My partner and I went to the cinema last night to watch this, and we were both very impressed. As a fun action film it was excellent, violent and stylish and honest. It wont win any awards for it's intelliegnce though, and anyone who goes to watch it for the historial aspects will be bored and frustated.
I was impressed with how much my partner enjoyed it. It seems that she enjoyed this movie for more than just the prime British Beef on display. I thought that the sub-plot with the Queen was an uneccessary addition to the film that just slowed it down and took away from the battle, but I think she was glad to have a female character to identify with.
It's nice to be able to walk away from the cinema, without feeling guilty about oggling the topless females in the film, becasue for a change she was oggling the topless males just as much!
And as for impressive appearance of the 300 themselves..... whether it's homoeroticism, adolescent-male power fantasy I dont know. But I liked it