Let me start by saying that I have been looking forward to seeing "300" for a very long time. Moreover, I absolutely loved the graphic novel. So, I was inclined to like the movie, but worried it wouldn't live up to the hype.

Luckily, there was no need to worry because this film was a turbo charged roller coaster on an accelerating rocket. In fact, if I wasn't so keen on getting a review out relatively early in the day, I would have bought a 2nd ticket, a bucket of popcorn, along with another Diet Coke, and then I would have sat down and watched the movie again. It was that good (Fortunately, there's always tomorrow for round 2 at the theater)!

Why was it a great movie? Well, first off, to call this film action packed is like saying that Dolly Parton's bra is "bigger than average." This movie was just full to the brim with phenomenal, well shot combat scenes.

Perhaps more importantly, this is not your typical, politically correct Hollywood movie. The good guys are militaristic, absolutely ruthless Westerners who are willing to die for what they believe and would probably be right at home in the Special Forces or the Marines. Moreover, the bad guys were the more cultured, decadent, and probably in many people's eyes, the more reasonable of the two sides.

I could also add that the movie is pro-war, morally unambiguous, and it is also unashamed about putting forth the message that freedom is vitally important and worth fighting for -- (by now, you've probably guessed that liberals will hate this movie and you're right).

Additionally, this was a great looking film, it was well directed, had a solid plot, and stuck to the script of the graphic novel fairly closely. The only thing that seemed really out of place in the movie was the gratuitous breast shots of the oracle, Leonidas' wife, and worst of all, the cut without warning to Leonidas' behind. None of them added much to the movie, so maybe they thought that the violence meant they were getting a "R" rating anyway, so they might as well throw in some nudity.

Overall Rating: Thumbs way, way, up! This is a must see movie.

PS: Is there a political message in the movie? I don't really think so, but I will tell you this: if you absolutely had to decide whether Bush was short, feisty, warlike Leonidas or tall, cultured Xerxes, who always wanted to negotiate, you wouldn't have any trouble pegging W. as the good guy.