Silly and derivative

Rating: 5/10 (26 April 2007)

If you manage to forget the score and plentiful golden wheat fields - both lifted from 'Gladiator' - plus the array of strange fighting creatures 'inspired' by 'Lord of the Rings', you may find enough in this film to keep you occupied. I managed to watch it all but by halfway through, couldn't really care less about Leonidas and his men, such was the overkill on the heroic speeches and shouts of 'Spartans!' as well as hyperbolic statements on Sparta's great history. I realize the film is based on a graphic novel but some of these graphic novel adaptations ('Sin City' included) need more than fancy CGI to engage audiences at any meaningful level.