300, He Said

This film depicts the world at the dawn of democracy, although this may not be apparent to the slaves. We begin with Leonidas. This child of Sparta will be raised to be a warrior king. His rite of passage begins in early as he is taught discipline, fighting skills and allegiance to Sparta. His initiation is to be placed in the wilderness to survive on his wits and guile. His encounter with a mythical wolf insures his acceptance and enables him to become King of Sparta.

The Spartan culture of this time (480 BC) allows any citizen to speak on any issue and be heard. Leonidas is well respected and has only one real rival Theron a politician, not a warrior, who has amassed his power through his schemes and arrangements.

So we have the basis for the conflict, that will not be settled in a battle on the Plains of Thermopylae, which is so richly depicted in the greater part of this film, but in the senate. (I can't avoid, as I am sure others will, the comparison to today's dialogue over Iraq.)
The real conflict is staged when King Leonidas against the wishes of his senate and of the mystic's leads a group of three hundred of the best Spartan warriors to stop Xerxes and his hordes from invading and conquering Greece.

In fact,and not unlike our foray into Iraq, this is a suicide mission. The Spartans are badly out numbered. Outside of a strategic advantage, the Spartans occupy a pass which the enemy must take from them before they have access to Greece, there is no way the Spartans are going to win this battle. While they seem to be doing the impossible and holding off the invaders, they are betrayed by a disgruntled Greek who leads the enemy to a secret pass that enables the enemy to surround the 300.

Back in Sparta, Leonidas's rival,Theron, is undermining what little support the King has with his countrymen. Queen Gorgo, Leonida's wife, in a futile attempt to solicit Theron's support submits to his advances and allows him to have sex with her in exchange for his support to rally the citizens and send the rest of the army to assist Leonidas.

Her speech to the Senate is compelling and thoughtful. It sounds like a plea that Condoleezza Rice might make to justify our invasion of Iraq, including the need for more troops, but Theron betrays her. Why and what results I will it you find out if you choose to see this movie.

I would normally put this film in the "rent it" category for content and craft, but the visual presentation is going to be enjoyed so much more on the big screen. This adaptation of a graphic novel is done in and interesting way and for those curious about the direction of new commercial films, this would make a good example