Download1024X768 Download1024X768	Download1024X768 Download1024X768	Download1024X768 Download1024X768	Download1024X768 Download1024X768	Download1024X768 Download1024X768

300 is a 2007 film adaptation of the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller, and is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film is directed by Zack Snyder while Frank Miller served as executive producer and consultant. The film was shot mostly with bluescreen to duplicate the imagery of the original comic book. Spartan King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fight to the last man against Persian 'God-King' Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his army of more than one million soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband. The story is framed by a voice-over narrative by the Spartan soldier Dilios (David Wenham). Through this narrative technique, various fantastical creatures are introduced, placing 300 within the genre of historical fantasy. 300 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 film broke box office records, although critics were divided over its look and style. Some acclaimed it as an original achievement, while others criticized it for favoring visuals over characterization and its controversial depiction of the ancient Persians. Over Dilios's narration, young Leonidas is cast into the wild to fend for his life, per Spartan doctrine. Leonidas survives the harsh winter and returns home, where he is crowned King. Years later, messengers from Xerxes arrive at the gates of Sparta, demanding its submission to King Xerxes. Outraged and offended by their threats and behavior, King Leonidas kicks the messengers into a pit, defiantly shouting, "This is Sparta!". Acknowledging the threat of Xerxes's invasion force, he then visits the Ephors, proposing a strategy to repel the numerically superior enemy by using the strategically advantageous terrain of the Hot Gates of Thermopylae. The Ephors, wary of Leonidas' plans, consult the Oracle, who in her trance decrees that Sparta must not go to war, lest they interrupt the sacred Carneian festival. As Leonidas departs, a messenger from Xerxes appears and rewards the Ephors a mountain of gold in return for their covert support. Leonidas battling soldiers of the Persian empireDespite his instructions, Leonidas gathers 300 of his best soldiers, under the guise of a leisurely walk and that the soldiers are his personal bodyguards. 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. In sight of the approaching Persian army, they construct a wall to contain the Persians' advance, and encounter Ephialtes, a hunchbacked Spartan who requests a private audience with Leonidas. A severely disfigured child whose parents fled Sparta to spare him certain infanticide, Ephialtes asks to redeem his father's name by joining Leonidas in battle against the Persians, and warns him of a secret goat path the Persians could use to outflank and surround them. Leonidas, sympathetic to the eager warrior, rejects him upon realizing that Ephialtes cannot properly hold a shield, which would compromise the Spartans' phalanx. Prior to the battle, the Persians demand that the Spartans drop their arms and surrender, which Leonidas refuses, challenging the Persians to come and take their weapons from them. Using their tightly-knit phalanx formation, the Spartans funnel the Persians into the narrow terrain and with superior fighting skill and resolve repeatedly rebuff the Persian army, inflicting heavy casualties. Xerxes, impressed with Spartan fighting skill, personally approaches Leonidas to persuade him to surrender, promising wealth and power in exchange for his loyalty. Leonidas declines, promising instead to make the "God King" bleed, and turns to rejoin his armies. Dismayed at the refusal, Xerxes dispatches the Immortals, his elite personal guard, whom the Spartans draw into a trap and narrowly defeat. The battles continue, with the Spartans prevailing over soldiers and animals drawn from the vast reaches of the Persian empire, ranging from Mongolian barbarians and Eastern chemists to African rhinoceroses and Indian war elephants. After two days of fighting however, an embittered Ephialtes defects to Xerxes and reveals the location of the goat path. Xerxes encourages Leonidas to surrenderIn Sparta, Queen Gorgo attempts to enlist the influential Theron to help persuade the Spartan council to send reinforcements to Leonidas. Theron agrees, but demands that Gorgo submit sexually to him, which she reluctantly consents to. At the Hot Gates, the Greeks realize Ephialtes's treachery, and the Arcadians retreat in the face of certain death. The Spartans, obedient to their law, refuse to follow, and Leonidas orders a reluctant Dilios to return and orate the story of the valiant 300 to ensure their memory. In Sparta, Queen Gorgo appeals to the council, but is betrayed by Theron, who publicly accuses her of adultery in an attempt to discredit her. Enraged at his betrayal, Gorgo snatches a sword from a nearby soldier and kills Theron, rupturing a bag of Xerxes' gold in the folds of his robe and spilling it onto the ground. With this evidence, the Council denounces Theron as a traitor and unites against Persia. At the Hot Gates, as the Persians surround the Spartans, Xerxes's general demands their surrender, declaring that Leonidas may keep his title as King of Sparta and become warlord of all Greece, answerable only to Xerxes. Ephialtes begs him to do so as well, to which Leonidas remarks "May you live forever," an insult from a culture valuing death and valor in battle. Leonidas drops his shield and removes his helmet, seemingly bowing in submission. Stelios then leaps over him and kills the general. A furious Xerxes orders his troops to attack. As Persian archers shoot the remaining Spartans, Leonidas rises and hurls his spear at Xerxes; he had discarded his shield and helmet to improve his balance and vision. Though the spear only cuts Xerxes' cheek, Leonidas has kept his promise to "make the God-King bleed". Xerxes, visibly shaken by this reminder of his own mortality, watches as the remaining Spartans perish beneath the combined might of his army. Dilios concludes his tale before an audience of attentive Spartans, all assembled on a new battlefield. Declaring that though the Persian army numbers 120,000, they are demoralized after losing thousands to a mere 300 Spartans just a year earlier - and they now face 10,000 Spartans commanding 30,000 Greeks. Praising Leonidas' sacrifice, Dilios leads the assembled Greek army into a fierce charge against the Persian army, igniting the Battle of Plataea.