300 (spoilers?)

[rowech]

Wondering if people have seen yet and what they thought. Try and avoid spoilers...haven't seen it yet but am curious.

[Blade6119]

im seeing it at the IMAX tonight, ill let you know

[14ers]

If you do not want any spoilers in this thread then why not put that in the title?

300 (No Spoilers allowed in thread)

or something like that instead of

300 (spoilers?)

[rowech]

Just figured I'd warn others...won't kill me if they're there but I thought it might others...didn't know how people might actually respond if I told them no spoilers.

[DeToxRox]

Saw it earlier. Amazing movie. Even the slower parts worked on all levels. I liked it better then Sin City. Amazing battle scenes and lots of great dialogue too boot.

[MrBigglesworth]

Great movie. Great lines, great visuals, nothing overdone. It was exactly what I expected it to be, a cross between Sin City and Troy (I loved both of those, I know a lot didn't like Troy).

[Raiders Army]

Great movie...although I shouldn't have read so much about it. I was distracted by some things I read. Like Biggles said, there were some great lines and visuals. Every scene was a work of art.

The battles were nice because you could tell what was happening. I liked the music as well, but there should've been more electric guitars in them. :)

[Galaril]

Great movie. I like the way it had at least some parts of the hsitory and wasn't too fantasy leaning e.g. no trolls though close.

[rowech]

I wondered about the fantasy leaning...that's what initially scared me off from it. I was hoping everything would be a historical war movie...even if Hollywoodized just a bit but I feared what looked like more fantasy elements.

[Sublime 2]

Loved it! I'll be buying it as soon as it comes out on DVD!

[Godzilla Blitz]

One of the best action movies I've ever seen. The visuals are incredible.

[cartman]

12 strikes = 300

end of discussion

:D

[sachmo71]

One of the best action movies I've ever seen. The visuals are incredible.

Agreed. I think a big key to it, at least from reviews that I've seen, is to realize what it is. It's not a period piece about Thermopyle. It's a comic book come to life. You'll get it if you keep your expectations where they should be.

BTW...kudos to the director for the cgi gore. What a brilliant move to bring the comic book to life.

I absolutely adored this movie.

[cthomer5000]

Thought it was fairly lame, and probably had the highest slow-motion to total film ratio of any movie I've ever seen.

If you want to see heads getting split open or severed for 2 hours in slow motion, and hear nothing but a string of lines intended to be stand-alone epic deep thought about battle you will love this movie.

Not terrible, but definitely not worth my 2 hours and 10 bucks. Incredibly disposable.

[MrBigglesworth]

If you want to see heads getting split open or severed for 2 hours in slow motion, and hear nothing but a string of lines intended to be stand-alone epic deep thought about battle you will love this movie.
What did you think it was going to be like going in?

[cthomer5000]

What did you think it was going to be like going in?

First of all, I didn't see it by choice. Secondly, I was expecting at least the slightest shred of story. It pretty much looked and felt like watching a video game for 2 hours. Or a military recruitment film.

[jaygr]

I have to agree with cthomer. I'd say that I went in pretty neutral- I haven't seen Sin City, am not into comics, etc. I knew that it wouldn't be, but I still would have preferred something realistic about the battle. But like I said I knew what it was coming in so it didn't surprise me. To me it seems (and maybe this can be said for most movies anyway) if you are into that kind of stuff you will probably really enjoy it, but if you are just checking the movie out you will probably be like what the "hell was that crap? What a waste of my time and money". A couple people after the showing were clapping so I know some people really liked it.

[timmynausea]

I saw this snippet from a review on rottentomatoes and thought it was funny:

"Fills a much-needed gap between gay porn and recruitment film."

[Leonidas]

How can there be any spoilers? Did they stray so far away from history that this is possible? Haven't seen the movie, but I'm predicting everyone dies, spoilers be damned.

And yes, as you can imagine from my alias and signature, I will likely hate the movie as I am still waiting for a really good movie version of this battle. Perhaps someone will finally get off their butts and produce the screenplay for Gates of Fire as has been talked about for so long.

