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An epic retelling of one of history's most famous last stands, 300 finally hits British screens this month after hacking and slashing its way to the top of the US box office, leaving a trail of limbless corpses and ringing cash registers in its wake. Based on the 480 BC Battle of Thermopylae, when a comparatively small band of Spartan warriors held back a vastly superior Persian force, 300 is a blood-splattered ode to old-world machismo, and a rousing tale of courage in the face of unbeatable odds.

In ancient Sparta, King Leonidas (Butler) and his wife Queen Gorgo (Headey) are visited by emissaries from the Persian Empire who demand submission to the God King Xerxes as the only way to avoid certain annihilation. Leonidas is not impressed by the Persians' threats and, after throwing the messengers into a pit to their deaths, he begins to draw up plans for the inevitable war. Gathering together his personal fighting unit of 300 warriors, all men with male heirs to carry on their bloodlines, Leonidas knows that the best place to make a stand against the Persian hordes (whom Herodotus numbered at over 2.5 million) is the narrow mountain pass at Thermopylae, a natural bottleneck where the Persians' numerical superiority will count for nothing� 

300 is based on the cult graphic novel, written and illustrated by Sin City-creator Frank Miller (who was inspired to put pen to paper after watching the 1962 epic The 300 Spartans) and beautifully painted by Lynn Varley. Similar to the film version of Sin City, 300 the film is almost a shot-for-frame adaptation of the comic book, with director Snyder retaining much of Miller's dialogue and using CG virtual backgrounds to recreate the source material's otherworldly colours and style. The result is nothing short of stunning, with breathtaking visuals, and beautifully choreographed battles scenes, showcasing the Spartan's unique fighting style (a balletic fusion of Gladiator and Billy Elliot) and famous defensive phalanx, where each man's shield protects the man next to him. Ditching the Spartans' historically accurate heavy armour for the more aesthetically pleasing (and sure-to-be iconic) blood-red capes, iron helmets and leather Speedos, 300 is not short on flesh, with a plethora of pecs, bulging biceps and more six-packs than a chain of Threshers. Despite looking at times like a movie adaptation of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue, you really believe that these guys are born-and-bred fighting machines, that could quite feasibly kick seven shades of shit out of the massive Persian army, composed almost exclusively of freaks and monsters, all led by an androgyne with a major piercing fetish (something that the modern Iranian government is apparently, and somewhat understandably, none too pleased about).

Visually stunning, with a gloriously anachronistic soundtrack, and excellent performances from a wonderful ensemble cast, 300 will probably be the best film of 2007.