SCI-FI-LONDON was lucky enough to be invited to a special preview screening of 300 a new comic book movie adaptation. Based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller (SIN CITY and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT), it is not a story of modern, caped superheroes but one of legendary caped heroes – the Spartans. It is the tale of the Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors that fought the Battle of Thermpylae against a massive Persian army by the self-proclaimed god-king Xerxes.
Like the adaptation of Miller’s SIN CITY this movie is also shot on a virtual back lot, with the actors being filmed on a huge blue-screen soundstage. Unlike SIN CITY’s monochrome this is richly coloured film that does full justice to Lynn Varley’s colouring of Miller’s inked drawings. Of the twenty minutes or so of footage we were shown, director Zack Snyder (DAWN OF THE DEAD) has remained faithful to the original comic (Frank Miller is one of the executive producers), both in story and dialogue, as well as the shots and action.
The clips shown weren’t short on action, with lots of very muscular men wielding swords, shields and spears. It is looking really good and a match for the recent sword and sandals epics like TROY, ALEXANDER and GLADIATOR.
300 is due for release here in March 2007 through Warner Brothers. More details to follow.
The graphic novel, published by Dark Horse, is available from Amazon or through your local comic shop.