"SPAR-TAH!!" (or, a thread about 300)

[elizabethgenco]

No spoilers from me!

Saw it last night. Though Leland (my husband) has the comic book, I'd not read it beforehand. Frank Miller aside, I'm not into ancient history movies, nor am I in to EPIC BATTLE movies, so I kept my expectations low.

And then....

IT WAS AWESOME! For realz.

Excellent writing, sweet visuals...much of which they nabbed straight from the book, a la SIN CITY. Go see it!!

[Red Berens]

Welcome to the forum! I hope you like it here.

It does look cool - I can't wait to see it.

[elizabethgenco]

Hey, thanks! Much appreciated. I like the vibe here tons.

Also: SPAR-TAH!!

(swear to gawd I woke up with that in my head this morning)

[Shisho]

Welcome! Glad to hear a good review. I'm dying to see it. *Does happy dance* I'm seeing it tonight. So excited!

[elizabethgenco]

Huzzah! Be sure to tell us what you think!

[Hybrid2]

I'm going to see it this afternoon.

I just hope my expectation arent to big.

[David Atkins]

Hooray for 300day! :D

It's not opening here, where I live, but I'm going out of town to see it this afternoon/evening.

[SteelChrysanthemum]

Keeping in mind the battle happened about 2,200 years ago, how much do we need to worry about spoilers?:)

All kidding aside, I can't wait to see this. Not a big Frank Miller fan but I'm a big fan of the period in history.

[Buzz Dixon]

It is one of the best epics ever made. There are some interesting moral/ethical conundrums to chew on, too, giving the film more than just eye-candy to recommend it.

Tons o'fun.

[heystacy]

I saw it. I loved it. Very violent, and thrilling.

[Drumore]

Just saw it. Great epic movie, reminding me of old classics with new style mixed it. It's certainly not for the squeemish. If it were just the story and acting I'd probably give it a B, but the added visual quality boosts it way up to an A.

I've always been uncertain or at least cautious about the idea of a Watchmen movie, but seeing what Zach Snyder has done here, I'm really looking forward to it.

[elizabethgenco]

Is there a Watchmen movie in the works? (The fact that I have to ask this question betrays my ignorance somethin' fierce, I know.)

The movie is violent, but like SIN CITY it's got that stylized, comic-book-movie thing going on, which makes it easier to deal with than, say, mobster movies with their sadistic torture scenes that'll ruin a perfectly good evening.

I kept my eyes open for most of it.

[Drumore]

Yep. In fact the newest trailer for 300 has a single frame "sneak peak" of Rorschach holding the smiley face button. No casting yet (although rumors of Gerard Butler of 300 would have a role), but both Adam Hughes and John Cassaday have apparently been working on costume/character design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen_(film)

[The Xenos]

I'll repost something I said in another thread.

Saw it last night. It was, of course, amazing. One thing caught my eye and I figured this is a place to bring it up.

Unlike the book, in the movie, the Oracle had.. red hair. Now it could just be a coincidence, but.. maybe.. just maybe.. someone who worked on the film wanted a red headed Oracle in homage to another certain comic.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5641/300oraclevq9.jpg

Maybe I'm just seeing things.

Speaking of which, here's that easter egg in the extended trailer.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?p=4503451

[howyadoin]

It is one of the best epics ever made. There are some interesting moral/ethical conundrums to chew on, too, giving the film more than just eye-candy to recommend it.

Tons o'fun.Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Hybrid2]

It was awsome!

when i came out i heard a girl say it was the best movie ever made.

When Lionidas said there was no reason they could'nt be civil,everyone laughed.
(not spoiling the scene.)

I went to see it in english. i think i'll go back see it in french.

[Kyuubi]

Bloody brilliant.


(I saw Shaun of the Dead tonight too)

[Cam63]

Bloody brilliant.


(I saw Shaun of the Dead tonight too)

I hope it was a movie.

[Charles RB]

The review in Judge Dredd Megazine says this film will have you running out of the cinema in your underpants, a six-pack drawn on your chest, screaming "COME ON THEN! SPAAAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAA!".

So I HAVE to see it.

[Cam63]

Well, that's all the advertising I need.

[Hybrid2]

The review in Judge Dredd Megazine says this film will have you running out of the cinema in your underpants, a six-pack drawn on your chest, screaming "COME ON THEN! SPAAAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAA!".

