300 (film)
A stylized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
300 is a 2006 film that blends epic history, fantasy, and action. Zack Snyder directed it and co-wrote the screenplay with Kurt Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon. The movie adapts a 1998 Dark Horse Comics limited series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, and like that comic, it retells the Battle of Thermopylae from the Greco-Persian Wars. King Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler, commands 300 Spartan soldiers against the Persian "God-King" Xerxes, portrayed by Rodrigo Santoro, whose invading force numbers over 300,000. Queen Gorgo, played by Lena Headey, tries to gather support for her husband back in Sparta during the conflict. Michael Fassbender appears in this movie in what is often cited as his breakout role, though his actual film debut was in the 2007 film 'Angel' (shot earlier) or earlier minor roles, and he had already appeared in TV and film prior to 300, such as 'Band of Brothers' (2001).
The story comes to viewers through a voice-over narration by the Spartan soldier Dilios, played by David Wenham. Because Dilios is an unreliable narrator, the film includes historical inaccuracies and fantastical elements, placing it in the historical fantasy genre. Most of the movie was shot using a superimposition chroma key technique to mirror the look of the original comics.
An unfinished version of 300 first showed at the Austin Butt-Numb-A-Thon on December 9, 2006. The completed film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 14, 2007, then hit conventional and IMAX screens in the United States on March 9, with a home media release on July 31. Critics generally praised the visuals and style, but historians criticized the film for historical inaccuracies, especially its portrayal of Persians, which some called Persophobic. The movie earned over $468.8 million, ranking as the tenth highest-grossing film of 2007. At the 34th Saturn Awards, it received ten nominations, winning two: Best Action, Adventure, or Thriller Film and Best Director for Snyder. A sequel, *Rise of an Empire*, based on Miller’s previously unpublished graphic novel prequel *Xerxes*, came out on March 7, 2014.
**Plot** Dilios, a hoplite in the Spartan army, tells the story of King Leonidas I, covering his childhood, his rise to kingship through Sparta’s child-rearing system, and the Battle of Thermopylae.
One day, a Persian herald arrives in Sparta, demanding that Leonidas
- Release year
- 2006
- Director
- Zack Snyder
- Genre
- Epic historical fantasy action
- Based on
- 1998 Dark Horse Comics limited series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
- Box office
- Over $468.8 million
- Notable cast
- Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Michael Fassbender
Lore & Background
The film was produced by Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton, with a script initially written by Michael B. Gordon before being rewritten by Kurt Johnstad. Frank Miller served as consultant and executive producer. The film was shot mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique to replicate the imagery of the original comics. An unfinished cut premiered at the Austin Butt-Numb-A-Thon on December 9, 2006, and the completed film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 14, 2007, before being released in the United States on March 9, 2007.
Reader's Guide
300 received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visuals and style, but was criticized by historians for historical inaccuracies, most notably its depiction of the Persians, which some characterized as Persophobic. The film grossed over $468.8 million, becoming the tenth highest-grossing film of 2007. It earned ten nominations at the 34th Saturn Awards, winning Best Action, Adventure, or Thriller Film and Best Director for Snyder. A sequel, Rise of an Empire, based on Miller's previously unpublished graphic novel prequel Xerxes, was released on March 7, 2014. The film is framed by an unreliable narrator, the Spartan soldier Dilios, who introduces fantastical elements and historical inaccuracies.
Did You Know?
- Though often cited as his breakout role, Michael Fassbender's appearance in 300 was not his film debut; his actual film debut was in the 2007 film 'Angel' (shot earlier) or earlier minor roles, and he had already appeare
- The story is framed by a voice-over narrative by the Spartan soldier Dilios, an unreliable narrator.
- The film was shot mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique to replicate the imagery of the original comics.
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