By: Amy McCain

300

****1/2 stars
Starring: Gerard Butler, Vincent Regan, Lena Headey, David Wenham, and Michael Leggett.
Directed by Zack Snyder
Released March 9th 2007 (USA)

What can be said about 300 Spartan Warriors clad in nothing but a helmet, a cape, and a loin cloth fighting off thousands upon thousands of invaders? A lot more than I can fit into this column! The visual effects in combination of the style it was filmed in made for a spectacular 117 minutes. This rated R movie features not only a historical background, stunning cinematography, and reeling plot line, but also some steamy sex scenes. There is some nudity, and not to mention blood, lots and lots of blood. This movie is definitely not for the squeamish. Slow motion fight scenes allow you to see the full on carnage and the in-your-face ripped pecs, thighs, and washboard abs of these bred-to-kill Spartans. Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., 300 also dips into the surreal with fantastical creatures more based on mythology than fact, but the effect blends nicely with the story. On one side you have the Persian God-King Xerxes and his army of some 100,000 gathered from all corners of the “conquered” world. . . On the other, the 300 Spartan men led by King Leonidas of Greece that lay waste to wave after wave of invaders with nothing but shield, spear and sword.

Quote:
Messanger: ” . . . and our arrows block out the sun!”
Spartan: “Then we shall fight in the shade”