300

The Battle of Thermopylae gets a modern comic book makeover. I was a fan of the old Rudolph Mate’s 1962 film the 300 Spartans starring Richard Egan and Ralph Richardson, but to be honest this movie rocks!

Based on Frank Miller’s comic book it really delivers both in terms of story and action. Even the performances are good. Gerard Butler is superb as the snarling, fearless King Leonidas (what a Bond he would make) and Lena Headley is just gorgeous as Queen Gorgo.

The Spartans are portrayed as heroic, militaristic ancient Terminators, whereas their Persian foes are depicted as some kind of S&M piereced Gimps!

The battle scenes are done in slo-mo and handled well. I don’t think it was anywhere near as violent as Apocalypto!

Oh and David Wenham does his usual sterling job as the narrator and the sole survivor who takes his place at the decisive Greek victory at Plataea.

Oh and after doing a bit of research, the real reason only 300 Spartans (and 700 other Greeks and another 2,000 slaves) fought the battle was not because of a religious festival, but the Olympic Games were on!

God help us if in 2012 Vladimir Putin decides to go Red on us!

Dr No

After getting Casino Royale through the post I decided to watch Sean Connery's debut as 007 once again.

How tough was he? Is Daniel Craig the toughest?

Watching Dr No for the first time in years was like visiting an old mucker.

Connery was and is Bond. He is by far the most ruthless Bond. I love the bit he shoots Professor Dent: "That's a Smith and Wesson. And you've hard your six."

Before plugging Dent with the PPK.

Brilliant.

Dr No has all the elements of the Bond franchise in place.

Mind you it is like two separate films. The first half is a tradtional style thriller, then once then go to Crab Island it all becomes the Bond world we know. The fantastical Ken Adam sets just make the whole thing look so different from anything people saw in 1962.

Sean Connery, we salute you!