This Is Sparta (300)
You know a scene is successful when it becomes an Internet meme overnight. However, none are quite as memorable as King Leonidas’ “This is Sparta!” war cry and thrust kicking of the Persian messenger into the well. In fact, it’s arguably the moment that most film audiences will associate with 300 forever.
Picking a favorite part from this movie is an ardent task, since it’s a tub of eye candy through and through, but this is the one highlight that encapsulates what Snyder is all about. The trick lies in the dual use of the slow motion and soundtrack (or lack thereof here to accentuate the oomph of Leonidas’ powerful kick), but it synergizes in such a way that it embeds itself into our minds, much like a mental sticky note of sorts.
If you’re looking for a quotable scene bursting with violence and dripping with machismo that looks straight out of the pages of Frank Miller’s seminal work, this is your go-to moment in the flick. We say screw the critics who hated 300, because this sequence alone was worth the price of admission.