i keep telling john we need to go see this big screen (he doesn’t disagree, but we still ended up seeing the number 23 yesterday.  read my lj for my anger re: ending, and my amazement over jim carrey sex appeal ;)… i didn’t even think of the imax route.  fortunately, there’s an imax in white plains (oh hey, were we were yesterday), so that’s only 40 mins away from home.

p.s. don’t bother with the number 23 unless you want to turn it off before it finishes… i can even tell you at what point ;) then, you can choose your own ending by making it up better than the movie did ;)

I hate to drag modern politics into a good old fashioned High Noon story, but the box office take of The 300 seems like an encouraging sign of public mood to me....I’m thrilled that it’s doing so well...could it be an indicator that the public is still interested in WINNING wars? “Simplistic” images of good guys vs. bad guys? A reminder that all those polls showing dissatisfaction with Iraq indicate a desire for more aggressive tactics, not withdrawal?

All of the above, I hope.

I hate to drag modern politics into a good old fashioned High Noon story, but the box office take of The 300 seems like an encouraging sign of public mood to me....I’m thrilled that it’s doing so well...could it be an indicator that the public is still interested in WINNING wars? “Simplistic” images of good guys vs. bad guys? A reminder that all those polls showing dissatisfaction with Iraq indicate a desire for more aggressive tactics, not withdrawal?

i think you’re out of your fucking mind. 

IMHO, of course.

it’s a movie.  based on a graphic novel.  period.

it’s beautifully done, it’s a good story.  i have not seen it yet, but i’m willing to bet i will absolutely love it.  if you think that suddenly my view on the war will change, you’re off your rocker.

in any event, like i said, i haven’t seen the movie, but my understanding is that it’s all about how the little guy rose up to beat the superpower.  hell, i don’t know of ANYONE who would want to make that correlation with the instant situation, do you??

n any event, like i said, i haven’t seen the movie, but my understanding is that it’s all about how the little guy rose up to beat the superpower.  hell, i don’t know of ANYONE who would want to make that correlation with the instant situation, do you??

Nope.  Think the Alamo.  That’s a lot like what this battle was; an ancient world Alamo.

buzzion:  regardless, my point was that the fact that it is doing well in the box office, IMHO, has no baring on public sentiment (pro or con) regarding modern issues.  i just think the connection is quite tenuous at best.

Well, here’s my $0.02 on what is and what isn’t a political statement in this movie.

1. 99.95% of it has nothing to do with modern day.  It covers almost exactly the words and images created by Miller years ago.  What it is is unapologetic.  When was the last time Hollywood made a war movie that - in some way - didn’t try to humanize and apologize to (and for) the “bad guys?” No such thing here.  We experience the Persian army as the Spartans might have - the monstrousness of their appearance isn’t meant to suggest that Persians are animals or that they are magic.  It’s meant to show us how it felt EMOTIONALLY to have these hoards of strange people and strange beasts charging at your tiny little fighting force.  Zack & Frank make not one drop of apology in any form or regard - Spartans are what they are and the threat is what it is, and the fight is inevitable.  Period.  Simply holding back the Persians denotes victory, as it means the survival of not only Sparta, but all the Greek city-states, paving the way for democracy to be improved upon and of course await Roman conquering.  :) The world - the real one - would be a different place had these few men lost that pass on the first day or two of fighting.

I think if there is a reason so many are so passionate about this movie - one beyond the simple fact that it’s a moving story told in an amazing way - it’s that we’re finally allowed to cheer for the good guys and root against the bad guys without being made to feel guilty for it.

2.  - SPOILER ALERT - SPOILER ALERT - SPOILER ALERT -

The added scenes of political wrangling back home between the queen, the diplomat and the council are the only things that have a direct connection, and that was Frank Miller saying “Stop leaving soldiers hanging out there to die while we all bicker and argue and profit amongst ourselves.” It’s a direct condemnation of anyone -left right or upside down, American or otherwise, it’s a universal message - who would reap the benefits of soldier’s sacrifice and give them nothing in the way of support.  In this case actual military support.  Another thousand or two Spartans might have actually turned this from a holding action to a full-on victory.

That has obvious modern allegory.

BUT - That’s one scene that lasts 5 minutes.  And furthermore, if you choose to completely ignore any potential modern allegorical connection, you lose nothing in the way of enjoyment.  Because of what happens - I will NOT spoil that part, you need to see it - it sent a cheer through the theater - you can stay totally engrossed in the movie and never once, not even for a moment, try to make it fit any modern social issues.

Try that with most of the crap that comes out of Hollywood these days.

In short - the movie and the characters within make no apologies for who and what they are.  That’s refreshing.  Also, it’s simply stunning to look at.  If the acting sucked and the dialogue was weak sauce, it’d STILL be worth seeing just for the visual effects.  Luckily, you also get a good movie along with all the flash and sizzle.

my coworker said she hated it in part because all the characters had different accents.  i was amused by that.

Wow. I wasn’t suggesting that there was a modern allegory put into the movie...It’s a faithful translation of the graphic novel, which is several years old. I hate that crap anyway, manipulating history to make some current point.

All I was saying was that it’s an encouragement to hope we’re still, deep down, a bloodthirsty, un-nuanced, pro-war country :)

my coworker said she hated it in part because all the characters had different accents.  i was amused by that.

