Some Misunderstandings

Rating: Null/10 (20 October 2008)

I thought the movie was great. It bothered me to hear people talking about the movie being bad. Most of this seems to stem from people shouting about historical inaccuracies. I hope to clear up some of this misunderstanding. I feel that Frank Miller was drawing upon much of the writings of Herodutus. This film (and the comic book from which its based), draws on the ideas of propaganda to tell its tale.
The Ephors are portrayed as villains and what easier way to do this than to make them disfigured perverts. It is by this way that the audience can instantly be appalled by them and makes them all the more easier to hate.
The Generals of Xerxes are depicted as mutilated abominations which, again, gives the audience an easier time picking them visually/mentally as the bad guys.
Ephrailtes being the betrayer of the Spartans, is easier to hate when he is a hunchback. It also allows the plot to move smoothly as it explains his betrayal.
Xerxes deemed himself a god. What easier way to depict this than by making him 9 feet tall!
Many historians, especially those of the past, have been known for embellishing the facts to make the story more palatable. I honestly believe that is the case here. So, to sum, try not to think about the historical facts when viewing this film and just enjoy it for what it is, a well-told story.