Plot: What’s it about?
Sparta has withstood assaults from countless invaders, but now as the Persian forces advance, the Spartans face a battle even they might not be able to win. The Spartans have been known as the fiercest warriors in the world, trained from birth in the ways of war, to be ready to defend Sparta at a moment’s notice. The Persians are led by Xerxes, a man who claims to be part god and boasts an army that numbers in the millions. In Sparta, King Leonidas refuses to yield and kicks Xerxes’ messenger down the pit of death, then kicks numerous others down there as well, including Britney Spears. Leonidas assembles a small, but skilled group to take the battle to the Persians, but he knows he needs backup to defeat Xerxes. When a hunchbacked Paris Hilton threatens the Spartans’ success, can Leonidas and his men overcome the odds?
I’ve seen reviews that claim Meet the Spartans is the worst movie ever produced. I don’t agree with that sentiment, but I do see why some people hated this movie. Meet the Spartans wants to be The Naked Gun or Airplane, but gets so distracted, so often, that it has no real focus. Of course, the prime target is 300, but that is just the framework that allows a barrage of rapid fire, pop culture jabs that never seems to slow down. I don’t mind a well timed pop culture reference, but Meet the Spartans uses them as a crutch and will be severely dated within a few years. If you lampoon a cultural element, make it one that counts, not flash in the pan stuff as seen in this picture. In the end, Meet the Spartans just isn’t that good and never gets much momentum going, as good laughs are sparse and that is death for a movie like this. If you’re drunk with a bunch of friends, maybe this is a decent rental, but with so many better choices, its hard to recommend Meet the Spartans.
Video: How does it look?
Meet the Spartans is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a new release with a short window to home video, so it looks quite impressive. A few scenes don’t have the detail level I’d like, but for the most part, depth is good and detail is above average. In fact, detail is a little too good at times, as Carmen Electra looks a little worn and closeups often reveal a little more detail than we’d like to see. The image has rich color as well, when not tinkered with to maintain the 300 style visuals, while contrast is on target and consistent. So overall, a great transfer all around.
Audio: How does it sound?
This lossless DTS HD 5.1 option has a few bells & whistles, but mostly plays like a standard comedic soundtrack. A few scenes have some action and those moments pack a nice punch, while the music also adds some presence. So there is some life in the mix, just not throughout on a consistent basis. But the audio is fine and handles the material well, so all the vocals are clear and no errors surface in the least. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The cast and crew commentary track is decent, perhaps even funnier at times than the film itself. The group is talkative and has a lot of information to share, as well as some jokes and behind the scenes anecdotes. The trouble is that most of them seem to think they’ve created a minor masterpiece, which is beyond humorous, to say the least. In the end, if you enjoyed the movie or want to laugh at how delusional some of the folks are, give the commentary track a spin. You can also check out a few promotional featurettes, a gag reel, two trivia tracks, three interactive games, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