Ha!  I stopped caring about that years ago.  It got pretty tiresome seeing people try desperately to put on accents they don’t have for period movies.  Better to just let them act and talk normally.  One bad accent can ruin a movie.  See anything with Keanu Reeves that isn’t the Matrix, involves time travel or has a surfboard in it.

i tend to agree.  i mean, if you’re going to get annoyed by the accent, may as well get annoyed by the fact that THEY’RE SPEAKING ENGLISH!  ;)

All I was saying was that it’s an encouragement to hope we’re still, deep down, a bloodthirsty, un-nuanced, pro-war country :)

I hear you...and in part I think you’re right.  It’s nice to see something that appeals to the warrior in all of us (even pacifists have one!) and doesn’t apologize for itself.  I think people are, perhaps subconsciously if nothing else, responding to that part of the movie.

I think another part of it is that it’s a fresh way to make a film...one that worked on every level.  Every casting decision, every shot, almost every effect (the water looks real fake, jarringly fake, but it’s a comic book, so...), every editing choice...it was a success all the way down the line.

They brought a graphic novel to life in a way that was completely different than Sin City and absolutely beautiful.  With no big stars and a budget a quarter the size of your average Spielberg or Cameron effects film.  That’s a freaking breath of fresh air, Ah tell yew whut. /hankhill

i tend to agree.  i mean, if you’re going to get annoyed by the accent, may as well get annoyed by the fact that THEY’RE SPEAKING ENGLISH!  ;)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...everyone spoke English.  WTF?  ;)

I think you have to make certain concessions for period movies, and I think the trend to ignore accents as long as the actor is good is a trend I like.  Not everyone is Hugh Laurie and can do an almost flawless accent from like, 19 different countries.

It’s nice to see something that appeals to the warrior in all of us (even pacifists have one!)

hell’s yeah we do.  you just come over watch me beat the ever unliving CRAP out of some zombies in Dead Rising on the xbox 360 if you want proof of that.

(oh come on… “unliving crap” is funny.  it is.  i swear.  because they’re zombies.  you know.  undead?  like… oh forget it.)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...everyone spoke English.  WTF?  ;)

... and every planet had breathable air.

WHAT’S YOUR POINT??? ;)

Dude, when the spaceborne virus comes and re-animates the dead, we are SO going to be ready for them. :)

Dude, when the spaceborne virus comes and re-animates the dead, we are SO going to be ready for them

Undo Redo

Dude, when the spaceborne virus comes and re-animates the dead, we are SO going to be ready for them. :)

But if we follow movie logic, we won’t be the ones to fight the horde of undead, it will be totally unprepared and unwilling wimps.  No one in those movies actually a. knows what to do, or b. is willing to do it. They just have to. Thats why I love Hiro from Heroes:  A dude with superpowers who wants them and has a vague idea how to use them.

But when they do come...oh ya...gonna kill me some undead fucks.

Crap...posted that other post before my comment on 300.

I agree totally with what everyone has said so far. This movie was incredible. The first movie I have seen in years that actually lived up to the trailer. I was thrilled to see a movie where the characters where who they were supposed to be, and weren’t weighed down with so much talk talk bullshit. The King went and did what he needed to do, and was willing to pay the price for it.

I just wish I could have seen it in IMAX as well.  I missed it by a week from seeing it in Vegas. Dammit.

What it is is unapologetic.  When was the last time Hollywood made a war movie that - in some way - didn’t try to humanize and apologize to (and for) the “bad guys?”

And the movie critics hate that.  I read a review where the guy had a major problem with the line between good and bad being so pronounced and clear.  Then there was the fact of the good guys all being good looking white men and the bad guys are persians, which he loved to draw the parallel between the western world and Iran.  Hollywood doesn’t like having a lack of moral ambiguity.

This movie was definitely refreshing after having seen several movies where everyone is basically a bad guy.

Awesome flick. It was kinda funny that you could still hear snippets of Gerard Butler’s Scottish brogue leaking through from time to time, much like when he was singing in Phantom of the Opera. This movie has something for everyone. Guys/bull dykes get to see tons of gratuitous violence and gore, and girls/gay guys get to see sweaty, muscled men (most notably Gerard Buttcheeks) in loincloths. Everyone wins. I’m usually not one for over-stylized movies (I liked Sin City, but they did pour it on too thick at times), but this one worked out perfectly. It was exaggerated because that’s how it was TOLD, not necessarily how it happened.

It was exaggerated because that’s how it was TOLD, not necessarily how it happened.

Bingo.  You have to go back well over 2000 years to find the first guy who exaggerated this story to near-mythical proportions.

Man...I can’t stop seeing it in my head.  I might have to go see it again in a digital theater this time.

I might have to go see it again in a digital theater this time.

Yes, please rub it in for those of us in BFE.  No IMAX, No Digital, hell we barely get color and sound.

Not that I actually trust those talkies.  Goen to be the death of Jolsen, I tell ya.

The movie was fun, no doubt about it.  The political wrangling portion, as well as the sex/nudity seemed tacked on and completely unnecessary.  And I hate people who cheer in theaters.  Before the show we had retards shouting how much time before the movie starts, as well as the “Tonight we dine in hell” line.  Gah!  I am never going to another midnight showing again.

I loved the fight scenes.  That was why I went to see 300 and I was not dissapointed.

And I hate people who cheer in theaters.

there are only 2 movies i have been to where that was entirely acceptable. 

RHPS (albeit that was numerous times ;)

Snakes on a Plane (how do you NOT yell the key line?!)

other than that, people really ruin the movie going experience.  this is precisely why someone needs to donate money to me so i can have my very own theater.

;)