So I HAVE to see it.

I almost did that.

[Fish Sauce]

The review in Judge Dredd Megazine says this film will have you running out of the cinema in your underpants, a six-pack drawn on your chest, screaming "COME ON THEN! SPAAAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAA!".

So I HAVE to see it.

That sounds pretty accurate, our new top fashion choice is huge abs with a red cloak.

[Buzz Dixon]

Y'know, in a way it is a superhero movie -- a buncha incredibly cut guys running around in capes and fighting monsters and ninjas.

[David Atkins]

The review in Judge Dredd Megazine says this film will have you running out of the cinema in your underpants, a six-pack drawn on your chest, screaming "COME ON THEN! SPAAAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAA!".

So I HAVE to see it.

Hell, I did that down the street right outside my house when I first saw the trailer!

[Phana]

The review in Judge Dredd Megazine says this film will have you running out of the cinema in your underpants, a six-pack drawn on your chest, screaming "COME ON THEN! SPAAAAAAAARTAAAAAAAAA!".

I should have brought a marker to the theater and done that! It would have been worth it. I can't see any true-blooded action fan not going to see this, and they'll be kicking themselves for not going yesterday.

[Lester C.]

I'm looking forward to it but Ebert and Roper gave it four stars and I tend to hate most four star movies.

[Aggie]

Y'know, in a way it is a superhero movie -- a buncha incredibly cut guys running around in capes and fighting monsters and ninjas.

that's what told my brother...aside from the last frame, my favorite scene is when the king is "kneeling" and the one soldier jumped on his back and stabbed the crap out of the persian soldier...the movie was just fantastic.

[Crowley]

it's really a great fun movie... beautiful, bloody, masculine... and it makes no apologies for being what it is...

[TomStillwell]

Caty and I saw it tonight. We both loved it.

I also killed some guy at the mall who looked at me wrong afterwards.

[heystacy]

Caty and I saw it tonight. We both loved it.

I also killed some guy at the mall who looked at me wrong afterwards.

Damn Tom. :evilsmile That's madness!

[Kyuubi]

. . .madness?




THIS IS SPARTA!



You totally set me up for that.

[heystacy]

Yes I did. :evilsmile

[TomStillwell]

Damn Tom. :evilsmile That's madness!

Tend yourselves a hardy breakfast lads. Tonight we DINE IN HELL!!!

[heystacy]

Tend yourselves a hardy breakfast lads. Tonight we DINE IN HELL!!!

i just wanted a sammich. :(

[Cam63]

Caty and I saw it tonight. We both loved it.

I also killed some guy at the mall who looked at me wrong afterwards.

I just hope it was a clean kill.

[Cam63]

. . .madness?




THIS IS SPARTA!



You totally set me up for that.

I want to see a regiment of Spartans wearing blue duck suits for some reason.

I bet they kick arse.

[BlairH]

It only gets 61% at Rottentomatoes
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/300/

A few of the critics just appear to be giving it a bad review due to either the masculinity of the film or it's "politics" (a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

[Tobias March]

It only gets 61% at Rottentomatoes
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/300/

A few of the critics just appear to be giving it a bad review due to either the masculinity of the film or it's "politics" (a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

I think it's more or less universally acknowledge the film is pure spectacle. Some people like that, others think it superficial. Meh.

[Lester C.]

Caty and I saw it tonight. We both loved it.

I also killed some guy at the mall who looked at me wrong afterwards.

They have a mall in the city of Chicago or were you in my neck of the woods?

[TomStillwell]

I just hope it was a clean kill.

I showered afterwards.

[TomStillwell]

They have a mall in the city of Chicago or were you in my neck of the woods?

Old Orchard up in Skokie.

[Lester C.]

Old Orchard up in Skokie.

I know where that is. On Golf and Skokie Boulevard. A whole bunch of Assyrians immigrants live a few minutes from there in Lincolnwood.

[Chris Hansbrough]

i just wanted a sammich. :(

And I just want an apple.....after all, we're all civilized men here

In all seriousness though.....

man that movie was al kinds of hardcore ultimate badassery. seriously. Wowza. bootyfull.

