6. Battle Of Thermopylae (300)
Legendary PicturesIf you thought the aforementioned British Redcoats at the Battle of Rourkes Drift were hopelessly outnumbered, the contest between King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans against the Persian army of well over one million soldiers will force you to redefine your perception of what constitutes a fair fight. The arrogant Persian forces brazenly approach the Spartans and demand that they lay down their weapons and submit to the Empire which was based in what is now present-day Iran. The ever-zealous Spartans tell them to come and get them and just like that one of the greatest battle scenes in recent cinematic history is triggered. The visually arresting confrontation uses the striking art style of Frank Millers comic books which inspired the film, placing great emphasis on vibrant gore and using slow-motion to stylise the otherwise chaotic combat. The terrain of Thermopylae naturally provides the Spartans with an advantage as the Persian numerical advantage is undone by the funnelling effect of the narrow pass. In the end the superior skill and battle experience of King Leonidas and his 300 men is too much for the Persians in this initial conflict.