History Film / ThreeHundred

*** When the Persians demanded the the Spartans lay down their weapons, the ''real'' Leonidas did defiantly respond, "Come and take them!" ("Molon labe" in Greek, though the film translates it as "Come and get them!").

* ArtisticLicense: As Creator/FrankMiller put it, he doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Neither does [[UnreliableNarrator Dilios]], who is clearly embellishing the tale more with each retelling (although the sequel film revealsthere are a lot of crazy things he is definitely not making up).

** The Spartans. There's a reason why this movie is considered girl porn.

* BlackVikings: The Persian emissary and a couple officers in their army are black. This is technically possible given that the Persian empire reached Egypt, where black tribes from Nubia, Kush and Ethiopia were employed at the fringes (and according to Herodotus, there ''were'' Ethiopian footsoldiers in Xerxes' army), but it would be highly unlikely than any of those occupied such high places in the Achaemenid military staff. This bcomes flat-out impossible later, when Xerxes reveals he also has some tribes from the DarkestAfrica in his army, despite his empire never reaching those places.

* BoringButPractical: The Spartans, and the Greeks in general, don't have particularly exotic weapons: they're heavy infantry armed with spears and large iron shields (and short swords for close-up work). But they've been intensively trained to use these weapons ''very'' effectively, and particularly as a group in the phalanx formation. In contrast, when simple numbers fail the Persians, they use all sorts of exotic trick units from across their empire - they're flashy and [[WeaponForIntimidation intended to make an enemy panic]], but as long as the Spartans keep their cool they find impractical flaws that are easy to exploit: war elephants are clumsy in tight quarters and slip off the cliff, smaller rhinos can be taken down with a headshot if you face them head on, and their "magics" (early fireworks used as frag grenades) don't do enough damage and are difficult to use in close quarters without hitting the wielder. It seems these exotic units

* BoringButPractical: The Spartans, and the Greeks in general, don't have particularly exotic weapons: they're heavy infantry armed with spears and large iron shields (and short swords for close-up work). But they've been intensively trained to use these weapons ''very'' effectively, and particularly as a group in the phalanx formation. In contrast, when simple numbers fail the Persians, they use all sorts of exotic trick units from across their empire - they're flashy and intended to make an enemy panic, but as long as the Spartans keep their cool they find impractical flaws that are easy to exploit: war elephants are clumsy in tight quarters and slip off the cliff, smaller rhinos can be taken down with a headshot if you face them head on, and their "magics" (early fireworks used as frag grenades) don't do enough damage and are difficult to use in close quarters without hitting the wielder. It seems these exotic units

* DoesNotLikeShoes: Although it's difficult to see due to the speed of the scenes, the Immortals go barefoot. Considering that one of them dropkicked a Spartan soldier while fighting, the lack of footwear could be a choice for more agility.

* PowerWalk: Backed by the thumping anachronism of a track "Fever Dream."

* FauxAffablyEvil: Xerxes fancied himself as "kind".

The film version of ''300'' is greatly characterized by Snyder's SignatureStyle, its comic book roots and the story itself being presented as a [[UnreliableNarrator morale-boosting story told by Dilios]]. While accurate in some historical aspects (mostly quotes), it is presented first and foremost as a visual Greek epic tale of glory, death, and [[RuleOfCool how battling half-naked is strategically superior]]. Trying to justify or explain it is as futile as explaining why [[Film/{{Commando}} Matrix]] [[MST3KMantra should face a court-martial for property damage]]. Think of this as ''Film/SinCity'' (also by Frank Miller) with gold and red instead of white and black... and with far fewer prostitutes.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300poster.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis THIS. IS.]] '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis TV TROPES!]]''''']]

In spite of its heavy fantasy influence, the film's story is [[HistoricalFiction based on real events]]: [[YouShallNotPass the Battle of Thermopylae]] in 480 BC during the [[UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars Second Greco-Persian War]], as described by the ancient Greek historian Creator/{{Herodotus}}. Miller was introduced to the Thermopylae story through a 1962 SwordAndSandal film called ''Film/The300Spartans'', which influenced him deeply as a child. The comic and film are extreme examples of being VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory, as {{artistic license}} is liberally employed (more so in the film than in the comic).

A young, one-eyed Spartan soldier relates to a group of fellow soldiers [[HowWeGotHere how recent events came to pass]]. King Leonidas of Sparta (Creator/GerardButler) refuses to bow to [[BigBad the God King Xerxes]]' demands for Sparta to submit to the vast power of the Persian Empire. Leonidas' visit to the deformed, elderly [[CorruptChurch Ephors]] and their OracularUrchin[=/=]SexSlave brings worse news: Sparta cannot wage war against the armies of Persia on the eve of the sacred Carneia festival.

The film version of ''300'' is greatly characterized by Snyder's SignatureStyle, its comic book roots and the story itself being presented as a [[UnreliableNarrator morale-boosting story told by Dilios]]. While accurate in some historical aspects (mostly quotes), it is presented first and foremost as a visual Greek epic tale of glory, death, and [[RuleOfCool how battling half-naked is strategically superior]]. Trying to justify or explain it is as futile as explaining why [[Film/{{Commando}} Matrix]] [[MST3KMantra should face a court-martial for property damage]]. Think of this as ''Film/SinCity'' (also by Frank Miller) with gold and red instead of white and black… and with far fewer prostitutes.

!! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis "These! Are! TROPES!"]]

[[folder: [=A–D=]]]

[[folder: [=E–M=]]]

[[folder: [=N–R=]]]

[[folder: [=S–Y=]]]

After much deliberation, Leonidas decides to defy the oracles' prophecies… sort of.

->''"SPARTANS! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty… for '''tonight! We dine! IN HELL!'''"''

