Editor Reviews:

Description:
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.

Amazon.com:
Last Stand of the 300 is an interesting 90-minute documentary from the History Channel explaining the details of the ancient Spartans' showdown with the Persian army at the battle of Thermopylae. It's long been a fascinating subject, but it hit popular culture in a big way with the 2007 feature film 300, based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. Last Stand of the 300 helps explain the background behind the battle as well as many of the details not covered in the movie, including how the Ionian Revolt and the famed battle of Marathon led to Themopylae, the naval front led by Thermistocles, and what happened afterward. Numerous scholars and authors (including the writers of Gates of Fire and Empires at War) explain the rigorous Spartan training, military strategy, the Oracle at Delphi, the Persian technological advantage, different kinds of weaponry and vessels (the Spartan hoplon, dory, and xiphos, and the trireme), and how one of Miller's famous lines came from Herodotus ("Then we shall have our battle in the shade"). The maps are extremely helpful for showing how the geography affected the battle (one detour would have cost the Persians an extra two years of travel time), but the reenactments look kind of simple compared to the extremely stylized feature film. --David Horiuchi

Rating : - Absorbing documentary on the Battle of Thermopylae
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.