300 Spartans

300 takes place in Greece and is based on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC Greece, where 300 brave Spartans under king Leonidas battled the vast army from Persia. 300 was filmed on a set and not on location and many of the images have been created by a computer but this does not take anything away from the film. The settings and costumes of the characters make for an authentic experience with stunning visuals. Many may argue that the director (Zack Snyder) did a poor job with the authenticity of the events, but I think he did a masterful job capturing the fighting spirit of the Spartans through Mise en Scene.

The initial confrontation between Xerxes’ messenger and King Leonidas is a powerful scene where the director uses camera positioning and setting meticulously. When faced with the decision of whether to submit to Xerxes and his massive empire or fight, Leonidas chooses to fight. He sends a message by kicking the messenger into the well.

Right before he makes his decision, we see the king’s eyes peering around the village. He turns around to see a mother and daughter in arms waiting for his decision, four young boys awaiting his decision with fearful eyes, and most importantly his wife who gives him a slight nod signaling that it has to be done. The use of tight framing is very effective in this scene because it shows what a stressful decision this is. This is a powerful image because it shows the unity and pride of the Spartans.

Costumes and imagery are very abundant in this movie and they do a great job of signifying wealth and status. Halfway through the movie we see a man being carried on a massive golden pedestal by many men. With a tight shot we see this man is covered in gold from head to toe, we soon find out that he is Xerxes but we already knew that because of his costume.

Leonidas, on the other hand, dresses a lot like usual Spartans. He is not covered in gold like the “god-king’ Xerxes but rather he dresses like his fellow Spartans: a cape, a shield, and a sword. This to me shows that Leonidas is a people’s king and that he cares for his people thus making him charismatic. He doesn’t show he is the king through gold and jewelry but rather through action and command.

The major battle scenes in the movie give you a sense of how outnumbered the Spartans really were. In one of the early battle scenes, the Spartans just stave off the first wave of Persians and when they look up they see a mass of people headed towards them. Minutes later it becomes much darker and when they gaze up they see a shower of arrows headed straight towards them. This setting and use of framing really helps you grasp what the Spartans are fighting against and how difficult it will be.

The acting by Gerard Butler (Leonidas) captures the essence of the fighting spirit of the Spartans. His voice has a commanding and fierce element to it which is perfect for a Spartan king. Some of his prophetic lines give you chills due to the power behind them. Gerard exemplifies how to become one with the character through method acting. He bulked up for the role and this added credibility to his character.

The director (Zack Snyder) does a great job in this movie. He captures the spirit of the Spartans and at the same time captivates the audience and gives them a fantastic experience. The conscientious use of Mise en Scene helps the viewer make out the underlying text of the film.