300

In the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.

Looking for an adrenaline rush? 300 is the movie you are looking for. Looking for a movie with a deep inspiring storyline with violence that is meaningful and furthers the story? Go watch Braveheart again. 300 is an orgy of stylized violence. Every scene is designed to get you pumped up about what is going on. Gerard Butler as King Leonidas is yelling at least once in every scene it seems. However, the battles in this movie are amazing. The quality of the fighting in 300 reminded me a lot of the Matrix and how groundbreaking it was when it first came out. If you enjoy war scenes, 300 delivers over and over.

The R-rating stems mostly from the violence which is graphic and constant. From graphically severed limbs to decapitations, the violence and gore is equivalent to the beach scene in Saving Private Ryan. However, there is some nudity to note. 3 different times you see women either topless or wearing a cloth so shear they may as well be topless. A sex scene between the King and the Queen does not show excessive nudity (other than her topless) but it is very clear what is going on.

I don't like going into a movie with my expectations too high. Unfortunately, in the weeks leading up to the release of 300 I have heard it praised on par with Braveheart and Gladiator. Don't be fooled. While 300 does what it sets out to do, this movie is not the next Braveheart or Gladiator. However, as an adrenaline-powered war movie, 300 delivers.

4.7 out of 5

Zodiac

From 1966 to 1978, the Zodiac Killer claimed victim after victim in the San Francisco Bay area, repeatedly taunting law-enforcement authorities with direct messages bragging about his deeds. The killer is officially blamed for six murders, but claimed to have killed some 37 people and could have been responsible for as many as 50.

Obsession. It can destroy the lives of some and drive others to greatness. On the surface, this movie is about the Zodiac Killer but what makes the movie outstanding is the obsession of the men trying to discover who the Zodiac is. Se7en is an excellent movie. Zodiac comes awfully close. While Zodiac doesn't have the imaginative murders that Se7en does, Zodiac will grip you from start to finish. Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. are excellent in this film and may be in line for Oscars next year. Excellent movie that slows down a bit in the middle, but the 2 hr. 40 min. runtime doesn't feel long at all.

R-rated serial killer movie. Violence and language abound. No nudity or sexual situations.

One of the better movies I've seen in a while, Zodiac is great movie about one of the most notorious serial killers in American History. If you enjoyed Se7en, you'll probably like Zodiac.

4.8 out of 5