Film Reviews:’300’ and ‘Zodiac’

Last week, one week old release held me on the edge of my seat and a new movie blew me out of it. “Zodiac” and “300” are amazing films that can’t be missed.

“Zodiac” is based on the real life story of Robert Graysmith, author of the best selling book by the same name. The film opens on the Zodiac killer of San Francisco and the surrounding area in his second act, soon followed by the beginnings of the notorious letters. The plot follows his other killings, letters and phone calls to authorities and the media, leading to the eventual arrest of the prime suspect and the release of Robert Graysmith’s book in a time line of 22 years.

This movie is great. Not only is it a suspense movie, but it is a detective story. Everything that Graysmith (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) learns and the detectives know is presented so that the audience can draw its own conclusions as to who it might be. In the end, everyone agrees on their favorite suspect. The film was very well written by James Vanderbilt; it keeps movie goers on the edge of their seats. The acting by Gyllenhaal; Mark Ruffalo, who plays Inspector Toschi; and Robert Downey Jr., who plays reporter Paul Avery, was good — enough to carry the movie, but it was the story, the writing and subject that fueled this film. Overall, the cast and crew work together to bring a great story to life. There wasn’t one scene that you could point to and call ‘special,’ but the plot weaves through that frightening time when Northern Californians were afraid of not only strangers but neighbors. Anyone could be the killer. Rated R for some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

The new release is a little film called “300.” Maybe you’ve heard of it.

When the Persian empire of 100 nations demands loyalty and submission from Greece-Sparta specifically, King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) petitions the council to send an army to stop the oncoming attack. He is denied the army, but takes instead 300 volunteer Spartan warriors to the front lines. This is the story of those 300 Spartans who gave their dying breaths to defend their home and their honor.

This is a definite guy movie, full of blood, guts, explosions, naked women and war. It is, summed up in a single word, awesome! The same actor who portrayed “The Phantom of the Opera” is now the leader of these 300 men who are descendants of Hercules in the fight against hundreds of thousands of men from Persia. This movie is quotable, adrenaline-packed, heart pumping goodness all rolled into two blood soaked hours of pleasure. The look of the film is like “Sin City.” It has a gaming edge to it, which might explain why the reviews have been so mixed. But if you have a stomach for bodily injury, monsters, battles and an intense amount of blood, see the movie that people will be talking about for months, even years, to come.

Rated R for good reason and starring Gerard Butler. I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.