We go backwards in time to go forward in time

Rating: 9/10 (9 March 2007)

Flat out AMAZING. When I had a moment to think, to make ANY level of comparison to this beautiful achievement - I realized that 300 was to this new technically auspicious century what Flash Gordon must have been to audiences of the 1930's; and then there is the epic Japanese film 'RAN', and then, of course, there is Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis'. The allure of illusion, sumptuously presented. This Sparta, this Greece, is nuanced through an almost Maxfield Parrish setting of pastoral idyll, and mountains of bodies. And what bodies! - although I felt that for the Spartans three body-type versions were synchronized to supposed flesh in post-production, it really didn't matter. While I understand some would have us read into this contemporary war morality issues - I couldn't have cared less (and as for contemporary war morality issues - I care a LOT). This film brought out the wondrous boy in me, and the astounded aesthete. THAT hasn't happened in a very long time. This isn't Leslie Neilson's ('Airplane') gladiator movie. I congratulate all associated with it.