Could have been a classic

Rating: 7/10 (18 March 2015)

If I had to describe this film in one phrase it would be, a good film that could have been great.
The film fell flat in the way it was set, like a video game. I know it is based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, but I just felt that had the film taken a more serious approach then we could have had something as moving and powerful as Gladiator or Braveheart. Yet we are given very below par CGI effects as well as your typical war stereotypes. Also, I was not a fan at how the Persians were portrayed as sub-human and again I feel that taking a more serious and realistic approach could have made a stronger film.
Where the film did excel though was with some of the characters. Like with anything he is in, Gerard Butler is wonderful as King Leonidas and really captures the guts and glory persona but also gave a sense that he was simply going on instinct and did not always know what he was doing. Xerxes was enjoyable as the villain and some of the other Greek soldiers were also a lot of fun. The battle scenes were fun and the overall message of the film, standing against the odds for what you believe in ultimately won me over, just.