Comments | trinityofone: Anti-Rec: 300

trinityofone

Anti-Rec: 300

Jan 31, 2007 12:33

Okay, I normally don't post reviews of the movies I see early for work, because a) I'm lazy, and b) I figure no one cares. But this movie made me SO VIOLENTLY ANGRY that I feel I have to say something, and I really, really want you to care. And to not see it.

( Spoilers for the film '300,' although they're actually fairly minimal, as the plot is fairly minimal )

Comments 303

ladycat777 January 31 2007, 20:42:18 UTC

:( That makes me really unhappy, because while it's kind of true in that Leonides went against his co-king and a lot of other Spartans to block that pass... the rest of it, not so much. I really wanted to see this movie, too, because I'm a classical historian and I love this story, the politics of it as well as what was a very brave last-stand kind of thing by a desperate man. Clearly not in this version. I'm wondering why I thought I'd find anything resembling Thucydides's version, which probably wasn't anything near the truth anyway.

Also, Spartan manly men who don't fuck other men? The same Spartans that had to be ordered to screw their wives and produce children? The same Spartans that died out because their were more servants and surrounding people then true-blooded Spartans?

I think I should cry now. *crosses that movie off her list*

trinityofone January 31 2007, 20:55:43 UTC

Ack! Sorry, I don't mean to crush dreams! But really, I think that if you went to this movie you would leave feeling really upset.

The denial of the Spartans' sexual practices was so pathetic and desperate it was almost sad. Even sadder than "Cousins! Totally cousins!"

ladycat777 January 31 2007, 21:02:13 UTC

No, no, you aren't crushing anything, because you're right -- I'd much rather cross it off my list then pay a lot of money I genuinely don't have to see that.

At least the Cousins! thing had some basis in reality, you know? :D

ladycat777 February 2 2007, 00:29:00 UTC

Two words: Frank Miller. This is not -repeat, NOT- so much about the famous battle between Sparta and the Persians, as much as about using the premise of the Frank Miller comic (which Trinity mentioned).

And Frank Miller seems to have some major issues, mostly politically and gender-related as far as one can tell. Which is why I went from being a fan (when he debuted with his run on Daredevil a long time ago) to ensuring I do not read anything of his (e.g., 'Sin City', '300' etc.)

Thread 9

chinawolf January 31 2007, 20:47:36 UTC

That's sad. It looked so visually appealing in the trailer, but I'll sure not go see it in a theatre after this review.

trinityofone January 31 2007, 20:56:33 UTC

It was certainly visually striking. If you could ignore what it was you were actually seeing.

_inbetween_ January 31 2007, 20:48:44 UTC

Hah. I've been ranting about these elements in all American blockbusters for the last 5-10 years now, though I'll believe you it's even worse (friends already ranted at the previews showing all of that clearly, when most were still in love with the imagery).

trinityofone January 31 2007, 20:59:13 UTC

I'm sure there are plenty of other examples, but this is definitely the worst I've seen. Not only blatant, but morally appalling. I think about this in comparison to Children of Men, which was also visually striking (though in a different way), and I really wish I could trick all the people who are going to see 300 into seeing that instead.

_inbetween_ January 31 2007, 21:50:37 UTC

Yeah, I'd expect CoM to be good, even if one post was *boring* or esp. because of that. But I already freaked out about Armageddon and TDAT et al. It's less Hollywood telling it to the people than Hollywood regurgitating what the people seem to want.

alizarin_nyc January 31 2007, 23:11:24 UTC

I'm glad to hear you liked Children of Men. I've been trying to get everyone to see it. No one seems to be talking about it, and that makes me sad.

Thank you for allowing me to avoid "300."

Thread 7

becky_monster January 31 2007, 20:56:14 UTC

*Here through friendoffriend flist*

First up, thanks for the review.

Given that the original material is by the same bloke who did Sin City (which I detested) your main points don't surprise me at all.

I was willing to give the benefit of the doubt, that it might actually be good. Unfortnately not.

Thanks again for the heads up!

trinityofone January 31 2007, 21:03:23 UTC

Yeah, I did not go into this with high expectations based on Sin City, but this shocked me by managing to be worse. Less gory, but the message...ew. I feel unclean!

Anyway, I'm glad I can alert you to it!

lots42 February 1 2007, 19:03:46 UTC

I read the '300' comic book, it was nothing at -all- like what the movie was described as. No rapes. No faux lesbianism. Hell, barely any women period.

And all the men on -both- sides would make gay men drool with glee.

neery January 31 2007, 20:57:11 UTC

Ick. I probably wouldn't have watched that movie anyway, but now you've ensured that these people won't be getting a cent of my money even if it's one of those Sundays where the boyfriend and me are so bored that the alternative to a movie is a vicious fight about politics.

Do you at least get to write a review where you can tear the thing to pieces? Or just the interview? I mean, that would still be a chance to criticize, but personally, I wouldn't really want to do that in an interview with an actor.

trinityofone January 31 2007, 21:06:38 UTC

I don't get to write a review! I wish I did; I'd love to make a real, public stance about this film. But we don't really do reviews at this magazine. (We have a review section, but it's minimal, and they're all written by someone else.)

You're right that the interview would not be the right place. And yet, I still want to say something...maybe I'll just ask him if he thinks the film has a message? Really neutral, leaving it at that?

neery January 31 2007, 22:26:54 UTC

maybe I'll just ask him if he thinks the film has a message?

Personally, I'd love to see what he says to that. Do you think asking him if he thinks the film has a message with regard to current politics would already go too far?