There are plenty of successful things in pop culture that I understand I’m simply too old to understand.  Torture porn films, like SAW and its ilk, for example.  Text messaging.  Lucky Brand jeans.

But, for whatever reason, I’m completely on board with this whole graphic-novel-into-movie thing. 

I’ve always felt that traditional superhero comic books were not a good fit for movies, because the world of a comic book is so artificial and fanciful, whereas movies tend to be very literal.

However, with the BIG exception of ROAD TO PERDITION, I have loved every cinematic graphic novel adaptation I have so far seen.

I just got back from seeing 300 at the huge, iconic Grauman’s Chinese theater, I have to tell you I loved every minute of it.

I believe two things are true about movies.  One, movies are dreams.  Two, movies are about telling stories with pictures.

Movies like 300 score big in both departments.  The story is obviously Frank Miller’s fever dream of the Battle of Thermopylae, and the wildly overheated visual style of the film is very definitely an exciting new way to tell stories with pictures.

Everything in 300 is dialed up to eleven.  No one speaks, but rather pontificates or just simply shouts.  There’s an exclamation point at the end of everything. 

From the decadent splendor of the Persian God-King Xerxes and his armies to the stunning battle landscapes to the straining muscles of the Spartan fighters, the movie is a visual feast.

So after enjoying FROM HELL, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, SIN CITY and now 300, I say bring on the graphic novel adaptations!!