whooaa! not supposed to empathize...c'mon man there were spartans fighting for life 'n honour (even our gud old 'Border' was better in driving home the point and in a way quite similar in storyline) - why shudn't u be made to - there was so much scope for tht.
Secondly, does it really matter whether it was fact or fiction (rem. spiderman 1 - the movie answers my point)
It's a pain to criticize 300 but there's no denying tht the movie cud have been awesome all around. Alas! i've to side with Mr. Sen who 'i agree' generally gives bad reviews.