300

300 is based on a battle that occurred in 480 B.C. I provided a link that explains what really happened. Some say that 300 did not accurately follow the true events of which took place at the battle ofThermopylae but according to this link from wikipedia it seems very accurate. King Leonidas and his army of 300 Spartans, along with a small army of other Greeks held off the vast army of the Persian Empire, led by King Xerxes. After 3 days of battle, someone informed the Persians of a small pathway to lead them into Greece. Although all the Spartans were killed, this proved to the rest of Greece that this war could be won. It also gave Athens time to prepare for battle, which led to the dismantling of the Persian naval fleet, and eventually to the victory of Greece.

300

300 is based on a battle that occurred in 480 B.C. I provided a link that explains what really happened. Some say that 300 did not accurately follow the true events of which took place at the battle ofThermopylae but according to this link from wikipedia it seems very accurate. King Leonidas and his army of 300 Spartans, along with a small army of other Greeks held off the vast army of the Persian Empire, led by King Xerxes. After 3 days of battle, someone informed the Persians of a small pathway to lead them into Greece. Although all the Spartans were killed, this proved to the rest of Greece that this war could be won. It also gave Athens time to prepare for battle, which led to the dismantling of the Persian naval fleet, and eventually to the victory of Greece.

Blood Diamond

A movie that I am thinking about writing about this semester is Edward Zwick's thrilling film, Blood Diamond. Set during a civil war in Sierra Leone, Africa in the 1990's, Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, and Soloman Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman, join through fate in a quest to find a rare pink diamond.
Archer learns, while in prison, that Soloman was taken from his family by a rebel group named the RUF (Revolutionary United Front) to work in the diamond fields for "blood diamonds," which are diamonds used to finance their military. He learns that Soloman found and hid this rare pink diamond. With the help of an American journalist (Jennifer Connelly), the two men embark on a journey through rebel territory to find this diamond in hopes of finding Soloman's family, and gaining an opportunity for a second chance for Archer. This film was nominated for 5 academy awards: Best Actor In A Leading Role - Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Actor In A Supporting Role - Djimon Hounsou, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Film Editing.

Trailer--
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/blooddiamond/