This isn't quite that bad. Technically it's based on a graphic novel (300 by Frank Miller), not on the historical event of the Battle of Thermopylae. The graphic novel itself is mostly based on Herodotus' actual historical accounts of the time (most historians discount those accounts as being inaccurate - particularly in regards to the size of the Persian army). Some of the lines in the movie are right out of Herodotus (for example, when Dienekes tells the Persian that they will fight in the shade (because the Persians arrows will blot out the sun). Rather than calling it a historical movie, I would say it is a movie based on a historical account (and inherits the bias' of that account). While it is probably historically inaccurate - at least it's following (more or less) the original account.

The true story of the Battle of Thermopylae is a good one, but some things are exaggerated in the ancient accounts. Most historians (while still agreeing that the Greeks were horribly outnumbered) now think that there were far fewer Persians than ancient accounts claim. Also, the movie really only follows the 300 Spartans, but it's important to note that other Greeks were at the battle. However, without question, the Spartans were the force that spearheaded and drove the entire battle.

Personally I love this era in history, and I love this graphic novel. While it's not an accurate representation of the battle, per se, the original graphic novel is a great piece of work, working on a lot of themes including the cost of preserving democracy. Like Monir, I am really looking forward to the movie (probably more than any other movie this year), and am very jealous that he has IMAX tickets (they've been sold out in Dallas forever).

There's actually better dialogue (though I have no idea if it made it into the movie).

Xerxes initially sent envoys to each of the Greek city states saying he only wanted some shade and water. The Thebans (I think it was the Thebans) threw the envoy into a dry well and told him to dig it out himself. The Spartans threw him into a pit and left him to die. This is the part in the movie where Leonidas shouts out, "This is Sparta!" >Rawr!<

I'm not a huge Frank Miller fan, but when he does stuff like this and Sin City, I always enjoy it.

EDIT: More on the graphic novel from wiki. More on the Battle of Thermopylae from wiki. Also, if you buy pretty much any Ancient battles history book, it will probably have some section on the Battle of Thermopylae (it's one of the most famous battles in history). I've read about it in at least three books in the last two years.

Actually I think this story is moving in the opposite direction. As time goes on we learn that more and more of the original accounts were exaggerated and start putting realistic figures next to them. :)

Herodotus claimed that there were something like 3 million Persians (I believe), and that didn't include support - that was just the troops. Now the numbers generally range from 400,000 to as much as 1.5 million. Either way most believe the Greeks were actually at around Herodotus' reported 7,000 total until Leonidas sent away most of the troops.

Anyway, most of the story is fictionalized, but a lot of it is fictionalized in the earlier accounts. When I first read the graphic novel, some of the things I remember that were different than the accounts included the misshapen dwarf and the giant guy the Immortals brought with them. A lot of it is also obviously played up more in the movie than it would have been in real life.

I doubt I'll get to see it until Saturday, but I can't wait. :)

The Battle of Thermopylae is famous for showing that tactics and superior training can turn the tide against any numbers. It is surmised that the only reason they lost is because a Greek (I can't remember his name - in the movie he's a stunted dwarf, though no historical account indicates this to be true) showed Xerxes how to come around behind the position they were defending. The Spartans _were_ extremely good fighters, renowned among all the city states for it. When Xerxes realized he wasn't going to force his way into the pass (he initially sent newly conquered fodder to try to take the pass through sheer numbers), he sent the Immortals in (fanatical Persian warriors - in the movie they're the ones wearing the funny masks). The Spartans slaughtered them. On the second day when the Persians attacked, morale was crippled as they had to climb over the bodies of their own men.

The battle was so bad for the Persians that Xerxes desecrated Leonidas' body upon recovering it - a very abnormal behavior for the Persians, who typically treated their defeated enemies with special reverence. Most importantly, Thermopylae literally turned the tide of the war. Xerxes expected to roll through Greece (as, indeed, he had through much of the ancient world). He offered Leonidas the kingship of all Greece if he would stand aside. Leonidas replied that it was better to die for a free Greece then be king over all the city states. Xerxes then demanded that Leonidas surrender his army's weapons, and Leonidas said, "Come take them." That is now the motto of the Greek first army corp.

from xerxes not dying from that spear leonidas threw but piercing his face to amuse the audience, to person who betrays the 300 spartans

the story is narrated by a surving spartan who was at the battle field. leonidas sent him away when the other army who was aiding them retreated. he gives him a necklace to return to his queen that she gave to him on the day of their departure to the hot gates.