So reads the monument at Thermopylae: the site of one of the most incredible and impossible battles in all of history. Using superior training, tactics, positioning, and most importantly, Spirit, 300 Spartan warriors held back 250,000 - 1,000,000 soldiers of the Persian army for several days. This crushed the Persian morale and led to their eventual defeat.

In 480 B.C., the armies of Persian King Xerxes sailed to Greece to conquer and subjugate the land. In an effort to stop the hordes of invaders from sweeping across Greece like a deadly plague a small army of Spartans and other Greeks were sent to combat the flood. The site chosen to stave off the attack was the mountain pass of Thermopylae. By choosing this location the Persians could be forced into close quarters, rendering their superior numbers less effective.

Upon his arrival, King Xerxes ordered the Spartans to lay down their arms. King Leonidas of Sparta, the general of the army, replied, "Molon Labe." Come and take them.

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, "It is said that on the eve of battle, [the Spartan Dienekes] was told by a native of Trachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, when they fired their volleys, the mass of arrows blocked out the sun. Dienekes replied 'Good. Then we shall fight in the shade.'" Such was the fighting spirit of the Spartans.

After several days of battle, inflicting heavy losses on the Persian army (including the legendary Persian "Immortals") while sustaining minimal casualties, the Spartans were betrayed. A man named Ephialtes showed the Persians a back route through the pass, allowing them to flank the Spartans. King Leonidas, knowing that the battle was now lost, dismissed the armies to retreat back to Greece- to live and fight another day. The 300 Spartans, however, remained. They fought the armies of Xerxes till the last Spartan had been killed. When their spears broke, they used their swords. When their swords broke, they used their fists and teeth. The battle was so ferocious and the losses to Xerxes so disproportionate, the Persian army's morale was broken and they were later defeated.

History is somewhat fuzzy on exact numbers. While we know 300 Spartans stood at Thermopylae, little is heard of the 700 citizen-soldiers of Thespia that also remained behind to fight. Figures put the Persian army at anywhere from 250,000 to several million soldiers. The casualties inflicted to the Persians by the Spartans are believed to be somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000.

Ultimately, these things are not important. Precise numbers of soldiers and casualties are forgotten. They rust and fade into the annals of history like so many unimportant facts. What remains- what lives on in the legend of Thermopylae- is that few stood and battled courageously against an unstoppable army. They stood and battled for days, never doubting that their death was unavoidable- but that they would sell themselves dearly to their enemies. Their faith and courage in the face of death was ultimately rewarded: their stand inspired others and destroyed the enemies morale- the mortar of their later defeat.

300 is a movie based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, of Sin City fame. It show the battle of Thermopylae in violent, gallant, depiction. It is a movie, so there is little doubt liberties have been taken. However, few are needed- the story of Thermopylae and the warriors who died their is amazing enough.

Went to see Miami Vice this weekend.  Twice.  My opinion?  A+ movie.  I won't lie- the movie might be a little difficult for some people to understand.  This is because, like most Michael Mann movies, realism is paramount and so you are dropped right into a world that you probably aren't too familiar with (undercover police work/drug smuggling).  Likewise, to keep with the realism, no attempt is made to explain the lingo, ideas, or process that is commonplace to the characters of this world.  Meanwhile, the movie isn't slowing down.  So, if you really want to get the best experience, it would pay to see the movie twice. 

Michael Mann movies are an acquired taste, and some people don't care for it, so I won't rebuke reviews such as Th3lizard's, but rather comment that some of the things she didn't like are exactly the things others do.

Now, Miami Vice is a remake, so the very first question that must be addressed is:

"How faithful to the original show is it?"

Now I'm going to surprise you.  In the face of every reviewer who is claiming that this movie bares no resemblance to the original show, I am going to disagree and say that it was quite a faithful remake.  The problem is that most people didn't understand (or don't accurately remember) the show.  Before I continue, lets clarify some things about the original Miami Vice television show.

1)  The show was not nearly (if at all) as "campy" as people like to remember.  The fashion and setting of Miami Vice might have been flashy and glam, but the characters and stories were dark and gritty, even by today's standards.  Miami Vice was a drama, not a comedy.  It dealt with volatile topics of the day (and even some that were on the horizon) such as pornography, arms trafficking, terrorism, and drugs.  Crockett and Tubbs intentionally violated the status quo of a "buddy-cop" show- their morals and commitment to their work might have been black and white, but their personalities were not.

2)  Miami Vice might have created much of the style of the 80's, but it WAS the style.  Some may look back now and laugh at the clothes, but for the period, they were just damn-good-looking clothes.  The show wasn't about pastel, it was about what looked good at the time.  Trying to put Crockett and Tubbs of 2006 into the same clothes and cars as Crockett and Tubbs of 1985 wouldn't just be ridiculous, it would violate the creedo of the show- to stay not only modern, but cutting edge.  It would be the same as if the original show had featured poodleskirts and pennyloafers- with Sonny and Rico driving around in a 1966 Mustang. 

Therefore, the theme of Miami Vice is not found in the pastel linen clothes, flamingos, or palm trees, but in staying in the height of modern style, modern topics, and realistic, unapologetic drama and action. 

And the Miami Vice movie captures all of that. 

Now the movie must, by definition, be an elevated, accelerated version of the show- it must do in 2 hours what the show has a season to accomplish.  So where the show was serious, with interlaced moments of comedy, the movie is self-serious almost to a fault.  Then again, remember the Michael Mann mantra: "REALISM."  People dealing with multinational drug lords usually aren't sharing a good joke in the middle of an undercover operation that could get them, their friends, and their family killed.  Many complain about the lack of exposition and character development in the film.  This is mainly a difference of taste issue again.  The lack of exposition adds to the fury of the film, and the lack of character development (which was there, just subtle) forces you to intuit what isn't shown.  Crockett and Tubbs don't really have a major bonding scene- they don't need it.  There are two scenes that say it all when each character reminds the other of how much they trust them.  These are men that don't need words- we can feel that they have already walked through the fire together.  The movie is filmed on digital film, much like Mann's last work, Collateral.  This creates a grainy picture that can be distracting at times, but mainly serves to pull the viewer further in the grit of the world in which Rico and Sonny live.  Contrasted with the bright lights and tropical feel of Miami and the other Central and South American locations, I think it worked well. 

The action scenes- which are actually few, but definitely worth it- are where Mann really shines.  They are fast, explosive, and ruthless- just like the violence they depict.  The bouncing camera effect- which I myself once loathed- actually adds to the sense of being in the middle of the fight.  The sound of the fights and the weapons used is spot on, and the ballistics of the wounds inflicted are perfectly accurate relative to the weapons and ammo used in each situation.  Once again, this is not something that the typical action-moviegoer cares about, but can make a world of difference to those of us who roll our eyes at people shooting 30 rounds out of a Colt 1911.  Mann retains his title as one of the few directors in Hollywood who can film an action scene that can widen your eyes and stop your heart a few beats.

If you like movies that can easily be classified as "Hollywood" or "typical action", this probably isn't the movie for you.  If, on the other hand, you want a movie that is realistic almost to a fault, go check out Miami Vice.  Hey- it damn sure beats seeing Little Man...