[Celeval]

Thought it was fairly lame, and probably had the highest slow-motion to total film ratio of any movie I've ever seen.

Damn, ct, you've been bitchy about entertainment lately. ;)

[QuikSand]

From a NY Times review:

"...severed limbs, severed heads, terrible dialogue, and more skewered meat than you'll see outside a Brazilian steakhouse."

[Pyser]

gayer than sparticus.

nice visuals though.

[WVUFAN]

First of all, I didn't see it by choice. Secondly, I was expecting at least the slightest shred of story. It pretty much looked and felt like watching a video game for 2 hours. Or a military recruitment film.

So you came into it expecting to hate it?

I haven't watch it yet, but I fully expect it to be the kind of film I like: mindless, bloody, violent and visually stunning. I don't care for "message films". I want to be entertained by vicious violence and death for 2 hours. :)

[st.cronin]

A girl I go to school with said "it made me want to invade both a man's anus and Iran."

So, I think I'll be skipping it.

[Blade6119]

It was exactly what i thought it would be, 2 hours of blood and death. Had some pretty funny lines too to keep the flow working, and i loved it. I went in expecting bad ass fighting scenes and got exactly that...not sure what you we all expecting.

Now im looking forward to this directors next flick, rainbow six

[WVUFAN]

It was exactly what i thought it would be, 2 hours of blood and death. Had some pretty funny lines too to keep the flow working, and i loved it. I went in expecting bad ass fighting scenes and got exactly that...not sure what you we all expecting.

Now im looking forward to this directors next flick, rainbow six

Actually, his next film is another comic book film, the adaptation of the film "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

[Blade6119]

Well hes directing rainbow six too, but maybe watchmen is first...i know hes doing the rainbow six flick though

[WVUFAN]

Well hes directing rainbow six too, but maybe watchmen is first...i know hes doing the rainbow six flick though

Rainbow Six got put on turnaround. There's some legal issues over the rights to Clancy movies.

So if it does get made, it won't enter production until 2008 at the earliest. :(
I think Rainbox Six would make a great film as well, so I'm hoping it'll get made.

[sachmo71]

Actually, his next film is another comic book film, the adaptation of the film "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

The Watchmen better be a completely different animal.

My favorite reviewer line:
"This movie should have been called 'An Ode to a Grecian Ab'."

Awesome. :D

[Raiders Army]

Screw Frank Miller and Alan Moore, I want someone to do a Garth Ennis movie. Preacher or something.

[Godzilla Blitz]

In case anyone is interested, I just posted a review (http://www.kaboomreview.com/review-300.htm).

[cthomer5000]

Screw Frank Miller and Alan Moore, I want someone to do a Garth Ennis movie. Preacher or something.

Preacher is being made into an HBO series, so that's incredibly unlikely.

[cthomer5000]

So you came into it expecting to hate it?

Not at all. I should clarify. I wasn't running out to see this movie super excited, but i did choose over the other new release options out there. I had to see a movie (trust me on this, i dont want to have to explain myself) but I did actually choose this movie over others. I was genuniely interested overall since i really enjoyed the adaptaion of Sin City. But this was simply an awful movie. The worst fears in the back of mind based on the trailer basically ended up being the entire movie.

[cthomer5000]

I saw this snippet from a review on rottentomatoes and thought it was funny:

"Fills a much-needed gap between gay porn and recruitment film."

It's pretty much a perfect description. This film will score insanely high with high school football teams.

[ImTheCrew]

Just Got back from seeing it and i loved it aswell, MUST-SEE!

[Cringer]

It's pretty much a perfect description. This film will score insanely high with high school football teams.

My wife and I are going to win the Texas state championship this year.

[Fouts]

Very entertaining in a blood and death sort of way. I enjoyed it.

[Leonidas]

It was exactly what i thought it would be, 2 hours of blood and death. Had some pretty funny lines too to keep the flow working, and i loved it. I went in expecting bad ass fighting scenes and got exactly that...not sure what you we all expecting.Some of us history buffs who know the real story would really like to see a serious film adaptation of the event. Unfortunately this is the only movie version on the street, thus we are destined to be dissappointed.

