “Because 300 is what it is, because of Frank’s perspective on the battle of Thermopylae, and in compared to what I would call a typical Hollywood ‘sword and sandals’ epic, they said, ‘You know? Maybe that is cool. Maybe that is a way to do it.’”
Snyder mimicked Miller and Rodriguez’s Sin City approach, relying heavily on green screens and CGI. “I feel like what Frank did with Sin City had vindicated us and actually informed us on this process of shooting this movie,” said Snyder. “We shot in Montreal, which I know instantaneously brings to mind ancient Greece for a lot of people... (Laughs) So we got up there and we were in an old warehouse, basically…and we built our world in there.”
“The only shot we actually did outside in the entire film was with the horses, the Persian messenger coming over the hill,” Snyder explained. “We couldn’t get it fast enough inside so we had to build it on the outside.”
The lack of exterior shots didn’t mean the experience was a cakewalk. Staggering amounts of CGI mandated long hours in post-production. “Every shot in the movie is a visual effects shot,” said Snyder. “It’s a daunting task, just the assembly of the shots and the move of the shots and the changes and all that.”
Judging from the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response thus far, it was time well spent.
300 opens March 9, 2007.
Check out ReelzChannel.com's 300 page for more on this exciting movie!