Iain was kind enough to invite me along to a preview showing of 300. A movie based on Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name, it's a spectacular (albeit bombastic) retelling of the King Leonidas' last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae. Iain has rightly described it as "the manliest movie ever made".

300 remains entertaining, however. And while many will argue that the movie is far too "self-serious", I add that it retains at moments a subtle humor which allows it a little wiggle room in that regard.

So, if you're looking for an ultraviolent romp through one of the darker moments in antiquity that looks really, REALLY cool (Allen, looking in your direction), go see 300 and your eyes will pop out of your skull and explode in a fine red spray, much to Frank Miller's delight. If you get caught up on little things like the unpleasantness of gore, strong female characters who are nonetheless portrayed as sex objects, and lack of realism when it comes to Newtonian physics, then 300 is not for you, nor is any other Frank Miller Story, for that matter.

So in the words of Admiral Adama, "Make your choice, son."