[Raiders Army]

Some of us history buffs who know the real story would really like to see a serious film adaptation of the event. Unfortunately this is the only movie version on the street, thus we are destined to be dissappointed.

But did you really have abs like in the movie?

[SFL Cat]

The Bad

I thought the movie was way over the top with the violence and the gore. It was Braveheart x 5

They played fast and loose with the actual history.

The Immortals looked more like Ninja-movie rejects.

The LOTR monster types that showed up provided me with several wtf moments.

Xerxes looked like a S&M homosexual's wet dream and nothing like the images that have been preserved in history.

The Good

Good acting -- especially thought King Leonidas was strong.

Like the film's look -- Didn't think the Sin City art direction would work with this film, but I was wrong.

Engrossing story and some classic lines and moments (my favorite -- while under their shields during the first Persian massive arrow barrage they start giggling about fighting in the shade) -- those Spartans were bad a$$es.

On the whole, a moderate yes go see recommendation, but hopefully NOT like the couple sitting in front of me who brought their 3 young kids with them.

[Raiders Army]

On the whole, a moderate yes go see recommendation, but hopefully NOT like the couple sitting in front of me who brought their 3 young kids with them.

There were a bunch of young kids in the movie theater I was in yesterday. C'mon parents, be parents!

[Neon_Chaos]

It was released as R-18 here in the Philippines (due to excessive violence/nudity/suggestive scenes).

I loved the film. Met all my expectations, and they were pretty high.

For the history buffs... well, before the movie even came out, it already advertised that this is a movie rendition of Frank Miller's graphic novel (which took liberties with the Battle of Thermopylae for the sake of a nice storyline arc), so there's really no reason to expect anything but that.

I expected a great action flick. And walked out feeling like I saw something pretty epic. ;)

[larrymcg421]

How can there be any spoilers? Did they stray so far away from history that this is possible? Haven't seen the movie, but I'm predicting everyone dies, spoilers be damned.

And yes, as you can imagine from my alias and signature, I will likely hate the movie as I am still waiting for a really good movie version of this battle. Perhaps someone will finally get off their butts and produce the screenplay for Gates of Fire as has been talked about for so long.

The Gates of Fire version will almost certainly not happen now. And it's probably good, because I think they'd just badly fuck it up. I'm pretty sure they'd screw up the main character and his relationship with his cousin.

[gstelmack]

Some of us history buffs who know the real story would really like to see a serious film adaptation of the event. Unfortunately this is the only movie version on the street, thus we are destined to be dissappointed.

When I saw monsters in the trailer (these big ugly bulging dudes with chains holding them back) and a key character in a military dictatorship screaming about fighting for freedom, I decided this was not the movie for me. It's a good enough story without having to "X-treme" it...

[Jonathan Ezarik]

a key character in a military dictatorship screaming about fighting for freedom

I don't want to get into an historical debate here, but Sparta was not a dictatorship.

As for the film, I thought it was great. It was everything I hoped it would be: a film adaptation of the graphic novel 300. I'll definitely buy it when it comes out on DVD, and I'll probably go watch it again in the next couple of weeks.

[Honolulu_Blue]

300 made $70 million over the weekend making it the best opening weekend in March ever.

This is good. I always like to see comic book movies being successful, it begets more comic book movies.

Even better/more important, Zack Snyder (the director) is directing "The Watchmen" next. The more successful "300" is, the longer leash Snyder will likely get for "Watchmen."

I plan on seeing "300" this week or next weekend.

[MikeVic]

Watched it last night and enjoyed it a lot. Loved the slow-down during the fight scenes. It's good when I can tell what's going on in a fight. :)

[dawgfan]

It was pretty much what I expected - fantastic visuals, very "comic book"-ish, shallow story, extreme machismo. About the only thing that surprised me was the amount of homo erotic undercurrent to the film.