''300'' is a 2006 historical BattleEpic film directed by Creator/ZackSnyder, released in 2007 and [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] a 1998 [[ComicBooks comic miniseries]] by Creator/FrankMiller.

* AdaptationalVillainy: The comic features a scene depicting Ephialtes post-betrayal in a somewhat sympathetic light: [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he reacts in horror]] as the Immortals ambush and [[KillEmAll mercilessly slaughter]] the Thespians who stayed behind with the Spartans, when he had only instructed the Immortals [[WeaponForIntimidation to intimidate them with their spears]]. The scene was cut out of the movie, making his plea to Leonidas to surrender come across as being much less sympathetic.

!! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis "These! Are! TROPES!"]]:

After much deliberation, Leonidas decides to defy the oracles' prophecies… sort of. He gathers three hundred of Sparta's finest soldiers (referring to them his "personal bodyguard") and marches them to the Hot Gates, a narrow pass between the ocean and mountains. By rebuilding an ancient wall to bottleneck the vast Persian army, the superior fighting ability of the Spartans would conceivably make up for the small size of their army and give them a fighting chance at holding back the Persian Empire until Sparta's army can launch a full assault. Seven hundred or so other Greeks turn up as Leonidas and the 300 make their way to the Hot Gates, and a [[TheGrotesque hideously deformed Spartan man]] called Ephialtes also joins the convoy to ask Leonidas for a place on the battlefield (in exchange for information about an unguarded path that would leave the Spartans wide open to retaliation from behind). Leonidas refuses to accept Ephialtes into the fighting ranks -- it would leave a weak point in their defense -- and returns his attention to preparing for the battle.

In the meantime, Queen Gorgo (Creator/LenaHeadey) tries to persuade the Spartan politicians to support Leonidas, but Theron--scarily played by Dominic West--is the most stubborn of the lot.

When the Persian Empire brings its forces down upon the Hot Gates, the battle goes exactly according to Leonidas' plan: the fighting skill and perfect defensive position of the Spartans prove to be too much for even the monstrous Persian army to handle. The kill count becomes obscenely lopsided in favor of the Spartans, and the only real problem occurs when Ephialtes sells his information to Xerxes for [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking women, wealth, and a (horrible) uniform]].

The film version of ''300'' is stylized thanks to Snyder's SignatureStyle, its comic book roots and the story itself being presented as a [[UnreliableNarrator morale-boosting story told by Dilios]]. While accurate in some historical aspects (mostly quotes), it is presented first and foremost as a visual Greek epic tale of glory, death, and [[RuleOfCool how battling half-naked is strategically superior]]. Trying to justify or explain it is as futile as explaining why [[Film/{{Commando}} Matrix]] [[MST3KMantra should face a court-martial for property damage]]. Think of this as ''Film/SinCity'' (also by Frank Miller) with gold and red instead of white and black… and with far fewer prostitutes.

* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Leonidas and Gorgo passionately make love before Leonidas goes off to war. This is perfectly contrasted with Theron practically raping Gorgo as part of a bribe to maintain his support of Leonidas's mission.

->''"SPARTANS PREPARE FOR GLORY!"''

->''"Spartans! Prepare for glory!"''

* DenOfIniquity: Xerxes' royal pavilion, filled with drugged courtiers, freaks and all forms of sex. Xerxes throws such a swingin' party that even [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet Baphomet]] shows up.

''Tropers! Prepare for glory!''

%%
%% UnfortunateImplications goes on the YMMV tab, not here.
%%

''300'' is a heavily stylized BattleEpic movie directed by Creator/ZackSnyder, released in 2007 and [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] a 1998 [[ComicBooks comic miniseries]] by Creator/FrankMiller.

In spite of the heavy fantasy influence, the story is [[HistoricalFiction based on real events]]--[[YouShallNotPass the Battle of Thermopylae]] in 480 BC during the [[UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars Second Greco-Persian War]], as described by the ancient Greek historian Creator/{{Herodotus}}. Miller was introduced to the Thermopylae story through a 1962 SwordAndSandal movie version called ''Film/The300Spartans'', which influenced him deeply as a child. The comic and film are extreme examples of historical movies being VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory, as artistic license is liberally employed (more so in the film than in the comic).

A young, one-eyed Spartan soldier relates to a group of fellow soldiers [[HowWeGotHere how recent events came to pass]]. King Leonidas of Sparta (Creator/GerardButler) refuses to bow to [[BigBad the God King Xerxes']] demands for Sparta to submit to the vast power of the Persian Empire. Leonidas' visit to the deformed, elderly [[CorruptChurch Ephors]] and their OracularUrchin/Sex Slave brings worse news: Sparta cannot wage war against the armies of Persia on the eve of the sacred Carneia festival.

After much deliberation, Leonidas decides to defy the oracles' prophecies… sort of. He gathers three hundred of Sparta's finest soldiers (referring to them his "personal bodyguard") and marches them to the Hot Gates, a narrow pass between the ocean and mountains. By rebuilding an ancient wall to bottleneck the vast Persian army, the superior fighting ability of the Spartans would conceivably make up for the small size of their army and give them a fighting chance at holding back the Persian Empire until Sparta's army can launch a full assault. Seven hundred or so other Greeks turn up as Leonidas and the 300 make their way to the Hot Gates, and a [[TheGrotesque hideously deformed Spartan man]] called Ephialtes also joins the convoy to ask Leonidas for a place on the battlefield (in exchange for information about an unguarded path that would leave the Spartans wide open to retaliation from behind). Leonidas refuses to accept Ephialtes into the fighting ranks--it would leave a weak point in their defense--and returns his attention to preparing for the battle.