300 is testosterone full over the top movie! Still, it's a good watch.

Rating: 8/10 (20 July 2013)

300 is an awesome film from Director Zack Snyder. Before this movie is over, the world will know, that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and that even a god king can bleed. While it's not historic accurate, it still was a great film. Still, I wasn't looking for something historically accurate because I knew that it was based off of the graphic novel by Frank Miller. As an interpretation of a graphic novel, it's works. Most of the film was shot in blue screen, so that later on, the comic book graphics lighting visual effects could be added on. The film is full of slow motion and bullet time that gives the film, its graphic novel action feel. It can be a bit annoying at time, as nothing in the film seem real to history. The film is a shot-for-shot adaptation of the comic book that it become less a live action movie, and more like a looking into a CGI orgy animation movie. The film makes the real life harsh Battle of Thermopylae seem like a woman and gay man wet dream fantasy. While it's clear that the movie mock homosexual and other sexual acts by making the Persian King, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), the villain monstrosity and play Spartan King Leonida (Gerald Butler) as the protector of heterosexual norms. In real life, Spartans were known for their homosexual. The Spartans actually had no problem with homosexual activities and would have been unlikely to use this as a reason to look down among someone. The movie wants to be this non apologetic celebration of masculinity, but it only semi works. One thing I found odd about the film is the lack of clothes the Spartans are wearing. I know in the graphic novel, they fought in the nude. I can understand not fighting in anything, most likely because they didn't want to show fear, but in real life fact, I think a real Spartan would have worn body armor, like leg and chest plates, and at the very least would have had crests on their helmets to protect themselves. The film is about 300 Spartan warriors that help protect Greece against the invading Persian army during the Persian-Greco War. Spartan King Leonida's army was deeply outnumber by the larger Persian force lead by King Xerxes and force to do one last stand at Thermopylae as a last ditch attempt to save his country. The Battle of Thermopylae also known as the Hot Gates was not the same as its view on this film. For one thing, there wasn't only 300 soldiers there. According to Herodotus, 5,200 Greeks held the pass for three days against 2,600,000 Persians This battle actually happened, it's just the movie was so ridiculously inaccurate that it makes it look like it like Greek was going to war with 300, ripped, Chippendale dancers. The character of Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan) is another instance of inaccuracy in the historical movie 300. He was a pretty normal man, however, in the movie he is shown as being severely disfigured and an outcast among the people. It is insinuated that his life should have been ended when he was a baby because of his hump back and that he was undeserving of life. This is pretty harsh. The film felt anti-disability. The movie tries too hard to make the Sparta society seem like it's a country that represent freedom and way of life. In truth, the Spartans were less democracy, and more like a caste system or fascism where few were truly free, and others were in slave. This is Sparta! In no way was Sparta life any better than the Persian life. Athens were more democracy then Sparta. There was a lot of controversial about the whole Middle East VS Western Culture feel of the film. A lot of Iranians got offended by the film. Still, it's a very entertaining adaption of a real life battle of tens of thousands against 300 soldiers using superior tactics to upset the battlefield. The Spartans fought primarily defensively only once in a way breaking formation. In the film, I think they broke formation way too much to be taken serious. I enjoyed every actor's performances. Still, I didn't see much of the supporting cast in Leonida's army standing out. The only other actors besides Butler, Tiernan and Santoro that stood out was Lena Headey's Queen Gorgo. I do find David Wenham narrating great as Dilinos. I liked the unique visual style the movie had going on, the action scenes were pretty kickass too. I think everybody love 'This is Sparta' kick scene. The soundtrack by Tyler Bates was boundless intense. The violence might be gory, and outrageous, still the movie is so popular, that a sequel was created. If you like 300, also check out the book "Gates of Fire", it's a good read. So prepare for glory and get dinner ready for the movie because tonight, we dine in glorious hell.