 Variety 's Todd McCarthy describes the film as " visually arresting " although " bombastic " while Kirk Honeycutt , writing in The Hollywood Reporter , praises the " beauty of its topography , colors and forms . " Writing in the Chicago Sun Times , Richard Roeper acclaims 300 as " the Citizen Kane of cinematic graphic novels . " Empire gave the film 3 / 5 having a verdict of " Visually stunning , thoroughly belligerent and as shallow as a pygmy 's paddling pool , this is a whole heap of style tinged with just a smidgen of substance . " 300 was also warmly received by websites focusing on comics and video games . Comic Book Resources ' Mark Cronan found the film compelling , leaving him " with a feeling of power , from having been witness to something grand . " IGN 's Todd Gilchrist acclaimed Zack Snyder as a cinematic visionary and " a possible redeemer of modern moviemaking . " 
