300

Though the movie depicts historic events almost exactly as they didn't happen, for once I don't mind.  The movie isn't meant to be historic and the liberties are willingly overlooked.  On March 31, 2007, I provided my take on 300:

Though based on the historic Battle of Thermopylae, the movie feels more like a particularly violent D&D adventure, complete with some bizarre monsters. Our heroes - the 300 Spartans - dress in much the same fashion as all female characters or Conan; nothing but a loin cloth. It starts out easy as the Persian Emperor sends wave after wave of 1st level goons to die on the spears of the high level party. Then the named monsters start to arrive. There are the Immortals who wear silver masks that cover dessicated faces, the Frankenstien monster who kills a Persian in order to arm himself, an armored Rhino, some elephants almost as big as the ones seen in Lord of the Rings, and even an executioner who seems to have bone swords instead of arms. The movie is most entertaining and highly recommended. It makes me want to run a Greek campaign.

 

Here is the movie that made Gerard Butler a star and launched Zach Snyder's directorial career into the stratosphere.  The movie is ludicrous from start to finish, describing a fantastical and bizarre ancient world that merely borrows some plotlines from historical events.  However, the names were not changed to protect the innocent.