Wow what an awesome movie! Visually its very impressive. It's certainly very stylized, and I like that it adhered to the look of the graphic novel. The CG effects are seamless, and it's quite impressive that it was shot on green screen, since a lot of the environments look so realistic. The story is well written, and well acted. It is quite graphically violent though, so I wouldn't recommend small children watching it. I highly recommend this film, and I'll be adding it to my purchase list.

Plot Synopsis:

The story follows King Leonidas of the Spartans in Ancient Greece. The Spartans are approached by the Persian Empire who ask them to join them, or risk being destroyed in a bloody battle. Leonidas refuses and despite the wishes of the Oracle takes 300 men to battle against the Persians. The Oracles have been bribed by a corrupt Spartan politician who is in league with an emissary from the Persians.

Leonidas uses his men, and some additional forces from other parts of Greece to create a wall at the end of the access way through the cliffs. The Persian troops superior numbers matter not when they are fighting in a combined space. The Spartans start a war of attrition against the Persians, and they are winning until a deformed Spartan, who has been refused by Leonidas sides with the Persians, and shows them another path into Greece.

Leonida's wife tries to get additional troops sent to support him, but cannot as the senate is controlled by the corrupt politician. She sleeps with him to assure that he will send troops, but he betrays her at the senate meeting. She kills him with a sword. The other council members find the Persian gold pieces on the politicians body, and realise he has betrayed them.

Leonida's additional troops decide to flee once they realise the Persian's will flank them and they cannot win. Leonida's is left with his original 300 troops, and moves out to meet the Persian god. He sends one of his soldiers back to Sparta to tell them what has happened. He meets the god, and appears to surrender. At the last moment, he launches a defiant attack, attempting to kill the Persian god with a spear. He fails, inflicting a wound to the god's face. He and his men die defiant to the last.

Back at Sparta, the soldier tells the tale of Leonida's bravery and sacrifice, and amasses a massive army that heads out, and beats the Persians.