HD-DVD REVIEW: 300 (2007)

300 is a movie meant to be seen on the big screen. It's big, it's loud, it's a movie opera if you will. Watching it on HD-DVD is the closest you will get to that experience in your living room.

The Movie

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, the tale focuses on 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) as they fight King Xerxes and the Persian army in the Battle of Thermopylae. It's a visually stunning masterpiece in the same vein as Sin City (another Frank Miller adaptation). The narrative story line, special effects, and soundtrack make 300 an experience in which your mouth will fall open in awe. The movie isn't without some flaws (where did that apple come from?), but it is much better than a majority of the big summer blockbusters.

Picture & Sound

The movie looks amazing on a 1080p display. The colours, contrast, and shadows come alive almost as its own character, and the integral blood-flying scenes are vividly crisp. The sound is mind-blowing in Dolby TrueHD; every slice, stab, and groan during the battle sequences are audible, and the score gave me chills. This is one of the HD-DVD's I will be using to show off what high definition DVD is all about.

King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) going to battle

Special Features

The HD-DVD is loaded with features. An exclusive HD-DVD game called Vengeance and Valor lets you lead Spartans into battle with your remote control. Also included is a piece on Frank Miller's vision realized on film, webisodes from the set, extra footage of the Hunchback, never-before-seen footage of the Giant Warriors, plus featurettes on the truth behind the 300 Spartans, and how the actors built their characters.

My favourite feature is the bluescreen picture-in-picture version of the movie. This is where you get to see how the movie was filmed (bluescreen background, etc.) in one window, while the final result plays in the other. It includes director Zack Snyder's commentary explaining the differences and how the scenes were created. When you see the amount of work that went into the movie, you'll definitely gain respect for its makers.

Bottom-line

This could be the title that makes people run out and buy HD-DVD players. If you already own one, pick this movie up and show all your friends what they're missing.

300 (HD-DVD) **** (out of 5)
116 mins. / Rated R
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Gerard Butler, Lena Headey
Related links: Amazon.com, HD-DVD Trailer

Review by Brian McKechnie

Comments

[Cate Jones]

Saw this in the theater and was similarly awed, visually. Found it didn't have the depth of say a Gladiator, but totally entertaining nonetheless. [And it gave me a new-found appreciation for Gerard Butler. ;)] Looking forward to seeing the DVD special features.

[dl]

Picked it up the day it came out. Looks great. One complaint about the picture is about noise, but I think that it was caused by something in post production.

Extra features are all very cool. Great use of HDDVD menuing system for the extras.

-dave