Truly enjoyable

Rating: 9/10 (12 March 2007)

This was a movie I went into hoping it would be good, thinking it would be marginal. I could not have been more pleased with the outcome. I realize that this movie was not historically accurate, but the premise is true to the spirit of the soldiers involved. The honor and bond that develops with people put in tough situations and working together to accomplish something, in this case defending their homes and freedoms.
As the movie started it gave a background to the lives of the Spartans and their background. Once the movie got moving it was a great story of men standing up to a tyrant, doing the right thing even though treachery put them at a great disadvantage. King Leonidas is played larger than life by Gerard Butler but not so over the top that it is unbelievable. He was leading great men in a great battle; he had to be their larger than life figure.
The sub plot of his wife and Queen, played beautifully by Leona Headey, having to work her way through the treasonous traps set by the politicians several people in our theater could be heard cheering for her when she finally got to speak to the senators. Her line that Freedom isn't free will rankle some who will think this is a political statement. If so well that is their problem, this is a well crafted film that is a great epic on the screen. The battle scenes are well done, and are multi layered so that the figure in the foreground is not the only one fighting. When the Spartans gave their cheer at the end 10,000 strong it was inspired. All in all a great movie with great scenery painted across the screen visually stunning. I would highly recommend it.