Here's the story on the first big smash hit of 2007, 300, it uses a time honored formula to drive its box office performance, boobies and blood. These are the same ingredients in different measures that fueled the box office success of Braveheart, Conan the Barbarian, The Friday the Thirteenth and Halloween franchises and about 1000 other teen slasher flicks.

That said, there are so many decapitations in 300 that I started saying "Padiddle" and punching the guy next to me in the arm everytime one occurred. For some reason, he didn't appreciate the playful irony.

A Decent enough film but too much blood and gore and too much screaming about what it means to be Spartan!!! I did not recognize any of the actors, except Dominic West who plays Theron. If you do not know him from HBO's The Wire then shame on you. None of this will likely slow the box-office take even a bit as it rockets towards $200 million plus in North America. On the bright side it should cement Frank Miller(creator or 300, Sin City ....) as a Hollywood mover and shaker. There is already talk of adapting Miller's Ronin to the big screen and Sin City 2 is in the works. All good news for comic book fanboy geeks who seem ubiquitos these days.

The downside, as with any big Hollywood sucess, we will be seeing a ton of copies and the will be really crappy. To quote one Hollywood producer about a film currently scheduled for production.

"This is a grounded sci-fi premise, but there are big effects," says producer Hoberman. "And it's clear from 300 that people want to see different kinds of things, and this falls into that category,".

So true! More than anything else, people love to see "things", "different things".

This Will Ferrel starer features a wealth of talent including Dustin Hoffman and the always delightful Emma Thompson. Also present are Maggie Gyllenhaal(holy extraneous double letters) and NJ's own Dana Owens(Queen Latifah), two actresses of no small regard that I have never held in much regard.
Just goes to show what my regard is worth as both deliver solid performances. Gyllenhaal's is particularly notable as her character could prove utterly insufferable in the hands of a less talented actress.
Wil Ferrel is likeable and the story itself has a Vonnegut or rather Vonnegut lite feel. No complaints here, but my wife ran for the hills after about ten minutes so it's not for everyone.

Gross$40,137,776 (USA)