300 USA (wgvu) - 300 is a compelling adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae, when 300 Spartans held off the Persian General Xerxes, and his army of 10,000. The movie is thrilling, with its effective use of computer generated animation and live action. But, I was somewhat under-whelmed with the movie in the end, because I have been studying Early World History in a class at GVSU and the Battle of Thermopylae was one of the most interesting chapters in Greek History. The reason the Spartans were able to hold off the Persians for as long as they did, was through their superior strategy, and techniques. None of that is really emphasized, and in particular, the use of the Phalanx, which is a rectangular, mass military formation. We are introduced to the Spartan culture, which was purely militaristic. Every aspect of Spartan life concerned warfare. Infanticide was widely practiced young boys were installed in a barracks living situation and trained for battle before they were 10. 300 does detail some of these things, but once it gets to the actual battle sequences, which are a nearly endless montage of gruesome gore, it's all historical inaccuracy. The Persians, too, are portrayed through the eyes of a distorted lens. It portrays them as them as grotesque monsters, and as purely slave culture, and the flipside of this distortion, is that it portrays the Spartans as upholding democratic values in the face of tyranny. History belies this, for the Persian Empire hired people and paid them regardless of sex and ethnicity, whereas fifth century Greece had a nearly 40 % slave population, and less than 14 % of the people participated in democracy. Also, the film portrays the non-Spartan Greeks as weak willed and weak. In reality, the Spartans were a military monarchy that killed of their babies if any weakness was perceived, they collectively owned slaves, and practiced man-boy homosexuality, which is conveniently absent in 300. Much is not know about Sparta, though, due to the strict secrecy within its society.

The film focuses on the great Spartan King Leonidas, who led the 300. He's portrayed by Gerard Butler, who has a maniacal grin and a booming voice. In this scene he meets Xerxes, who attempts to talk him into surrender. (clip) The Spartans hold off the Persian invaders, but take many losses. Initially, the 300 are aided by other Greek city states, but they end up retreating when it's apparent that loss is imminent. (clip) In Sparta, Queen Gorgo, who is played by Lena Headley, tries to rally support for her husband. (clip) The Queen's words fall upon mostly hollow ears, and the climax to the film is spectacular, bloody, and dramatic. Zack Snyder directed 300 by like Richard Rodriguez's Sin City, the true author of this film is the artist and writer of the source material, Frank Miller. With the financial success of this film, he's bound to get more adaptations offered. My hope is for his classic The Dark Knight Returns, featuring a geriatric Batman.
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