Last sunday, I went to this movie called 300. Months ago, I watched the trailer. It was excellent. Hence I agreed to the movie at once I heard that its 300 we are gonna watch. I was sure that I made no mistake. What a movie! It was great watching it.
Plot:
The movie started with a dramatic intro about the Secret Spartan Army – how the Spartan people are trained into soldiers once they reach teenage and how they grow up in the wild, thrashed like a slave, hunted by wolves and beasts. In the end, the fittest survives. Leonidas is one among
the brave and who survives after many obstacles he faces and also earns himself the title of Spartan king after killing the deadly wolf in the cold hills.
The Persian king Xerxes, who claims himself as the King of Kings and also as the God of Gods, sends a messenger to King Leonidas to offer him a chance to surrender to him. Leonidas is not a coward to surrender. He has gone through many obstacles in the past and if its death that he wanted to face for the country, he will proudly accept it fighting for his country than seeing his countrymen being slaved and tortured. He kills the messengers at the spot and thus initiates the war.
Leonidas is not a king who believes in myth. He believes in planning. He believes in strategy. He lives as a warrior. But the customary principles of Spartans was they should go and consult the Gods before going to war. The priests (who were bribed by Xerxes) insists that Leonidas is doing a wrong thing and also interprets Oracle message to him that they should not go to war. Meanwhile the council minister Theron was also bribed and he is also against the war.
Despite all this, Leonidas heads for war with 300 of his best men, claiming that he is going for a walk with 300 bodyguards. The remaining part of the story depicts the actual war that took place in the Battle of Thermopylae and how the 300 survived for three whole days against the million Persian army.
Characterisation:
King Leonidas:
Leonidas is a brave warrior and a mighty king. He heads the 300 soldiers against the million Persian army. He was not born a king. He was born a warrior. He doesn’t succumb to emotions for emotions can make a warrior bleed in his heart thus weakening him emotionally. Gerard Butler plays as King Leonidas. He has worked hard and has played the character.
Queen Gorgo:
Gorgo is the wife of Leonidas. She is a loving wife and a brave Spartan woman. Sparta is a land where women hold equal rights and Gorgo holds the place as the adminstrator of Sparta when the King is at war. Lena Headey plays as Queen Gorgo in the movie and has portrayed the character very well.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Who should definitely watch the movie?
1. If you have watched Troy and liked that movie.
2. If you have a true passion over Greek mythology and Greek history.
3. If you love movies on war.
4. If you liked Lord of the Rings movies.
5. If you are a fan of Age of Empires game.
The movie has a lot of violence and even then, you won’t feel it. Blood will be portrayed like red paint and you will see nothing but art. But not just for violence, but also for partial nudity, the movie is A certified. The movie could’ve been watchable by audiences of all ages if some of those scenes were missing.
But altogether, the movie was damn good and worth watching ten times. Go and watch it!
Quotes from the movie (modified):
Persian Messenger: What is it that makes a woman to speak?
Queen Gorgo: Because only the Spartan women gives birth to real men.
Messenger: No one threatens a messenger! This is madness!
King Leonidas: Madness???… This is Spartans!
Theron: The news has come that Gods do not wish this war to happen.
Leonidas: Yes I am not going to war. I am just going for a walk. These are my 300 bodyguards.
Leonidas: Hey you? What is your profession?
Achilean Solider 1: Blacksmith sir
Leonidas: You?
Achilean Soldier 2: Sculptor sir
Leonidas: Spartans! what is your profession?
Soldiers: Warriors!
Persian soldier: Spartans! Drop your weapons!
Leonidas: Persians! Come and get them!
Leonidas: In the end, even the Gods will bleed!
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