Bravo bravo! Encore ecore...for your review. Despite the dizzying reviews and word of mouth comming from everywhere saying what a great film this was. tawnybronzelyon and me being big Roman, ancient Greek history buffs much like yourself expected something akin to the orginal film meets the visuals of Sin City. What the heck were we thinking...
I agree totally with your review. The harem scene and the oracle scene must be the few scenes of film that have ever squicked me in a bad way. Visually the movie just doesn't do it for me. The dim filters, the coloration the over kill of slow motion death at the hands of semi nude guys just did not do it.
Don't even get me started on the historical inaccuracies.
Well... before viewing a movie, I usually go for some research... even read the book that the movie was based off of.
Eragon, which just came out on DVD, is one of those... the opening visuals are nice but the opening visuals that the book puts in my head are twice as nice...
And if I remember correctly the Spartans (or Greeks) had armor carriers/bearers as well; they were young men.
Did they include the fact that these soldiers were very good soldiers and seemingly the elite of the elite?
Did they mention that the oracles smoked bay leaves (instead of hemp) or that there WERE no priests as the prophecy and such was left to the oracles and a FEW attendants that were mostly female? The priests were added in to appease the Christian people about the understanding/portraying of the Greek gods as 'barbarian' or uncivilized when they were worshipped.
... I agree then with your review... I won't go see it since I reviewed a bit of history and found the movie most lacking. ~Wappa
I honestly still would have liked to have liked 300. Setting aside the lack-luster story, the historical inaccuracies and a soundtrack that I still can not remember any part of, I at least learned how the Ancients might have used their spears in close quarters combat. That and with what was otherwise annoying, those freeze-frame shots during the battle captured the soldiers in poses that were exactly like those one can still see today on Greek pottery in museums.
Beyond those two aspects I wish I could say 'Go see 300 because ...", but I can't recommend it. :(
It is sad that every now and then that a movie comes out and just doesn't make a mark because the elements to make it good have gone missing. There is technology and visuals; the story seems lacking because it wasn't adhered to or something. *sigh*
One movie I do recommend is Zoom and the Academy for Superheroes. This Tim Allen movie is kinda family-ish and it grows on you until the last 10 minutes... when it shows "three months later" it gets stupid and turns downhill in a hurry. :P ~Wappa
Yup, Similar DVD collection here [You didn't mention "Rise and fall of the Roman Empire"]I haven't bothered to watch 300 even though its playing at the London IMAX [More excited to see Meet the robinsons if they get that]
BTW You seen Furry revolutions 300 inspired pics on FA ?
I saw one of Furry revolution's drawings, the one of King Leonidas. Outstanding job. I fav'd it if I remember correctly.
As for "Fall of the Roman Empire" I have not run across a DVD of it yet. I probably order it from Amazon.com today if they have it.
The production values of the movie were first class and the acting was first rate. Generally historically correct, I still remember thinking as I was watching the movie in the theater that the good guys just could not do anything right. But of course the story was about the Fall of the Empire and not about some spectacular save of the Empire. :)
I'd recommend the movie to anyone wanting to see what Hollywood could do back in its good old days when it set it's mind (and wallet) to making a good epic movie.
I still enjoy listening to my old LP copy of its soundtrack by Alex North.
I DVD recorded Fall of last time it airred here [But I'm pretty sure its out on DVD, I've seen it at least once over here on R2]
I think I'm prob like you, in that the newer stuff doesn't hold a candle to the likes of Spartacus and the proper old school ones, Gladiator I can just about handle..but I sold my ROME set after watching it once [+ won't bother with season 2] + I also imagine 300 was reliant on OOOOHHHH Look what we can do with CGi these days etc *Yawn* I'd rather have decent characterisation, plot and charas thank you Hollywood [EG The scene where Verinia tells Spartacus shes pregnant, that just blows me away every time I see it and I've been watching it for 30+ years now]
I was thinking about my L.F.S series again a bit lately, seeing the spring Primroses out reminded me of the Meles origin ep I planned to write for it[Brittania Badgers homes getting trashed and most of them getting killed or enslaved]
That scene between Varinia and Spartacus is easy to recall to mind because of the excellent acting. Sitting in the audience, then or now, one could believe one was watching two people pursuing a dream and one part of that dream was opening up for them. Gentleness in a rough and cruel world.
