Superbly filmed, great pacing

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2009)

While this is definitely an SF version of the famous "300 Spartans" historical incident, it's also tremendous fun. The cast is great, Gerard Butler is awe inspiring as Leonidas, and the action scenes are excellent.
Cinematically, it's well done. Having the viewpoint move back and forth between that of a narrator and the actual characters themselves is very appropriate for the film. It definitely adds to the story's impact.
(Slight spoilers) The contrast between the lean-and-mean Spartans and the overwhelmingly powerful but pleasure-driven Persians is a bit overdone and makes the movie even more caricature-driven, but it's also necessary for the plot. There's definite social commentary in play here, obviously...much like Heinlein's "Starship Troopers." Citizens willing to sacrifice themselves for higher purposes are the heroes of both stories.