300 4K Blu-ray delivers stunning video and reference-quality audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Leonidas, the Grecian king leads 300 of his fellow Spartans into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders.
For more about 300 4K and the 300 4K Blu-ray release, see 300 4K Blu-ray Review published by Randy Miller III on October 1, 2020 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
NOTE: The screenshots in this review are taken from the included Blu-ray, which is identical to the 2007 release.
Warner Bros. once again digs into their deep back catalog for another 4K upgrade, this time for Zack Synder's visually ambitious 300. Based
on Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's popular 1998 limited series, it's a pure example of style over substance... but if you enjoyed the original books,
there's no reason why you wouldn't love this violent, effects-heavy adaptation. The film first arrived on Blu-ray as a standard edition (linked above)
and a later "Complete Experience" Digibook that added
several new bonus features including three picture-in-picture tracks. While 300's native 2K digital intermediate doesn't make it a top-tier
candidate for 4K, this UHD disc adds HDR10 enhancement and a brand-new Dolby Atmos mix to pull first-time viewers and die-hard fans that
much deeper into the fray.
For a synopsis and appreciation of the film, please refer to either Blu-ray review linked above. Much like Sin City (another bloody, effects-heavy Frank Miller adaptation),
300 is not an exercise in flawless storytelling but certainly enjoyable as a stylized, atmospheric tour de force that clearly pays
homage to its testosterone-fueled source material. Just don't go in expecting a realistic, historically accurate swords-and-sandals epic and you'll be
fine.
Surprisingly, not much say about WB's 2160p transfer other than it offers a solid overall boost to the original 2K source elements. 300 is one
of the most heavily stylized live-action films of the last 20 years: it's absolutely loaded with visual effects and has perhaps more blue-screen than a
year's worth of weather forecasts. As such, it can't be judged in line with most other films due to its intentionally boosted contrast, heavily tinted color,
added grain (and traditional film grain, as it was shot in 35mm), and dozens more heavy and subtle tweaks that give it a striking, almost otherworldly
appearance. Simply put, this transfer just adds a little more of everything: image detail is better refined, colors are more suitably saturated, and black
levels run deeper. Many of these improvements are also due to its new HDR10 grading, which brings out all the golden yellows, deep crimsons, steely
blues, and every other hue in the film's very specific palette, which clearly pays respect to the original comic's painterly color schemes by Lynn
Varley.
As solid as the original Blu-ray looked (which is still impressive some 13 years later), this 4K disc beats it by either a narrow or decent margin in just
about every conceivable category and clearly stands as the film's best home video presentation to date. Simply put: 300 looks exactly like you
want it to on 4K: a little more, and nothing less.
Even more immediately impressive is the new Dolby Atmos mix which, as always, automatically unfolds to lossless TrueHD 7.1 if you're not equipped
for the newer format. In many ways, 300 is just as stylized and ambitious from a sonic perspective as a visual one, with the final stretch
exploding into a maelstrom of surround activity and discrete panning efforts, all supported by plenty of LFE and a very strong dynamic range. The
additional rear channels, not to mention Atmos' height presence, amplify the battle-driven moments and, occasionally, the original score by Tyler Bates.
Highlights include the entirety of hand-to-hand combat sequences, the multiple overhead arrow volleys, rousing speeches by Leonidas, a handful of
strong weather-related events and, well, pretty much 75% of the movie overall. It's just an all-out sonic assault more often than not so, if you liked
how 300 sounded before, you'll love it now. Speaking of "sounded before", that's about the only nitpick I can muster here: unfortunately the
original 5.1 mix is not offered as a separate option (a Warner Bros. tradition!), although it's at least still present on the included Blu-ray.
Optional dubs and subtitles, including English (SDH), are listed above; they're formatted perfectly but, for whatever reason, sit partially outside the
2.39:1 frame, which will annoy anyone with a properly equipped projector setup.
This two-disc release arrives in a dual-hubbed keepcase with terrific cover art, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption slip. The
included Blu-ray is identical to the 2007 release and
holds all of the bonus features listed below, although the filmmakers' audio commentary is also playable on the 4K disc.
Audio Commentary with director Zack Snyder, writer Kurt Johnstad, and cinematographer Larry Fong
The 300: Fact or Fiction? (24:36)
Who Were the Spartans?: The Warriors of 300 (4:32)
Zack Snyder's 300 is an ambitious, visuals-first production that pays respect to its source material and, like Sin City,
caters to established fans but is accessible enough for outsiders. It's not the pinnacle of narrative storytelling but instead takes a "what you
see is what you get" approach and succeeds on that base level. Warner Bros.' new 4K disc improves upon the original Blu-ray's A/V specs with striking, HDR-infused visuals and a bombastic Dolby
Atmos mix, but offers nothing in the way of new extras -- or even less, if you already own the impressive "Complete Experience" Digibook from 2009. So while this isn't quite a definitive
total package, from a 4K perspective it's another win.
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