Movie Review: 300

The historical fantasy epic drama, 300, based on Frank Miller (Sin City) and Lynn Varley's graphic and fictionalized novel series about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. is hard to sum up.

For those of you who are not familiar with the legendary battle, the movie centers around King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and a band of 300 Spartan warriors, who must hold the pass at Thermopylae from King Xerxes and the enormous and savage Persian army determined on conquering Greece.

Of course the odds themselves don't look good, but it would be inaccurate to say only that the Spartans put on a good fight. The battle scenes in this movie rival any other that I've seen, yet not without humor right where it was needed. Some have criticized the movie as being historically inaccurate or biased on the side of the Spartans. I really didn't think much about that as I was watching. Some countries have even banned the movie altogether for the depiction of the Persians, but t didn't hurt box office records. It was the third biggest opening for an R-rated film ever, setting a record for IMAX cinemas with a $3.6 million opening weekend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_(film)).

The visual beauty of the film (shot completely on blue screen sets to add the artistic affects of Miller and Varley's comic), mixed with a cast of strong actors and an undeniable plot entices viewers from the start. If the previous knowledge of the movie doesn't convince you that it will be an epic story, the opening scene will.

The film was directed by Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead -- gotta love the zombie films) who worked with Miller as an executive producer and consultant.

More than just really amazing and detailed epic battle scenes, 300 pulls you into the daily lifestyle of ancient Greece where both the men and women are strong-bodied and strong-minded. The choice King Leonidas has to make to defend his country is an easy one, but is complicated by tainted politics. His supporters, including his beautiful wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), who plays more than just a supportive wife, instill in the viewers a strong sense of Spartan pride that is carried throughout the film. For epic battle movie fans, it's hard not to cheer along with the war cry -- Prepare for Glory!