Just Saw 300.

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2007)

Just saw 300 last night and even though i know the story of the 300 Spartans from history, i also knew that this was based on Frank Miller COMIC which was based on the premix that 300 Spartans held up the Persian army of 10,000's plus, over 2500 years ago.
The film was absolutely amazing and the 2hours flew by with all the action being breathtaking and visually outstanding.
From my point of view it was not based on any interpretations of modern wars, or any racial aspects. It is based on a comic that was drawn because someone decided it would make a great comic. 330 vs 10,000s etc.
(The following is how i remember the story goes from my history, sorry if any of it is inaccurate but this is how i remember it).
The story goes that with the Persians conquering everywhere, when they came to take Sparta, the Spartans didn't give in so easily, unfortunately due to the time of year, a certain holiday/festival was taking place, the "council/elders" wouldn't let the spartan army go and fight because of the festival, so the king took his own personal bodyguard, some 300 men off to hold back the Persians until the army could go.
They were joined by other soldiers (some say 700 some say 1000's, though these are supposed to have left before the final part of the fight) from neighbouring countries who aided them in the defence of the small pass. This pass was the ONLY way into Sparta, unless the Persian army wanted to go weeks out of there way to go around the mountainous area. They couldn't climb the cliffs to get around or above them. (there was a goat path that was discovered by the Persians at a later date, thus enabling there forces to get behind the Spartans) This meant that even tho the Persians had the overwhelming odds stacked in there favour, because of the narrowness of the pass, only a small group of soldiers could attack the Spartans each time. Thus they lost that advantage.
The Spartans were brought up and spent there whole lives as soldiers, this is that they did for a living, where as most of the Persian army were captured slaves from conquered countries, (they had their normal army and the kings own "Immortals). This just meant that the Spartans would have been better warriors than most of the army that was sent against them.
Back to the film, the elements of the Persian army sent against the Spartans were basic infantry, conquered barbarian races, some elephants (these were used around that period in wars), and a giant rhino, a large/giant man (someone of this statue/size might not have been unusual to find amongst all the men commanded by the Persians, look at some sportsmen nowadays who are 7ft tall!!), archers, and the immortals.
The Spartans were all "adonis" type with ripling muscles and a physique that would make any bodybuilder proud, this would have come from hours each day of exercising and a commitment to keep in that shape, again something that the Spartans would labour at endlessly from when they were big enough to hold a sword or learn to fight.
Again, the film is based on a COMIC so a lot of the characters are larger/weirder than in real life, ie the executioner with two swords/blades for arms.
But having seen the film i know just have to get hold of the comic.
If you want a film that will keep you engrossed for the entire time you are in the cinema, go and see 300, you wont be disappointed.