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xsBusiness - The History Channel Presents Last Stand of the 300 - The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $2.57
Your Save: $ 17.38 ( 87% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
Starring: Jeffery A. Baker, Orion Barnes, Erin Bennett, Kristopher Blount, Joshua Bradley
Directed By: David Padrusch
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: A&E
EAN: 0733961772111
Format: Color
Label: A&E Home Video
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: A&E Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-07-31
Running Time: 91
Studio: A&E Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Absorbing documentary on the Battle of Thermopylae
Comment: Easily inspired from the smash theatrical film, "300," this documentary by "The History Channel," is as entertaining as it is informative. Using a panel of historians and actors in sophisitcated, digitally enhanced reenactments, this disc will clearly appeal to the younger set. With a concentration on the battle itself, and to the History Channel's credit, a significant amount of the 91 minute documentary is spent discussing the Spartan philosophy and way of life in contrast to the other Greek city states and the political rivalies they shared.
Considerable air time is also devoted to the weapons and armor used by the Persians and the Greeks as well as the naval battles and the tactical expertise that allowed the Greeks to stave off Xerxes and the Persian army--said to be over 300,000 strong--against a force of about 1,500 men; roughly the legendary 300 Spartans themselves, and a loose confederation of other soldiers from other city states. The commentators and the program itself, in a highly engaging and entertaining manner, illustrate how the Battle of Thermopylae not only changed the course of Western Civilization, but preserved the the concepts of democracy and freedom in the ancient world.
While this installment carries, by no means the depth of Sir Kenneth Clark's "Civilization," (see my review), it is, an acceptable, albeit, glitzy, action-packed, high-tech extravaganza of a documentary no doubt many high school teachers will find useful for the classroom on a slow Friday morning.
I was fortunate to find my copy at Ross-Dress-For-Less for only $4.99 compared to the list price of $12.99 here at Amazon.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Where few stood against many
Comment: The last stand of the 300 is one of history's greatest military tales of bravery, endurance, and valiantness. The history channel's rendition of this heroic battle between King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan soldiers against three-hundred thousand Persians on land was recreated with painstaking detail. But the battle did not take place only on land - Themistocles led the Athenian naval forces against Xerxes at Thessaly and finishing off the Persians at Artemisium.
This documentary does a great job of recounting the beginnings of the war between Persia and Greece - starting with King Darius the Huckster's defeat at Marathon by Callimachus. King Darius grooms his son Xerxes to exact his revenge which led up to the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 B.C. King Leonidas, with his 300 Spartans and roughly 6000 free men of Greece decided to make their stand at Thermopylae "The Hot Gates" (named after the hot thermal springs) It was at this narrow pass flanked on one side by steep mountains and on the other by the sea, the Greeks made their stand.
"Come and get them" were the words that launched this battle. In this narrow corridor, the Persian numbers counted for nothing - they were restricted from using the stableness of their cavalry. It wasn't until the third day when Ephialtes informed the Persians of a route that would allow them to outflank the Greeks. Now surrounded, the brave soldiers at Thermopylae were doomed. It is then that Leonidas was killed and a battle raged over his corpse - with Xerxes ordering that the head be cut off and stuck on a pike.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sound and effective retelling of an amazing story
Comment: The battle of Thermopylae was one of the most decisive battles in world history, as well as being one of the most awe inspiring. If the beurocrats in Brussels truly want to forge a common sense of European identity then perhaps they should ensure that every schoolchild on the continent is at least aware of the story.
Sadly, the battle isn't really as well known as it should be, or at least wasn't until the blockbuster '300' came out last year. And here we have an American made documentary to companion that film, sticking fairly closely to the events as depicted there (and astonishingly as the events are widely agreed to have actually happened). In contrast to what other reviewers have written, I didn't find this to be particularly low budget. True, talking heads take up much of the time, often stating the merely banal and obvious, but the recreated scenes are effective if brief. In fact, they are so similar in style to the film that I'm sure a lot of the same extras and production team were involved.
Its such an astonishing story that its hard to tell badly and this documentary does quite a sound job. I'm far from an expert on Ancient Greece but I was suprised at the historians seemingly claiming that the battle of Thermopylae caused the birth of a collective sense of Greek identity which led directly to a united Greece under Phillip II and then the glory of Alexander's empire. Hmmm...I thought the subsequent war between Sparta and Athens (the peloponnesian) left all of Greece easy prey for the Macedonians (who for hundreds of years had never been allowed to participate in the Olympic Games because they were not seen as sharing in the common Greek cultural identity).
That quibble aside, a well made and effective retelling of an incredible story that everybody should know.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent historical review
Comment: If you liked the movie "300" as much as I did, you'll definitely enjoy the documentary. It goes into much greater detail that the comic book and movie simply glossed over. Bottom line, get this DVD to acompany your "300" DVD!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Comment: All I know of this subject is what I watched during this DVD. So...based on that I thought this film was good and the story unfolded in an educating way. I walked away knowing more about Spartans than I knew before, and now I am really interested. This DVD paid for itself when it drew my interest.
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Editorial Reviews:
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The legendary battle of Thermopylae is still acknowledged today for its brilliant military maneuvers and the well-trained and fearless soldiers who fought to the death. THE HISTORY CHANNEL® presents a detailed account of this legendary battle, examining the events leading up to the conflict, the tactical expertise that allowed the outnumbered Greeks to stall their mighty foes, and the bloody encounter itself. Find out how an army of a few hundred men overcame impossible odds and witness the conflict that altered the course of Western civilization.
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