300

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300 ★★ 2007 (R)

Blood, brutality, and buff bodies with the stylized action all done against bluescreen. Adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel follows the historical Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Sparta's King Leonidas (Butler) refuses to bow to the rule of the Persians and takes 300 of his best warriors to battle bejeweled and multi-pierced Xerxes (Santoro) and his hordes. Meanwhile, back at Sparta, the unfortunately-named Queen Gorgo (Headey) is battling sniveling politicos to get her hubby some reinforcements. This time Internet fanboy enthusiasm translated into blockbuster boxoffice bucks. 116m/C DVD, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD . US Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Andrew Tiernan, Tom Wisdom, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbinder, Stephen McHattie; D: Zack Snyder; W: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon; C: Larry Fong; M: Tyler Bates.