As they march north, the Spartans are joined by a group of Arcadians and various other Greeks, shortly before arriving at the Hot Gates of Thermopylae. As Leonidas departs, a Xerxes messenger appears and offers the Ephors a mountain of gold in return for their covert support.ĭespite his instructions, Leonidas gathers 300 of his best soldiers, under the guise of a leisurely walk. The Ephors, wary of Leonidas's plans, consult the Oracle, who in her trance decrees that Sparta must not go to war, lest they interrupt the sacred Carneian festival. Acknowledging the threat of Xerxes's invasion force, Leonidas proposes a strategy to repel the numerically superior enemy, utilizing the strategically-advantageous terrain of the Hot Gates of Thermopylae. Outraged and offended by their threats and behavior, King Leonidas kicks the messengers into a pit and visits the Ephors. Years later, Persian messengers arrive at the gates of Sparta, demanding its submission to King Xerxes. Leonidas survives the harsh winter and returns home, where he is crowned King.
Over Dilios's narration, young Leonidas is cast into the wild to fend for his life, per Spartan doctrine. Some acclaimed it as an original achievement, while others criticized it for favoring visuals over characterization and its controversial depiction of the ancient Persians. The film broke box office records, although critics were divided over its look and style. Through this narrative technique, various fantastical creatures are introduced, placing 300 within the genre of historical fantasy.ģ00 was released in both conventional and IMAX theaters in the United States on March 9, 2007, and on DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD on July 31, 2007. The story is framed by a voice-over narrative by the Spartan soldier Dilios ( David Wenham). Spartan King Leonidas ( Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fight to the last man against Persian 'God-King' Xerxes ( Rodrigo Santoro) and his army of over one million soldiers, while in Sparta, Queen Gorgo ( Lena Headey) attempts to rally support for her husband. The film is directed by Zack Snyder with Frank Miller attached as an executive producer and consultant, and was shot mostly with bluescreen to duplicate the imagery of the original comic book.
300 is a 2007 film adaptation of the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller, and is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.