\'Gates of Fire\' By Steven Pressfield

[Ghostmojo]

I'm hoping for a film about Thermopylai which doesn't use Gates of Fire as its basis. I have read this, and many other of Pressfield's books, and thoroughly enjoyed them but my main quesion/point is - is not the actual story of Thermopylai interesting enough without the fictionalised additions of Pressfield's book?

I read a few years back that Michael Mann had been preparing a cinematic treatment of a Leonidas' 300 story which those who had read it said was very promising. Apparently it featured an overhead filming approach of the brutal fighting in the pass which would have made the action in Gladiator look like a picnic! As we know both Bruce Willis and George Clooney were interested in the lead role. I wonder if they would have made the king look what his proper age would have been - i.e. probably approaching 60 (and at least early 50s).

It is a fantastic and truly inspiring tale which has been badly served (twice now) and seriously in need of the 'ultimate' treatment. The 1962 sword & sandal nonsense and more recent Frank Miller adaptation are enjoyable in their own ways but the real story needs to be told (as best as we can understand it) in an accurate and dignified way. I think there is more than enough in Herodotos and the other ancient accounts to give us a story worthy of telling, without the need for modern historio-fiction. I mean I worry that history is going to be forever hijacked by Hollywood to serve other purposes, and now I'm sad to say the BBC are at it with The Tudors and such like.

Let's just hope Mel Gibson doesn't get involved ...