While I do accept that this movie is not perfect, I can't help but adore it.
No, I'm not a guy and I'm usually rather squeamish when it comes to blood and gore (was nauseous through most of Kill Bill 1), but I found the violence in this movie tastefully done. And the music rocked!
I've seen the Frank Miller graphic novel and this is a well-done adaptation. The movie never intended to be historically accurate. It was meant to be the portrayal of a legend as narrated by Dilios, who mixes fantasy with the truth.
The line "We will fight in the shade" is reputed to be fact, although not said by a Stelios. Also Gerard Butler's "Come and get them" is also said to have come from the real Leonidas. Queen Gorgo is quoted as follows: "When asked by a woman from Attica, 'Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?', she said: 'Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men.'" My point is some of the clunky punchlined dialogue do have some sort of historical basis.
As a girl, I have to admit that the eye-candy in this movie is fantastic. Made the battle scenes very palatable. As for the guys, they'll get some skin show too - fortunate for them, I guess?
For a movie shot on such a low budget (the consequence of the failures of "Troy" and "Alexander")it is incredibly watchable.
