In my estimation, 300 is not Zack Snyder's best movie. All things considered, I don't think it's a particularly great movie. However, it might very easily be classed as the director's definitive work. All his strengths, and all his weaknesses are right here, front and centre, for all to see, on his second feature film; and it's debatable as to whether he's advanced in any way since. A reverent adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel, retelling (very loosely) the historical story of the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 has lofty aspirations of exploring the nature of heroism and bravery, and standing firm in the face of insurmountable odds. However, all it's ultimately about is musclebound Spartans looking super-cool and badass while battling the hideous Persians. The fact the film doesn't seem to see any problem in portraying Middle Eastern characters as outright monsters, and the Caucasian Spartans as bold and beautiful - this despite their blatantly fascistic elements, such as the discarding of sickly or disabled babies - underlines how troubling Snyder's politics can often be. All that having been said, there's no denying that 300 makes for an entertaining spectacle. The beefed-up cast look great, and the digitally rendered backdrops are very impressive, giving the movie a real sense of being a comic come to life. It's also inarguable that Gerard Butler's unforgettable (if breathtakingly histrionic) cry, "This! Is! Sparta!" is easily one of the most memorable lines to have come out of Hollywood in the 2000s. And of course, it was here that Snyder's fetish for slow motion become fully apparent. One can pretty much envisage the film running at least a good ten minutes shorter if the whole film ran at normal speed.