300
For the movie fan just wanting to see the action on the screen this is a great movie. One of the best war movies to come out in years. It is actually about the glory of war and honor of being a Warrior. For those that get wrapped up in the back story of the cast and story or the exposition of the battle to current events. I have some comments for you.
300 is based on a popular graphic novel written by Marvel comics genius Frank Miller about thirty years ago. His GN was based on the real Battle Of Thermopylae which took place in Greece in 480 BC.
This much is true. 300 Spartan warriors lead by their King Leonidas using superior training and tactics, stopped cold a Persian army estimated from 500,000 to 5 million. It was only through betrayal that they were defeated. To this day the battle is used by military organizations all over the world as a way to highlight the importance of training, esprit de corp, choosing the right terrain for your battle, honor and duty.
When I walked out of the theater I felt this movie was part Star Wars cantina, part Stargate, part Any Given Sunday. Why a football movie? Well because the Spartans are certainly depicted as being a highly focused and capable warriors who instead of catching a football or making a rousing tackle, cut and hack their way through swarms of enemy.
It is far to common lately to use movies about battle and war as a commentary on the senselessness of it, using a war movie for an anti-war statement. War is senseless, we all know that. Lets see some unbridled action. Lets see a war movie from the point of view that there isn't a social or political objective greater than the protection of freedom and the brother standing next to them. This movie delivers big time. This is a bloody movie, not for the sack of gore like a horror movie but as the by product of what happens when highly trained and motivated warriors must face odds that are roughly 3000:1 and conquered almost all of the known world.
Miller in his GN used a great visual and it carries into the movie so well. The warriors are heavily muscled, graceful and masters at weaponry, while the invading army is grotesque and misshapen, lead by a self proclaimed eight foot god who uses slaves and mysticism to control his minions.
The stylized grayness of the movie focuses attention on those few time there is color. In fact the only time there is stark color is when you glimpse the flowing red cape of a Spartan, see the gold skin of Persian king Xerxes, the mutated use of gold as an ornament or bribe and finally a brilliant ray of sun symbolizing the last chance of a country's freedom resting on the back of the Queen.
For a movie that proclaims it went with non-leading actors, they sure as heck loaded up on actors you recognize. Since this is an internet post and I am in fact to lazy, link to imdb and scroll through the leads yourself. These are actors that had big roles in things like Timeline, LOTR: Return of the King, Chicago, Lost (tv) and Rescue Me (tv). Not a shabby group.
For those that want to use 300 as a point of contest with current geo-political ambitions and conflicts. Please. This is a story that was written by Frank Miller in the 70's and based on a real battle that occurred 2,500 years ago. Philosophers and statesmen alike have used Thermopylae as a point of pride in their arguments ever sense. Its tired and unoriginal. The Spartans and Persians are neither America or any country in the middle east or vice versa. Its about a battle and a war that occurred long, long ago.
This is a man's man's movie and I hope that when the DVD come out they don't skimp of the extra and commentaries.
300 is based on a popular graphic novel written by Marvel comics genius Frank Miller about thirty years ago. His GN was based on the real Battle Of Thermopylae which took place in Greece in 480 BC.
This much is true. 300 Spartan warriors lead by their King Leonidas using superior training and tactics, stopped cold a Persian army estimated from 500,000 to 5 million. It was only through betrayal that they were defeated. To this day the battle is used by military organizations all over the world as a way to highlight the importance of training, esprit de corp, choosing the right terrain for your battle, honor and duty.
When I walked out of the theater I felt this movie was part Star Wars cantina, part Stargate, part Any Given Sunday. Why a football movie? Well because the Spartans are certainly depicted as being a highly focused and capable warriors who instead of catching a football or making a rousing tackle, cut and hack their way through swarms of enemy.
It is far to common lately to use movies about battle and war as a commentary on the senselessness of it, using a war movie for an anti-war statement. War is senseless, we all know that. Lets see some unbridled action. Lets see a war movie from the point of view that there isn't a social or political objective greater than the protection of freedom and the brother standing next to them. This movie delivers big time. This is a bloody movie, not for the sack of gore like a horror movie but as the by product of what happens when highly trained and motivated warriors must face odds that are roughly 3000:1 and conquered almost all of the known world.
Miller in his GN used a great visual and it carries into the movie so well. The warriors are heavily muscled, graceful and masters at weaponry, while the invading army is grotesque and misshapen, lead by a self proclaimed eight foot god who uses slaves and mysticism to control his minions.
The stylized grayness of the movie focuses attention on those few time there is color. In fact the only time there is stark color is when you glimpse the flowing red cape of a Spartan, see the gold skin of Persian king Xerxes, the mutated use of gold as an ornament or bribe and finally a brilliant ray of sun symbolizing the last chance of a country's freedom resting on the back of the Queen.
For a movie that proclaims it went with non-leading actors, they sure as heck loaded up on actors you recognize. Since this is an internet post and I am in fact to lazy, link to imdb and scroll through the leads yourself. These are actors that had big roles in things like Timeline, LOTR: Return of the King, Chicago, Lost (tv) and Rescue Me (tv). Not a shabby group.
For those that want to use 300 as a point of contest with current geo-political ambitions and conflicts. Please. This is a story that was written by Frank Miller in the 70's and based on a real battle that occurred 2,500 years ago. Philosophers and statesmen alike have used Thermopylae as a point of pride in their arguments ever sense. Its tired and unoriginal. The Spartans and Persians are neither America or any country in the middle east or vice versa. Its about a battle and a war that occurred long, long ago.
This is a man's man's movie and I hope that when the DVD come out they don't skimp of the extra and commentaries.
posted by Comm's @ 2:13 PM
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