Yeah yeah, I know its not the latest movie at the moment, and I admit that I had just watched it not long ago. Anyway, if you have yet to watch 300, go watch it in cinema as it will worth the 10 bucks for their astonishing graphics. But if you have a HUGE ass TV (Hi-Def Plasma, for instance) home, go ahead and buy the DVD.
The movie is about Spartan. To make my life easier, I am going to quote Wikipedia.
Following the victories in the Messenian Wars (631 BC), Sparta established itself as a local power in Peloponnesus and the rest of Greece. During the following centuries, Sparta’s reputation as a land-fighting force was unequaled. In 480 BC a small Spartan unit under King Leonidas made a legendary last stand against a massive, invading Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae. One year later, Sparta assembled at full strength and led a Greek alliance against the Persians at Plataea. There, a decisive Greek victory put an end to the Greco-Persian War along with Persian ambition of expanding into Europe. Even though this war was won by a pan-Greek army, credit was given to Sparta, who besides being the protagonist at Thermopylae and Plataea, had been the de facto leader of the entire Greek expedition.
I am not going to dull you in history. The story goes like this…
King Xerxes, king of Persia, was on a quest to conquer the world. After commanding victories, stepping on the enemies like ants and called himself a God, he set his sight on Greek. Xerxes wanted to conquer Greek, so he sent out a messenger to Sparta to persuade King Leonidas, King of Sparta, to surrender without a fight. Spartans, rumored to be descendant of Hercules, would not retreat nor surrender, so they killed the messenger and called war on King Xerxes and Persia.
Unfortunately, the Senior Counselor (called “ghosts”) were very corrupted and after consulting with the oracle, they prohibited King Leonidas from going to the war and wanted Sparta to surrender. Little did King Leonidas know that the counselors were in fact accepting bribes from Persia. Under the strict law of Sparta that no one, not even the King, can go against those ghosts, King Leonidas had no choice but to bring only 300 warriors with him for a “walk”. Truth is that he lead those 300 warriors to the Hot Gate to defend the territory.
Vastly outnumbered (in the movie, the Persia has around 300,000 armies whereas King Leonidas brought along 300 soldiers), and under constant temptation and threat from King Xerxes, King Leonidas did not bow to King Xerxes. In fact, using smart tactics and utilizing their superior fighting skills, they defended very well and killed thousands upon thousands of invader. It was until a mole betrayed King Leonidas that all 300 soldiers were massacred right after King Leonidas injured King Xerxes.
Why do I like this movie? Well, first of all, I like the spirit in the movie. Never retreat, never surrender, even if we are completely outnumbered or when the enemies do have superior skills compared to us. I simply love this spirit and I believe this kind of spirit, or motivation, is what will propel us to success, and that’s the quality I look for when I am hiring.
Furthermore, the director Zack Snyder is doing a great job at capturing the battle scenes, with intense graphic and beautiful sceneries.
Will I recommend this? Hell yeah! I have watched this movie twice myself. So go, don’t wait. Watch it while it is in cinema.
(PS: I have to admit, I bought the DVD and the un-cut version is much better)
The Oracle (click to enlarge)
The Hero - Leonidas (click to enlarge)
The Leap (click to enlarge)
Battle Scene (click to enlarge)
I think 300 is one of the best movies I’ve watched of late!
Yup, it is definitely one of the best. But the story line is only so-so. It could be better!