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300

The movie 300 stars Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, and Dominic West; it is based on the graphic novel of the same title by Frank Miller (also of Sin City fame, I believe).

When I put this DVD in the player, I really didn't think I would like it as much I did. I didn't even expect to get through the entire movie. There have been one or two movies (remember The New World ? I don't think I made it past the opening scenes before I stopped the DVD for that one) that I haven't been able to finish watching (and many more books that I've never been able to finish reading), and I thought this movie might be number three. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The movie tells the tale of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae. I know. Legendary? I never heard of the battle until this movie, but it is inspired by an actual battle that was fought many--many--years ago. Ancient Greece is threatened by the invading legion army of Persia's King Xerxes who fancies himself a god. The kind of Sparta takes 300 (this is how the movie gets its title) of his elite soldiers to the coast to hold at bay the thousands strong Persian army. Ultimately, it is a suicide mission, and these brave soldiers give up thier lives for Greece--for Freedom! Sound the rallying battle cry! Time to march to war.

This movie brings a great story and great action as well as stunning, sometimes eerie images. There are graphicly violent, harrowing battle scenes. And the narrator who frames the tale within the movie does his job well. Although you may recognize some of the actors' names listed earlier who star in this film don't expect to easily recognize them in their roles here. They are so transformed by their roles that they're unrecognizable.

I hope you will check out this movie the next time you visit the library. It is available in the DVD section of the Matthews Public Library and upon request from Annville Free Library.

--Reviewed by Ms. Angie

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