Official: You all suck!

you just need to remember that 300 is a film, based on a graphic novel based on a film that is loosely based on historical fact / myth.

Troy and 300 are both pretty inaccurate to the source material, whether that source be literature or history, but the difference is that Troy is an appalling hatchet job where things are changed for no good reason that actually harms the story at hand (no gods? wtf?), whereas 300 is more an exaggeration of historical events.

Sure, the Spartans practiced some pretty nasty stuff that isn't mentioned (re: Helots), and the depiction of the Persians borders on the racist amongst other historical complaints, but it fits in that the whole movie is like a work of art, like an artist taking a look at the story and the imagery and salient points and portraying those alone. It's true to the spirit if not the actual events. Some stuff is literally true, like the Spartans taking new born babies away from their parents and deciding if they should live or die.

Oh, and there's some gorgeously balletic violence. It's about Spartans, it's hardly surprising it's ultra-violent. And the cinematography is absolutely stunning. It's a good movie, and one you'd hope will encourage... I would say kids, but y'know, 15 year olds, to be more interested in Classical stuff.

I really need to watch 300...

This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die.

Haven't seen 300. Any good? Historically infuriating like Troy?

Oh, and I missed that programme on Athenian Democracy last night. I'm just not in the habit of remembering to watch/record things on TV... :(