[MrBigglesworth]

About the only thing that surprised me was the amount of homo erotic undercurrent to the film.
I kind of felt this a little too when I was watching it, but upon reflection what really made it homoerotic? The male/male interaction wasn't much different than what you would find in any other war movie. The only four overtly sexual scenes had 1) an incredibly sexy female depiction 2) An ugly dude licking an amazingly hot, nubile, scantily clad woman 3) Hot half naked Persians rubbing up on on another ugly dude and 4) A guy hate-f'ing a sexy female. What really made it 'homoerotic' was the ripped guys in small clothing. But that's not inherently homoerotic. When the Spartan females were wearing those toga-like things that barely covered their breasts, I wasn't thinking it was homoerotic. It seems like the homoeroticism is based in the conflict of our culture's weirdness with the male body with our culture's reverence of the female form.

[dawgfan]

I kind of felt this a little too when I was watching it, but upon reflection what really made it homoerotic?
There were some lines in there that certainly could've been read with a home erotic subtext to them. The first one off the top of my head is the numerous requests from the Persians to the Spartans to "kneel before them".

In general though, you're right - a lot of what would be interpreted as homoerotic in this movie is more just the inequality in our culture of how we exploit the form of the female and not the male. There's plenty of naked females in the movie, and a reasonable dose of female sensuality in an otherwise male-centric battle picture.

[Chief Rum]

There were some lines in there that certainly could've been read with a home erotic subtext to them. The first one off the top of my head is the numerous requests from the Persians to the Spartans to "kneel before them".

Wow, that's how you interpreted that? I understood a bit what you meant before with your homoeroticism theory, but you lost me here. In my mind, any "kneeling" connotations are only residue of today's over-sexed blowjob society. It's fairly well established that prior to modern times, kneeling before another was a strong sign of submission. That's certainly all it meant to me as I watched the movie.

[SFL Cat]

^^^ What CR said about kneeling.

Of course, you could make your case by mentioning Xerxes. My friend referred to him as the drag queen afterward. He was certainly over the top and looked nothing like his preserved historical image.

[Raiders Army]

In general, actresses make their name by being beautiful and showing skin (not all of it, but plenty). Actors make their name by being good actors.

[Calis]

Saw this last night.

Better than I expected, was really worried from the start that'd be bad, but it was ok. The battles were fun, but man they really didn't give you the feeling of these guys fighting for 3 days and being whittled down, just exhausted. I think they could've played that up a lot more, and ESPECIALLY the last stand. I thought that was incredibly lame, they're surrounded so they just bascally let themselves die. I think they could've had them fall a little more heroically.

Yeah, I would've loved to have seen a Historical Epic Gates of Fire version of the movie, but probably wouldn't have made near the profit. I think the story is fantastic enough without adding in all the fantasy elements.

[sachmo71]

Did I miss the "fantasy elements" that I keep hearing aobut? My only fantasy was about taking a walk through Xerxes harem.

[gstelmack]

Did I miss the "fantasy elements" that I keep hearing aobut? My only fantasy was about taking a walk through Xerxes harem.

The previews kept showing these changed monster-dude things that were pretty clearly not very human. Not even professional wrestlers look THAT ugly.

[dawgfan]

^^^ What CR said about kneeling.

Of course, you could make your case by mentioning Xerxes. My friend referred to him as the drag queen afterward. He was certainly over the top and looked nothing like his preserved historical image.
Yeah, I forget to add that part. They had more makeup on him than any of the actresses.

As for the kneeling part, yeah, I understand the historical implications. But I also don't think you can ignore the modern context either, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the screenwriters wrote those lines with a nod and a wink toward that interpretation.

I fully acknowledge that I live in a relatively gay-friendly area of the country and have a number of gay friends and acquaintances, so I may be more prone to read in homoerotic subtexts to the movie than others.

[Galaril]

It was pretty much what I expected - fantastic visuals, very "comic book"-ish, shallow story, extreme machismo. About the only thing that surprised me was the amount of homo erotic undercurrent to the film.


