300

2006

Director: Zack Snyder

Distributor: Warner Brothers / Legendary Pictures

Key Elements: Symbolism, Visuals, Lines, Concept

My Review:

The Ultimate Guy Movie.

Also, the visuals are stunning.

That being said, it could easily be taken as gratuitous violence without the proper priming. Going into this movie, I decided to view the violence as symbolic of spiritual warfare. And the movie, for me, was transformed into something beautifully poetic.

First, we must train for spiritual warfare, just as the Spartans had to be trained as boys.

Second, though infanticide (abortion) in itself is evil, the principle of ridding ourselves of weaknesses in sound: If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Flee evil desires.

Third, we must deal ruthlessly with our sin – allowing no temptation to gain foothold. When a Persian messenger comes to entice Leonidas to submission, Leonidas puts him in his place.

Fourth, we must ignore the “wisdom” of this world in favor of true wisdom. Leonidas ignores the flawed direction of the oracles and does what he knows must be done.

Fifth, we must identify ourselves as free men. Christ’s death has feed us from sin. All threats to control us are therefore empty. Stelios tells a messenger that Xerses “faces free men here, not slaves.”

Sixth, we must not give into fear, but trust that God’s strength in us is enough. As Stelios said, we must “fight in the shade” of an onslaught.

Seventh, we must never give in to sin. As Leonidas says, “Spartans never retreat! Spartans never surrender!”

And there’s more.

As I watched this movie and saw valiant mean tear through their enemies and I imagined the armies of the Lord destroying the armies of darkness. No other movie has ever given me such spiritual blood-thirst.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• 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!
• Madness? This - Is - SPARTA
• Go back and tell your Xerxies he faces free men here, not slaves
• We will fight in the shade.
• The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle is done, that even a god-king can bleed.
• He goes wild – blood-drunk.

Stills: