Another Dark Age?

Rating: 2/10 (19 March 2007)

Have we entered an age where the knowledge of antiquity is largely lost or has a dumbed down educational system merely decided that even a cursory knowledge of the past is irrelevant? Has the standard of taste sunk so low that continuous images of beheading and butchery by legions of artificially enhanced muscle boys are sufficient to pass as top quality entertainment? Granted that one can expect some liberties with factual events by the Hollywood studios seeking to appeal to public taste how does one reconcile expenditures of millions of dollars to produce a piece with a script so trite and banal as this production?
If there has ever been a block buster epic with a script worse than this I have a hard time recalling it. Even without an extensive knowledge of ancient history and military expertise does anyone but myself find it slightly ridiculous that the Spartans are sent into battle without their body armor? Surely King Leonidas must have been an extremely incompetent commander. It is true that the bare torsos when combined with the gore are probably more titillating to the type of audience which is attracted to this film. Unfortunately, this seemed to be about the only purpose of the script; to provide an excuse for snuff film level images in panorama.
Other than the erotic imagery much is made of the special effects. From my seating they appeared somewhat dull and washed out but assuming that was a seating problem I must confess that even during the prolonged violence I became bored with the mindless repetition. There was some redemption with some of the Persian costumes which were at least passable kitsch, as were the erotic scenes in Xerxes tent which could have been extended. If you want titillation can we at least be spared some of the mindless violence and have our sex with some gentility? There is of course, the supposed political lessons from the movie which if they were actually intended are as simple minded and silly as the rest of this dreadful piece. While many people see Xerxes as the villain and some Iranians are offended by his portrayal, I found that he was at least campy as opposed to the dullard Leonidas. Our current middle east problems should remind us of the consequences of simple minded chauvinism as political action.
To be fair, if you can be satisfied with a series of special effects, gore and steroid case bodies flailing about and body parts separating then this is an appropriate movie for you. Send Hollywood the message that they are right on the mark when they gear their productions to a juvenile mentality. If you require much beyond empty ugly spectacle however, then I think you will be disappointed. So far, most of you don't seem to want much more as revealed by the comments posted. My apologies to Herodotus (who it is said liked a good story) and someone please tell us how to restore some civility to our society.