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Zack Snyder's 300 Finally Comes to 4K UHD This October
Zack Snyder's visual masterpiece 300 is finally getting a 4K UHD release, which will be available October 6. The ambitious adaptation of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's classic graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae put Snyder on the map as a director. After his debut Dawn of the Dead, this was Snyder's first big-budget movie and made almost half a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. It starred Gerard Butler as King Leonidas, alongside Lean Headey as Queen Gorgo and Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes.
The movie is now considered a visually distinctive action classic that defined the look of epics for the next decade. It also allowed Snyder to define his unique visual language and includes his trademark use of slow motion, epic soundtracks, and overwrought drama. 300 was also hailed for the way it blended historical fact with fantasy elements, often sacrificing accuracy in favor of entertainment. While the movie's critics point to its thinly-drawn characters and repetitive battle scenes, fans still hail it as a classic of the genre.
Now, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced that 300 will finally get a 4K UHD release. Given that it is such a visually sumptuous movie, the higher resolution will ensure that it looks better than ever. The release will be available as both a physical Blu-ray package as well as a digital release available to stream or download. There will also be a number of extras, including commentary from Snyder, director of photography Larry Fong and co-writer Kurt Johnstad. It will also include behind-the-scenes videos showing the making of the movie.
The release is perfectly timed to take advantage of the hype surrounding the upcoming drop of the Snyder Cut of Justice League. The long-anticipated alternative cut of the 2017 movie has been hyped up as one of the biggest releases of 2021, even though it will just be on streaming service HBO Max. It's also encouraged fans to dig into Snyder's filmography. Before he took on the DC Extended Universe with Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League, Snyder was already tackling fantastic stories with the likes of Watchmen, Sucker Punch, and 300. Now, fans can revisit the movie that made Snyder famous and turned Butler into an action movie star, only this time they'll be able to do it in crisp 4K.
300 was made for high contrast screens, and digital versions of the film have suffered in the past due to a lack of clarity. Hopefully, the 4K release fixes that and makes the new version as close to the original cinema experience as possible. Additionally, the extras included with this release should give insight into the production process of a director who has since gone on to become one of the most high-profile working in film today.
