New to DVD - 300

This retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, between the ancient Greeks and Persians, is based on the book  by Frank Miller. Director Zack Synder and the production team have done a remarkable job visually, invoking the imagery and keeping the tone of the original comic book without sinking into parody or cheesy animated effects.

The story revolves around the attempt of the Persian Empire, under the God/King Xerxes, to conquer Greece. At the time, Greece comprised independent city states. The most ferocious of these was Sparta, a warrior society in which men who left their homes were instructed by wives and mothers to come back with their shields or on them – in other words, to fight to the death.

The Spartans, under King Leonidas, are the logical choice to resist Xerxes and in this battle 300 of the best Spartan soldiers take on the mightly Persians, including Xerxes’ famous personal guards... (300 review continued)

New to DVD :: Shooter

I have to admit it. When I first sat down to watch this movie, I thought it would miss the mark by a mile. Director Antoine Fuqua is capable of making a very good action film (Training Day) but he is also capable of making several not so very good action films (The Replacement Killers, Bait, Tears of the Sun). I figured Shooter (2007) would be another dud, but I’m happy to say that I was wrong.

This is a fast paced, high energy, “good guys vs. bad guys” kind of movie. Starring Mark Wahlberg as Bobby Lee Swagger (great name), the plot centers around a supposed plan to assassinate the president, and the need for Bobby Lee (a Special Ops expert marksman) to run a reconnaissance mission and guard the president’s life. Soon, the plot begins to twist and then it’s a mad dash to the finish line as Bobby Lee partners with FBI agent Nick Memphis (another great name), and they try to stop the bad guys (Danny Glover, Elias Koteas and Ned Beatty) before it’s too late.

The villains are so clearly drawn that it’s easy to cheer on Bobby Lee and Nick as they chase them down...(Shooter review continued)

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