zodiac (2007)

david fincher continues to churn out his unique style of movie. this one isn't quite as good as his other efforts (se7en, fight club, the game) but the reality of the situation is gripping. the movie seems like its over two-thirds of the way through but then there's another hour or so of jake gyllenhaal running around being scared by would-be serial killers. it's strange that "the zodiac" actually ends up fucking most of his kills, as many of the victims are left alive. after the movie, i had to head over to the crime library to check out the real story.

thank goodness the movie was good as we spent $40 on tickets and parking -- we forgot to stamp our parking ticket and we got out of the movie at 2:30am, well past the closing time. damn me.

300 (2007)

i was psyched for this movie. ridiculously psyched. if you like spartans and violence, this highly stylized movie will set your neck hairs on tilt with its numerous "cool scenes." not much plot or exposition to speak of (in comparison to say, gladiator) and i would have wanted some trimming of the unnecssary "girl in wheatfields, i love you" scenes but hey, what can you do? some great moments, a few laugh out loud moments (not in a good way), but mostly, a cool movie i'd watch a few times over. go watch it in the theatre; what's the point otherwise?

i wish there was more insight and backstory into how the spartans lived. i'd recommend reading gates of fire, by steven pressfield -- which, sadly, probably has no chance of being made into a movie now.