| The Matrix actually used slow motion in innovative ways, as did Hard-Boiled, The Killer, and many of the films from the Hong Kong action renaissance of the late 80's.
Actually, slow motion often works very well for most "shoot 'em up" type action movies. But for a movie like 300, where the action is mostly based in short range combat with spears and swords, it just bogs the whole pace of the movie down.
It wasn't just the slow motion in the action scenes that bothered me: slow motion was EVERYWHERE! When Leonidas' wife was just walking around, they had it in slow motion. The sex scene was in slow motion. It was annoying and gimmicky.
(Not to mention that the scene when there are thousands of arrows flying at the Spartans appears a complete ripoff of Zhang Yimou's Hero, though the 300 graphic novel might have appeared beforehand.) |