300

A closer look at the story

300 offers a very free take on the Battle of Thermopylae. Xerxes, king of Persia, sends his vast army, long used to victory, marching confidently against the kingdoms of Greece. Aware of the overwhelming force he faces, King Leonidas of Sparta gathers 300 of his boldest fighters and leads them to Thermopylae to block the Persian advance. These men have been trained for war since they were boys, and now they face the greatest trial of their lives. With death all but certain, their courage and endurance are their strongest weapons. As they hold off the enemy, they also wait for the council, which chose not to go to war, to realise its mistake and send the army to their aid. Zack Snyder directed this 117-minute war film from 2007, adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novel by Snyder, Kurt Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon. Gerard Butler plays King Leonidas and Lena Headey plays Gorgo, with Dominic West, David Wenham and Vincent Regan also in the cast.