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Today, after months of anticipation, I finally saw 300.

I was severely disappointed.

It’s an adaptation of a graphic novel, so I didn’t expect much depth, but there was virtually no character development and was like watching a sequence of cut scenes from a really good video game.

I was so bored after the first hour that I almost left. I’m glad I stayed to see the ending, because one of the final shots is as beautiful as any I’ve seen in a film, but overall, I found myself regretting the time and money I lost seeing this movie.

I did appreciate the production quality of the film, with the exception of the heavy metal battle music and Xerxes’ voice, which sounded cheesy and overly processed. Other than that, the set design, costuming, cinematography, and audio was all very good.

I’ve cooled down since I left the theater, but my immediate review to a friend was this:

Total garbage bullsh*t. Visually great, acted marginally well, but thought it was as throw-away as any episode of Too Close For Comfort.

Rating: 5.5/10

I stayed up way too late last night watching Flags of Our Fathers. I really enjoyed it. The war scenes were especially well directed and I never grew tired of them, even though I’ve seen this sort of thing a couple of times before. I’m a sucker for World War II films.

What I like most is that it brings the viewer into the minds of the soldiers and tells the story behind the famous photo from their point of view, showing the conflict of emotions and driving home the point that nothing about war, even a victory, can be truly understood by the people back home who look on from afar.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10. I can’t wait to see Letters from Iwo Jima.