The recently released film, 300, was adapted from the graphic novel “300” by Frank Miller. It is about the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, which took place in 480 B.C. mixed with an intriguing element of fantasy.
King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fight against King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their bravery and sacrifice inspired all of Greece to unite against the Persian army in order to protect their freedom and democracy. The Spartans suffer few losses in the first days of the battle. Xerxes then confronts Leonidas, promising wealth and power in return for surrender. Declining, the Spartan king fights to the end along side his men.
The Spartans hold up their own against the Persians, until Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan), a hunchbacked and deformed Spartan, gives away their plan after being denied the chance to fight alongside the Spartans. “A new age has come, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it,” King Leonidas says in the film.
Back home in Sparta, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to persuade the councilmen to send more soldiers to help the 300. Not making her task easy is Theron (Dominic West), a conniving politician who is blackmailing Queen Gorgo. Theron also has a huge influence on the council and warns them not send the Greek army. By the time Greece decides to unite against Persia, it is too late, and all of the 300 Spartans are dead.
“We Spartans have descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life. Spartans: the finest soldiers the world has ever known,” King Leonidas said.
300 has incredible visual and sound effects. Battles and fight scenes have amazing choreography and the movie is incredible. The movie also contained humor which was unusual for this type of film, but gave it that extra edge. You can still check this movie out in theatres, and it is definitely worth seeing!