We should remember that relations between soldiers was encouraged and was in fact expected in Spartan society. Older more veteran soldiers would pair up with younger soldiers and be their mentor, military continuing education OJT trainer, father AND lover.
Men were away to battle most of the time and until a man was 30 years old
he was in active duty. After active duty was finished a man went into the reserves until he was 60 years old. Man could marry before 30 but usually didn't but were expected to marry and produce more spartan babies. A man if he didn't marry would be chastised throughout the town he was in as effeminant.
Wikipedia:
Pederasty and military training were intimately connected in Sparta, as in many other cities. The Spartans, claims Athenaeus [19] sacrificed to Eros before every battle: "Thus the Lacedaemonians offer preliminary sacrifices to Eros before the troops are drawn up in battle-line, because they think that their safe return and victory depend upon the friendship of the men drawn up." However, unlike other cities which stationed lovers side by side in battle to encourage each to fiercer efforts, Spartan youths were so well trained that they fought nobly regardless of where they were positioned.[20]

The lover was responsible for the boy's training. An anecdote relates the story of a Spartan magistrate who was fined by the city because his beloved had cried out while he was fighting, which was considered to be a sign that the young man was overly effeminate and had therefore not been properly educated by his distinguished lover.[21] And while the ephors were lenient with a youth who committed a misdeamenor, they made sure to punish his lover, since it was his responsibility to watch and control his beloved.[22]

Spartan women also were bisexualla nd most older women had younger girls as lovers:)

wiki:
Similar to the case of the young men, it was expected that women engaged in romantic relationships with girls as well. As it is the case with the life of women in general, our sources are much rarer in the case of the institutionalised lesbian love. Plutarch writes, "And though this sort of love [i.e. pederasty] was so approved among them, that the most virtuous matrons would make professions of it to young girls, yet rivalry did not exist..."[23] The most explicit expression of the "female pederasty" is found in the choral lyric of Alcman, composed in the 7th cent. BC. Here, girls' choruses express a very intense affection for their chorus leader:

"For there will not be enough purple to defend oneself, nor a colourful snake of solid gold nor a Lydian diadem, the pride of the violet-eyed young girls, nor the hair of Nanno, nor godlike Areta nor Sylacis and Cleesisera; and you will not go home to Aenesimbrota and say: May Astaphis be mine, may Philylla look at me, or Damareta or lovely Ianthemis. No, it is Hagesichora that torments me."[24].
There is probably an age difference between Hagesichora ("chorus-leader") and the other girls. We cannot know if there was also a physical side to this love. At any rate, the relationship is similar to the ones expressed in the lyrics of the contemporaneous poetress Sappho from Lesbos. Furthermore, it must be kept in mind that exactly because the girls have not composed the song themselves, the love expressed in the text was expected and encouraged by the community as part of their initiation-rites.

I am not condoning the Spartans ideas just correcting any misconceptions.

[timmynausea]

Here is a quote from the new Entertainment Weekly about the homoerotic element, and it seems dawgfan was right:

"The scenes of a bejeweled, long fingernailed Xerxes offering King Leonidas peace in exchange for 'submission' have a decidedly sexual undertone. Snyder says that's not accidental, that it's intended to make young straight males in the audience uncomfortable: 'What's more scary to a 20 year old boy than a giant god king who wants to have his way with you?'"

[MrBigglesworth]

Here is a quote from the new Entertainment Weekly about the homoerotic element, and it seems dawgfan was right:

"The scenes of a bejeweled, long fingernailed Xerxes offering King Leonidas peace in exchange for 'submission' have a decidedly sexual undertone. Snyder says that's not accidental, that it's intended to make young straight males in the audience uncomfortable: 'What's more scary to a 20 year old boy than a giant god king who wants to have his way with you?'"
I felt the same way at that scene, when Leonidas turns his back and Xerxes comes and towers over him from behind and I think puts his hand on his shoulder. That's the only part that I thought had a real homoerotic undertone.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I just came across this on imdb.com


