This film is wrong and bad on so many levels it is difficult to know where to begin

Rating: 3/10 (24 October 2007)

I was looking forward to seeing it as I had heard a very mixed response from people who seemed to either love it or hate it. At first I thought that I had a bad copy of the film from which all the colour had been bleached out leaving a sepia tainted version. I didn't like it but was happy to let it slide in anticipation of a well crafted and and exciting retelling of a famous and remarkable historical victory. I was to be sadly disappointed. The cinematic makeover of one of the most fascistic and cruellist societies in history into some sort of American style freedom loving defenders of the faith was almost too much to take. Credibility was stretched to breaking point by their costumes dressed as they were in their leather underpants like refugees from a Gay Pride parade. This was deeply ironic considering the Spartans remarks about their Athenian allies who, perish the thought, liked art and poetry and were therefore a bunch of pansies (conveniently overlooking the fact that Athens actually defeated Sparta in real life). It soon became clear that historical accuracy was to be the first casualty of this war As the film passed only a passing resemblance to what was recorded in history and it seemed to have been filmed in some post-apocalyptic world far removed from the beautiful, sunny, Meditteranian that I remember from my holidays. The goodies and baddies were portrayed in a childishly over simplistic fashion with the Persians looking like Orc rejects from Lord of the Rings in contrast to the manly??? Spartans in their leather underpants and firm pecs. Finally the script was awful to the point of embarrassment. I feel very disappointed because I can't help thinking a really good opportunity has been wasted here, a good idea that has been ineptly executed.