Director Zack Snyder brings Frank Miller's celebrated graphic novel to the big screen with this terrific re-creation of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. Staging live-action combat against virtual backgrounds, this is the second film to render Miller's visual panache in pure cinematic flash, bang and wallop, following the neo-noir atmospherics of Sin City (2005). The story is a simple one: Sparta's King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) rallies 300 of his finest warriors to fight to the death against a massive invading Persian army. Their struggles are recorded by Dilios (David Wenham), who survives to bring news of their heroism to the waiting Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey). Breathtaking choreography consistently erupts with gory violence as Snyder marshals his red-caped Spartans against hordes of freaks, creatures and the elite guard of Immortals belonging to Persian god-king Xerxes (a bejewelled Rodrigo Santoro). Both fun and exciting, this is a stunning technical accomplishment.

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, "300" is very loosely based the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta led his army against the advancing Persians; the battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians, and helped usher in the world's first democracy.