300...one hell of a movie experience - If you know what to expect!

Rating: 9/10 (31 March 2007)

If you know that "300" is based on a graphic novel, if you know that that comic book itself was directly inspired by true and truly "inspiration-worthy" events that took place in Greece some 2500 years ago, then you're almost certainly in for a big treat. If, however, you'll resent the sometimes imaginative touches and elements in this movie for not being hardcore historically accurate then I suggest you leave "300" for another day.
The rest, hopefully, should be history...and as incredible as the true last-stand at Thermopilae already was, the fact that this movie, as grand and epic as is, for the most part remains surprisingly faithful to the actual facts, is indeed worth a praise. After reading "300" graphic novel series I subjectively conclude that Frank Miller's comic served Mr. Snyder more as a guide, and not as the goal. The movie skillfully uses the rather spartanesquely scant, yet powerfully written comic but also manages to integrate novelties to even further commemorate the legacy that the military state of Sparta has left behind. There's further reading to be found in places like wikipedia and it's more than worth your time...I can only laugh at accusations regarding the movie and current political affairs, but to each his own.
What Zack Snyder's "300" managed to do is combine the absolute best of both the pure historical facts (the legacy of Spartans) and historically-inspired fiction (the "300" novels) to bring the mother of war stories to the big screen. He knew exactly how to do it, made the best use of every scene and moments, carefully steered away from pathetic ones, found one hell of a "Leonidas" and gave the most courageous last-stand in history just the right dose of magic to turn it into a unbelievable and unique tale...whoever knows what the REAL "300" did knows what I'm trying to say...it was them who performed the real magic.
A great testosterone movie that surprisingly pays true homage to bravery, honor and glory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae