Meet the Spartans MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: -1/2 Content: -4

Kevin Sorbo, Diedrich Bader, Greg Ellis. Comedy spoof. Written & directed by Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Rough, ruckus, raunchy spoof of the film 300, with other films and pop icons satirized.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Like Pavlovs dogs Americans have been conditioned to see a movie the day of its release. And studios wisely refrain from inviting press to prior screenings of films they know will meet with little but negative comment. There are folks who will pass on such films once they have read critical reactions and the reason for the rating. These folks are not the studios target audience. They cater to those who attend movies based on a poster outside the theater featuring a women in brief attire and men with goofy expressions.

I predict that this ignoring of critical input by studios will happen more and more. The question is, will audiences continue to go to films that were held from reviewers? I suppose so. Im thinking, however, even if people dont read reviews, they should be leery of a film the studio made sure reviewers couldnt see. Beware, theres a reason.

DVD Alternative: The Party. Peter Sellers stars as a good-hearted bumbler who accidentally destroys a movie set, and then manages to do the same to a fancy party given by the films producer. There are a few risqu moments, but it is pretty tame by todays standards. And extremely funny and good-natured. Sellers is terrific.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: 20th Century Fox