 Victor Davis Hanson , National Review columnist and former professor of Classical history at California State University , Fresno , who wrote the foreword to a 2007 re @-@ issue of the graphic novel , said the film demonstrates a specific affinity with the original material of Herodotus in that it captures the martial ethos of ancient Sparta and represents Thermopylae as a " clash of civilizations " . He remarks that Simonides , Aeschylus , and Herodotus viewed Thermopylae as a battle against " Eastern centralism and collective serfdom " , which opposed " the idea of the free citizen of an autonomous polis " . He also said the film portrays the battle in a " surreal " manner , and that the intent was to " entertain and shock first , and instruct second " . 
