Oh dear, this could have been such a good film. But surely the only way this would really work was if the viewer genuinely felt some sympathy and concern for the Spartans plight. But you don't, they were just as bad as the Persians, so who cares. Talk about don't kill the messenger. Did they have to make the Spartan's leadership appear so pompous and up themselves that you were hoping a defeat would remove their smug grins for a moment.
Ok the Spartans were brave and clever fighters and it was a good plan which relied on the stupidity of the Persians to keep butting away and losing, how could a regime that's conquered so much be so dumb. But really it was a bit like watching some of the soccer games in the African Cup of Nations, you don't really care who wins you just want to see some exciting soccer and some tricky skills.
Sadly the film dishes up zero excitement, the battle doesn't go to penalties and the effects are just really boring.
The only decent part of the… more »

Oh dear, this could have been such a good film. But surely the only way this would really work was if the viewer genuinely felt some sympathy and concern for the Spartans plight. But you don't, they were just as bad as the Persians, so who cares. Talk about don't kill the messenger. Did they have to make the Spartan's leadership appear so pompous and up themselves that you were hoping a defeat would remove their smug grins for a moment.
Ok the Spartans were brave and clever fighters and it was a good plan which relied on the stupidity of the Persians to keep butting away and losing, how could a regime that's conquered so much be so dumb. But really it was a bit like watching some of the soccer games in the African Cup of Nations, you don't really care who wins you just want to see some exciting soccer and some tricky skills.
Sadly the film dishes up zero excitement, the battle doesn't go to penalties and the effects are just really boring.
The only decent part of the plot was the betrayal (and why he did it linking back to film opening narrative) that led to the final outcome. Apart from that the acting and the script were so hopeless I can't think of one redeeming moment.
This could have been a Lord of the Rings epic but it is a true stinker with the relentless, crouch, shield, stab, forward going on so long it felt like the DVD had put itself on a repeat cycle.
Sorry, a truly terrible film to avoid at all costs.