 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
300
- Review Date: July 29, 2007
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Bloody, fanboyish retelling of an ancient battle.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is no Masterpiece Theater rendition of ancient history. Like Sin City, 300 is an ultraviolent tale based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. There's blood galore as the Spartans -- trained war machines -- defend their land against Xerxes' massive Persian army. Battlefield valor and violence is glorified by the Spartans, who take no prisoners and show no mercy. Heads literally roll, blood splatters, exotic animals are sliced and speared. Many, many soldiers on either side die gruesomely. If on-screen death and war -- even one so stylized and cartoonish at times -- is too disturbing a subject matter for your kids (or you!), this bloodfest isn't a safe bet.
What's the story?
Adapting Frank Miller's graphic novel 300, Snyder takes a hyperstylized visual approach to depicting the famed Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his 300 elite personal guards defied their Oracle and the odds to wage war against Xerxes' huge, unrelenting Persian army. Faced with the choice of submitting to Xerxes (Brazilian Lost regular Rodrigo Santoro, rendered nearly unrecognizable in earrings and eye makeup) or waging war, Leonidas makes the only choice a warrior-king can: fight. Leonidas and his personal detachment, led by his captain (fine character actor Vincent Regan) and Dilios (David Wenham), discover that although they're grossly outnumbered, they can funnel the enemy into the Hot Gates (the literal translation of "Thermopylae"), a narrow pass where the Spartans' special-forces skills will crush wave after wave of the Persians. And, oh, how they crush. It's impressive and disarming to see the 300 delight in the "glory" of warfare. The Spartans, so drunk on warlust that they dismember, skewer, decapitate, and spear the enemy -- whether it's human, animal, or something in between -- are brave, but also a bit mad. What the Spartans want (unlike the Arcadians, a group of fellow Greeks that joins them) is not to survive but to "die a beautiful death" in battle.
Is it any good?
At times engrossing and at times laughably over-the-top -- the whole sequence in Xerxes' lair, with its hedonistic sensuality, smacks of stereotypical Orientalism, not to mention some of the grossly depicted Persian soldiers, and the disfigured hunchback who plays a central role -- 300 is entertaining as an extended war sequence. But it falls short of reaching the revolutionary Matrix-like status that the film's creators claim.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Spartans' upbringing and values. Why are 7-year-olds forced to fight each other -- and adults?
Xerxes offers Leonidas what sounds like a sweet deal; why does the king, facing certain death, turn it down?
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AGE
Ah, Gerard Butler :) haha He makes this movie. I love the story, 300 against so many more and yet bravely facing their deaths. I cried when I watched this movie. Beware of nudity though.
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AGE
the best movie of the year
finally a movie that explains the way we should be fighting the war on terror.
the sex and orgy and rape scenes are pointless. the story is true to what happened although there were more warriors at thermoplye then the movie shows it gets the impotant stuff right.
there is nothing wrong with teaching your children how to fight!
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AGE
Extremely terrible!!
This movie has alot of violence, and alots of sexuality/nudity. This is actually perfect for ages 17 and older.
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AGE
oh my god so much violence
The good stuff
*
Messages:
Themes of underdog heroism and not bowing to corruption get a little lost in the blood and gore.
*
Role models:
Even in the face of sure defeat, brave soldiers stand firm against tyrannous threats to freedom. A corrupt Spartan councilman is exposed as a traitor and brought to justice. But also some stereotyping based on Asian culture, as well as one character's physical disability.
What to watch out for
*
Violence:
Over-the-top battle-scene violence, including graphic decapitations, severed limbs, mutilated bodies piled high, arrow-filled torsos, etc. Young Spartan boys are forced to furiously fight each other. The Spartan mottos are "No retreat, no surrender" and "No prisoners, no mercy."
*
Sex:
Extended love scene between Leonidas and the queen; viewers can see her nude breasts and his butt. The adolescent Oracle writhes and sways while wearing a sheer cloth that reveals her breasts. A character unwillingly has sex to procure a politician's favor. Although no nudity is shown in that scene, the aggessor whispers menacingly: "This will not be fast. You will not enjoy this." Xerxes' lair is depicted like an orgy, with various half-dressed Persian women kissing, moaning, and having sex.
*
Language:
Colorfully worded insults like: "motherless dogs," "philosophers and boy-lovers," etc.
*
Consumerism:
Not an issue.
*
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not an issue.
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AGE
very good movie it was really bloody though when he chopped off the giants head that was gruesome but overall it was a good movie
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AGE
My buds and I got bored one Saturday night and decided to watch all the Gerard Butler Movies we owned, starting with 300. HUGE MISTAKE! We couldn't so much as look in the general derection of the screen without sceaming our heads off.
IT"S RATED R FOR A REASON!
On the other hand, if you cross out all of the violence and romance, the movie isn't half bad.
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AGE
for mature pre-teen
I don't gonna lies but this is awesome ,the war scene totally awesome I watched in theater with my brother (he was 8 at the time ) and my dad,since we couldn't to buy it in dvd (we got the first it came out)the war scene were violent and bloody(with close up and slow motions decapitations) we see the queen and leonidas having sexe
but the movie is awesome
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AGE
Epic movie. Leonidas rufuses to give in to trany. Cartoon stlyle vilonce/blood and gore
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AGE
300 = Good
I think this movie was good, thought deffinitely NOT for young viewers. Explicit love scenes and lots of blood make for an ADULT movie, but still Gerard Butler is fantastic.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Zack Snyder |
| Cast: | David Wenham, Gerard Butler, Lena Headey |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 117 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 8, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | July 31, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity. |
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