Historically inaccurate but looks really good

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2007)

What an extraordinary looking film! When I saw the trailer for 300, I was amazed at what a 'look' had been achieved. And then there were the battle scenes. Wow! 300 recalls the Spartan battling the Persians at Thermopylae. Xerxes the Persian King moves towards Greece with an army counting thousands and comes across, probably one of the harshest regimented armies in the ancient world. Not for nothing is the term 'Spartan' used to describe harsh conditions.
300 is stylised storytelling. It is not historically accurate. The Spartans fought with far more armour instead of the almost naked soldiers in the film, the Persian king Xerxes did not have numerous facial piercings and a bald head (although he probably had very eyelined eyes) and his women probably didn't sport nipple rings either. But then, who really watches these films for historical accuracy? Very few. If you want historical accuracy, then watch any of the documentaries on the History Channel or read Greek and Roman historical accounts of the Spartan way of life.
Gerald Butler not only looks the part but acts it as well, taking to his role as Leonidas with relish. David Wenham, whose distinct voice also provides a kind of 'storytelling commentary' also acts and fights very well. Lena Headey and others give remarkable performances.
But the star of the film is whoever provided the movie with its fascinating 'look'. Swopping the usual epic look which is reserved for films such as Troy and Gladiator, 300 has, instead, gone for a very dreamlike visual with careful slowing down and stop-motion style editing in the battle sequences which owe something to The House of Flying Daggers style employed by Zhang Yimou and his other film, Hero.
All in all, a visual treat and an extraordinary telling of an ancient tale. With embellishments.