Plot As Persian emperor Xerxes (Santoro) marches on Greece in 480 BC, the Spartan king Leonidas (Butler), forbidden by custom and religion to muster his army, marches just 300 men to Thermopylae to delay the vast invading force.Verdict Visually stunning, thoroughly belligerent and as shallow as a pygmy’s paddling pool, this is a whole heap of style tinged with just a smidgen of substance.