I arrived in the cinema on Broad Street to meet Gwyther with a whisker to spare before this film started, but unfortunately Paul, Gwyth’s mate was also late, and so we didn’t get sat down until about 30 seconds into the movie.

I’m not a fantasy devotee (although I do have historical interest), and the reviews I had heard so far were fairly mixed (mostly to do with the controversial choice to portray a war against Persians) so I didn’t know what to expect considering the hype had otherwise been so positive.

This is a version of the Greek legend of 300 Spartans who went to fight a million-strong army. It is an adaptation of the graphic novels of Frank Miller and his embellishment of the original legendary story, it’s characters and it’s themes make for impressive viewing.

For an idea of what to expect, try and mix Gladiator, some “ancient classics” from the 1960s, a strong dose of mythological spin, a good chunk of violence and you should be somewhere near. Hyper-reality and some great cinematography keeps your eyes on the screen.

I was aware that this was a fairly arty depiction of the story, and I do like that from my films, so was pleased that it provided stunning visuals throughout.

In terms of plot, it’s the wars of classical civilisations which I have an interest in anyway, although I don’t think you need to like that stuff to enjoy the film. There has been criticism over the lack of meaty dialogue, and I found the longer portions of speech to be clichéd and sometimes even cringeworthy. That said, the Spartans were known to be laconic, so clearly they weren’t all that practised at long orations and much preferred to just get to the point. That’s why I will excuse these criticisms and just say if you are looking for brainfood, you might want to watch something else.

300 is an epic film, and the first of this genre that I’ve been pleased with since I saw Gladiator (including the disappointment of Troy and the others). It sets itself apart from earlier films by pushing the boundaries of history and reality, but carries a similar imposing soundtrack, visual mastery and set of strong performances as it’s predecessors. The characters don’t carry as much baggage as other films, which can either be seen as being refreshing or just laziness, but overall I can’t complain.

Definitely worth a watch.