"I felt that a near-naked, writhing redhead was out of place in 300 and felt that it was just an excuse to show a sensual dance."

It was in the graphic novel, but there was a hint of gratuity to it in both places.

As the leader trying to get his point across to his troops in battle, I guess the king would have to scream a lot. Whispers just wouldn't work in that instance. So while you may have found it a bit off-putting, the character probably would have done it so his men could hear him.

Dilios was in the graphic novel. He was expanded for the film, but much of what you felt were exaggerated by him was essentially that way in the novel.

El Bicho- Thanks for mentioning that. I haven't read the graphic novel because I didn't want to spoil the film for myself. But as you mentioned, it's gratuitous regardless. The story sets up that even the Spartan women are strong willed and almost have as much authority as the men, but then they have the Oracle, who is really nothing more than a sex object for those holy men.

Arion- Like I said, I thought he screamed a little too much, but it wasn't enough to deter from my enjoyment of the film.

Acinom- Really? The press notes I received at the screening and the Wikipedia article I read for research gave the impression that Dilios was created for the movie.

No offence but which comic book were you actually reading??? Dilios is a central character in the graphic novel. Lest we forget the graphic novel is the main drive behind this movie hence the exaggerations and redheads dancing lavishly. This is not the Battle of Thermopylae as seen by Ridley Scott or a 16-year old high school student; this is a warped comic book brought to screen. If it's not exagerated it's not Frank MIller. If its not Frank Miller it's not something I want to see.

Rish- As I mentioned in the previous comment, I purposefully didn't read the graphic novel and got the information about Dilios from Wikipedia. I should have mentioned it in the original article. I have asked the editors to add a disclaimer that I haven't read the graphic novel, and to edit the information about Dilios. I do apologize for this.

Following up on my comment and your response: Wikipedia states correctly that the movie is a direct adaptation of the novel "except" for Dilios, who was used as a narrator for the film.

While I can understand how this can be misinterpreted to mean that he was not in the novel, this is not the case. Dilios is the story teller in the novel, and Snyder chose to expand his role in the film into the narrator. Plus he gets to do a lot more than what was depicted in the novel.

From Amazon.com:
Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley retell the battle of Thermopylae in the exciting and moving graphic novel 300. They focus on King Leonidas, the young foot soldier Stelios, and the storyteller Dilios to highlight the Spartans' awe-inspiring toughness and valor. Miller and Varley's art is terrific, as always; the combat scenes are especially powerful. And Miller's writing is his best in years. Read it.

just for the record, the original Story is told by the scholar Herodotus, and the first film was the movie 300 Spartans from the 60's

quite possible that Miller et al were as inspired by the original film, like any who had seen it were, and from there came the graphic novel...

only they know for certain...but the original movie is well worth the rental

the Tao of D'oh.

Ok, edits have been made. Again, a thousand apologies to all 300 and Frank Miller fans about the error regarding Dilios :)

For another superlative fictional account of the battle, read Gates of Fire by Stephan Pressfield.

amazing

I went to the movie The 300 last night. It was the first time in years I saw our theater sold out. What interested me was there were two different demographics attending in our small town. College aged individuals and baby boomers like myself that loved the 1962 movie The 300 Spartans with Richard Egan.

I enjoyed the movie. What struck me the most was the film captured the oral tradition of ancient storytelling to record that period's history. History passed by word of mouth embellished the Spartan Nation's heros to reflect their civilization in the best possible light. Herodotus wrote the story years later from this oral history.

What's funny about this film is that my history prof said she was flabbergasted within the first 10 minutes of the film with it's historical inaccuracies. The language, the costumes, the events, etc...

Hollywood is very strategic with what movies they come out with and at what time. If you ask me, this movie is to further subdue Iranians in the state in which they are in: an imminent war that is totally unnecessary.

Abdullah- What part of "based on a graphic novel" did your history professor not understand? Everyone knows that it's LOOSELY based on the history. Last time I checked, Xerxes was not 8-10 feet tall.

And furthermore, the director has said time and again that there was no subconscious political meaning to the film. Leonidas or Xerxes isn't supposed to be Bush. IT'S JUST A COMIC BOOK MOVIE.