You mentioned "characterization" and I think that that might have been the fall down for me with 300. There was nothing to like about the character of King Leonidas and if a reader or viewer does not like the main character then they will not "buy into" the story. The character, for me, was wooden with his podium-like "Sparta this" and "Sparta that" outbursts. Essentially a frowning one-note character. At the movie's finish I did not feel any emotions of having seen a heroic tragedy of self-sacrifice for home and country
( ... )
I guess I'm going to have to be the voice of dissension here and say I loved<\b> the movie. To tell you truth I knew right off the bat that it wasn't going to be historically accurate. It's a movie based off a comic remember? If I wanted to be educated I'd rent Ben-hur or maybe a documentary on ancient Rome. Or read a book on ancient Rome. Yes it is a shame that they couldn't be closer to the history but well...I was looking to be entertained really. Movies such as "Shindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" may have more educational value.
Gay boner movie? Muscular abs and semi-nude bodies? Oh yeah. Why do you think I watched it? Well besides the violence and gore. :P Like I said if you want education books are the way to go.
Oh and just for FYI. If you are going to post a longish post like this with spoilers it may be a good idea to use a livejournal cut.
I suffered for years tweaking my website over on FurNation and so have enough "webucation to stick in a few bolds and italics when I need them. :) Its cumbersome but still gets the job done.
Since I hand write most of my code for my webpages, I know alot about the basics and how to terminate things... thank god for Frontpage and a few other progs that make some of the more difficult stuff (tables and columns) a bit easier...until you come to depend upon it for everything... then it can't get any of it right...
Comments 15
I agree totally with your review. The harem scene and the oracle scene must be the few scenes of film that have ever squicked me in a bad way. Visually the movie just doesn't do it for me. The dim filters, the coloration the over kill of slow motion death at the hands of semi nude guys just did not do it.
Don't even get me started on the historical inaccuracies.
Reply
Eragon, which just came out on DVD, is one of those... the opening visuals are nice but the opening visuals that the book puts in my head are twice as nice...
And if I remember correctly the Spartans (or Greeks) had armor carriers/bearers as well; they were young men.
Did they include the fact that these soldiers were very good soldiers and seemingly the elite of the elite?
Did they mention that the oracles smoked bay leaves (instead of hemp) or that there WERE no priests as the prophecy and such was left to the oracles and a FEW attendants that were mostly female? The priests were added in to appease the Christian people about the understanding/portraying of the Greek gods as 'barbarian' or uncivilized when they were worshipped.
...
I agree then with your review... I won't go see it since I reviewed a bit of history and found the movie most lacking.
~Wappa
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Beyond those two aspects I wish I could say 'Go see 300 because ...", but I can't recommend it. :(
Reply
One movie I do recommend is Zoom and the Academy for Superheroes. This Tim Allen movie is kinda family-ish and it grows on you until the last 10 minutes... when it shows "three months later" it gets stupid and turns downhill in a hurry. :P
~Wappa
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BTW You seen Furry revolutions 300 inspired pics on FA ?
Reply
As for "Fall of the Roman Empire" I have not run across a DVD of it yet. I probably order it from Amazon.com today if they have it.
The production values of the movie were first class and the acting was first rate. Generally historically correct, I still remember thinking as I was watching the movie in the theater that the good guys just could not do anything right. But of course the story was about the Fall of the Empire and not about some spectacular save of the Empire. :)
I'd recommend the movie to anyone wanting to see what Hollywood could do back in its good old days when it set it's mind (and wallet) to making a good epic movie.
I still enjoy listening to my old LP copy of its soundtrack by Alex North.
Reply
I think I'm prob like you, in that the newer stuff doesn't hold a candle to the likes of Spartacus and the proper old school ones, Gladiator I can just about handle..but I sold my ROME set after watching it once [+ won't bother with season 2] + I also imagine 300 was reliant on OOOOHHHH Look what we can do with CGi these days etc *Yawn* I'd rather have decent characterisation, plot and charas thank you Hollywood [EG The scene where Verinia tells Spartacus shes pregnant, that just blows me away every time I see it and I've been watching it for 30+ years now]
I was thinking about my L.F.S series again a bit lately, seeing the spring Primroses out reminded me of the Meles origin ep I planned to write for it[Brittania Badgers homes getting trashed and most of them getting killed or enslaved]
Reply
You mentioned "characterization" and I think that that might have been the fall down for me with 300. There was nothing to like about the character of King Leonidas and if a reader or viewer does not like the main character then they will not "buy into" the story. The character, for me, was wooden with his podium-like "Sparta this" and "Sparta that" outbursts. Essentially a frowning one-note character. At the movie's finish I did not feel any emotions of having seen a heroic tragedy of self-sacrifice for home and country ( ... )
Reply
Gay boner movie? Muscular abs and semi-nude bodies? Oh yeah. Why do you think I watched it? Well besides the violence and gore. :P Like I said if you want education books are the way to go.
Oh and just for FYI. If you are going to post a longish post like this with spoilers it may be a good idea to use a livejournal cut.
Use a ( Read more... )
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LOL... you'll do alright :)
~Wappa
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