Web Credited for '300' Triumph
http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/64/95/12/10s.jpg Viral Internet marketing was likely responsible for the astonishing success of <C>Warner Bros.</C>' 300 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/) over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times indicated today (Tuesday). The newspaper observed that the movie, which earned nearly $71 million over the weekend, originally got a big push at last year's Comic-Con convention in San Diego when the movie's visuals excited attendees. Berge Garabedian (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1883957/) who runs the fanboy website Joblo, told the newspaper that many websites like his began hyping the movie. "Everybody was talking about it," he said. Warner Bros. then developed a MySpace page for the film, including a feature upgrade on the 300 site that permitted users to store 300 photos on their profile. That "stroke of genius," as the Times referred to the photo ploy, resulted in billions of ad impressions and 8 million viewings of the trailer for the film. 300 went into the record books as the third-biggest opening of an R-rated movie in history (after The Passion of the Christ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/) and The Matrix Reloaded (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234215/)). It was also the biggest opening of any film debuting in March and he biggest IMAX opening.

While I am sure the positive buzz on the internet certainly helped the movie, but I don't think the LA Times is full of crap on this story.

Didn't the commercial failure of "Snakes on a Plane" pretty much poo-poo the idea that internet buzz sells tickets.

Did the web play a part in boosting awareness for the film? Yes, of course. But the success of the film is probably in large part due to the fact that it looked exceptionally cool in previews, had a built-in fan base, and the fact that it's been a while since a movie like this was released.

People are far too quick to praise or damn the web.

[MrBigglesworth]

Interesting 300 article contrasting it to the real history:

http://www.thestar.com/article/190493

[Raiders Army]

Re-reading the comics, there was a lot of penis in 'em. I never noticed it before.

[Raiders Army]

For example:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8652/300aw5.jpg


and



http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/8730/300aul8.jpg

[Honolulu_Blue]

I finally saw this last night. I loved it. It was exactly what I was expecting out of the movie. I think Gerard Butler did a great job with the role. A beautiful movie to look at, great sound, great action.

[larrymcg421]

I liked the movie overall, but the terrible subplot nearly ruined it. There was absolutely no need for it, since the resolution of it has absolutely no bearing on the main plot. And considering how much the movie cheered on the Spartans for refusing to submit to Xerxes, allowing Queen Gorgo to submit to Theron seemed to be very inconsistent.

[st.cronin]

Easily one of the ten worst movies I've ever endured. The deviations from history wouldn't bother me if they improved the story - but they don't, they in fact ruin it.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I liked the movie overall, but the terrible subplot nearly ruined it. There was absolutely no need for it, since the resolution of it has absolutely no bearing on the main plot. And considering how much the movie cheered on the Spartans for refusing to submit to Xerxes, allowing Queen Gorgo to submit to Theron seemed to be very inconsistent.

The subplot was completely forgettable. It really didn't add anything of value, but it was pretty easy to over look. This is easily one of the most beautiful movies I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Some of the scenes and shots were incredible. Between that and the great action sequences, it was everything I thought it'd be and more.

I loved the way they portrayed Xeres. Completely out there (like many things in the film), but I liked it.

[WVUFAN]

Easily one of the ten worst movies I've ever endured. The deviations from history wouldn't bother me if they improved the story - but they don't, they in fact ruin it.

It's not supposed to be historically accurate. It's literally a comic-to-film translation, ala Sin City. It's supposed to be faithful to the comic, not the historical incident.

[st.cronin]

It's not supposed to be historically accurate. It's literally a comic-to-film translation, ala Sin City. It's supposed to be faithful to the comic, not the historical incident.

Right, in theory I have no problem with that. The problem is they make the story stupider and less interesting.

[sabotai]

I thought I was really going to like this movie, but I hated it. I thought it was terrible. It LOOKED really good, but the movie itself was bad.

But I did like the portrayal of Xerxes. He was pretty much the only character I was interested in.

[Jonathan Ezarik]

I liked the movie overall, but the terrible subplot nearly ruined it. There was absolutely no need for it, since the resolution of it has absolutely no bearing on the main plot.

This was my first thought after leaving the theater as well, but looking back it was needed. You've got to have something to slow down the action and give the audience a chance to catch their breath.