Do we even need to say it?
- Anytime Leonidas delivers a Rousing Speech.
- Xerxes' messenger becomes indignant that Gorgo talks freely among men and asks why she feels she has the right. Her response?Gorgo: Because only Spartan women can give birth to real men.
- While this statement could be take as rather sexist, implying that Spartan women's only value comes from being baby-makers, it could also be taken differently, that the Spartan "real men" are secure enough in their masculinity that they respect rather than fear powerful women. And supporting this point, when Leonidas is contemplating kicking the messenger and his pals down the well, he first turns to Gorgo as if asking for permission, and she silently nods. Then he commences said kicking. Even though he's a badass monarch, he makes sure his wife and queen approves of it as well.
- "Madness? This! Is! SPARTA!"
- The whole exchange of dialogue deserves mention, really:Envoy: (after demanding tribute from Leonidas and mocking his country and family) Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king.(after contemplating the situation for a moment, Leonidas points his sword at the envoy's throat and the Spartans around him do the same, pressing in and getting the Persians to the edge of a pit)
Envoy: Madman! You're a madman!
Leonidas: "Earth and water?" You'll find plenty of both down there!
Envoy: No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!
Leonidas: You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same...! - The fact he looked for Gorgo's approval before doing the famous kick. He and other Spartans respected women who could hold their own just as much as the men.
- The whole exchange of dialogue deserves mention, really:
- When the 300 are first assembled before Leonidas, Stelios is the first of them to speak out his loyalty to the coming fight. Of course, this makes it more meaningful when Stelios is one of the last men standing with Leonidas.Stelios: We are with you, sire! For Sparta! For Freedom! To the death!
- Leonidas explaining what his 300-man army can contribute to the Greek force, composed mainly of Arcadian draftees:Leonidas: (Points to a random Arcadian in the group) You, there... What's your profession?
Arcadian: I'm a potter, sir.
Leonidas: (nods, then points to another) And you, Arcadian... What's your profession?
Arcadian: Sculptor, sir.
Leonidas: (nods again) Sculptor... (then points to another) And you?
Arcadian: I'm a blacksmith.
(Leonidas looks at Daxos with a slight grin, then turns to his men...)
Leonidas: Spartans! What is your profession?!
All 300 Spartans: HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!
Leonidas: You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did. - Stelios chopping the Persian Emissary's arm, then delivering a good Shut Up, Hannibal!.Persian Emissary: Our arrows will blot out the sun!
Stelios: Then we'll fight in the shade. - The first trade of words between Leonidas and a Persian soldier at the Hot Gates:Persian Soldier: Spartans, lay down your weapons!
(Brief silence for a few seconds, followed by a flying spear which one-shots the said Persian soldier in the chest...)
King Leonidas: Persians! (Raises his shield and spear along with the other Spartans) Come and get them!- How awesome is that saying? It's become the motto of US Special Operations Command.
- Leonidas dishing out many a Shut Up, Hannibal! (mixed with some snark at one point) to Xerxes during their conversation. See for yourself
. - Leonidas' fight with the Uber Immortal.
- Stelios and Astinos fighting off the Persians back-to-back, killing forty-two of them in at least two long takes.
- Gorgo stabbing the corrupt senator who forced her to have sex with him right in the middle of the senate floor. Then as she pulls the sword out, it slices open his money bag, revealing loads of Persian coins from the bribes he was taking. To that, the whole senate got their awesome moment examining the money and all, from young to old, start yelling "Traitor!"Gorgo: This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your Queen!
- "Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty. For tonight! We dine! In HELL!"
- Leonidas throwing his spear at Xerxes and cutting his face. The very act of cutting a tyrant who considered himself a god, making him bleed, and humiliating him before his entire army is certainly impressive.
- If only his aim was just a smidgen to the right. Then Leonidas' last act would have been proving before Xerxes' entire army that God-kings can die as well.
- As they say, if you can make God bleed... people will cease to believe in him.
- Stelios and Leonidas at the end:Stelios: My King! It's an honor to die at your side.
Leonidas: It's an honor to have lived at yours. - Even though the Persians took the pass eventually, they lost around 20,000 soldiers to an army of about 5,000, led by 300 Spartans. Cut to a few months later, when the Persians faced an army comprising, among others, 10,000 Spartans.
- Dilios' Rousing Speech at the end of the movie.Dilios: "Remember us." As simple an order as a king can give. "Remember why we died." For he did not wish tribute or song. No monuments, no poems of war and valor. His wish was simple: "Remember us," he said to me. That was his hope. Should any free soul come across that place, in all the countless centuries yet to be, may all our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones: "Go tell the Spartans, passer-by, that here, by Spartan law, we lie." So my king died, and my brothers died...
Barely a year ago, long I pondered my king's cryptic talk of victory. But time has proven him wise. For from free Greek to free Greek, the word was spread that bold Leonidas and his 300, so far from home, laid down their lives, not just for Sparta, but for all Greece and the promise this country holds! Now, here on this ragged patch of earth called Plataea, Xerxes' hordes face obliteration! Just there the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers, knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the swords and spears of 300. Yet they stare now across the plain at 10,000 Spartans commanding 30,000 free Greeks! The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any Greek. This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny, and usher in a future brighter than anything we could imagine! Give thanks, men! To Leonidas, and the brave 300! TO VICTORY!
"This page is blasphemy! This is madness!"
Madness? THIS. IS. AWESOME!! (kick)
Madness? THIS. IS. AWESOME!! (kick)