The crowd I was in though was filled with idiots. What in gods name is so funny about sex. seriously. it just confused me when people just started laughing in the middle of the sex scene. oh nooo...sex.....what are he going to do...hahahahaha

I chopped their legs off for being idiots afterwards....

man they liked the leg chopping in tht flick

[heystacy]

And I just want an apple.....after all, we're all civilized men here

In all seriousness though.....

man that movie was al kinds of hardcore ultimate badassery. seriously. Wowza. bootyfull.

The crowd I was in though was filled with idiots. What in gods name is so funny about sex. seriously. it just confused me when people just started laughing in the middle of the sex scene. oh nooo...sex.....what are he going to do...hahahahaha

I chopped their legs off for being idiots afterwards....

man they liked the leg chopping in tht flick

Laughing during the sex scene happend at the theater I was at too. Weird, they didn't laugh at the violence. They liked it a lot.

[elizabethgenco]

Y'know, in a way it is a superhero movie -- a buncha incredibly cut guys running around in capes and fighting monsters and ninjas.

*ponder*

I probably wouldn't call it a superhero movie, but I would call it a comics movie. At one point I leaned over to my husband and said, "Here come the monsters."

There were monsters!! With, like, claws for hands, n'stuff like that.

[elizabethgenco]

A few of the critics just appear to be giving it a bad review due to either the masculinity of the film or it's "politics" (a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

Well, y'know, when someone starts talking about the Nazis on the Internet, it's all over. :)

Too "masculine"? I'm totally confused. The queen was one of the best badass female characters I've seen in a movie in a long time. Three-dimensional, even.

[Aggie]

Well, y'know, when someone starts talking about the Nazis on the Internet, it's all over. :)

Too "masculine"? I'm totally confused. The queen was one of the best badass female characters I've seen in a movie in a long time. Three-dimensional, even.

and you can't hate on a chick who likes to take it from the back...<ha!>...seriously though, lena headly is all kinds of awesome in the movie...i loved that little nod of the head she gives lionidous just before he kicks the crap out of the messenger as if to say, "honey you go ahead, he's a bit of an ass and deserves what he's got coming to him."...and hey...who doesn't wasn't want to watch a movie w/ half naked, greased up men engaged in a blood orgy??...:D

[Justin Carr]

My Squadron's mascot is the Spartan, so when this movie came out, my commander pulled some strings and got a private screening for us. Even paid for some of our tickets. Love every bit of it. Well... except for one thing. The bloody idiotic politician, Theron, brings Persian coins to the Forum. I mean come on! Other than that, not a single false step.

[The Xenos]

Justin, that's pretty awesome. I was wondering how this would play to US troops. I couldn't help but at least someone think of our forces. Plus I have a cousin who not too long ago joined special forces, of all things.

It only gets 61% at Rottentomatoes
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/300/

A few of the critics just appear to be giving it a bad review due to either the masculinity of the film or it's "politics" (a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

Ugh. That is lame. I concur with the saying that an argument online is often moot once someone is called a Nazi or compared to Hitler. As I read elsewhere, Miller admits they were somewhat fascistic. So, why complain about it.

Also, I've heard the same about Michael Moore's film, but at least 300 admits its exaggeration and fictionalizing.

[Charles RB]

(a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

But for it to be comparable to a Nazi propaganda film, it would need to be using the violence and masculinity to say specific things about contemporary politics and about race.

As far as I know, it's just saying "big men with swords hitting each other!".

[Justin Carr]

The funny thing about trying to insert politics into this: During one of the overseas press conferences, some reporters asked the director whether Xerxes was supposed to be Bush, while others insisted that Leonidas was supposed to be Bush. The director was confused because he was merely trying to tell a good story and to stay faithful to the source material (which he absolutely succeeded in doing.) which was written in '97. LONG before either Bush or the War on Terrorism started, thus making both arguments null and void.

Also, to Xenos' question, everyone in the theater loved the movie. They were still raving about it afterwards.

[BlairH]

But for it to be comparable to a Nazi propaganda film, it would need to be using the violence and masculinity to say specific things about contemporary politics and about race.

As far as I know, it's just saying "big men with swords hitting each other!".

It's just silly ivory tower dudes over-analysing the movie and missing the point as usual.

I'm looking forward to seeing this. Might wait 'till it comes out on HD-DVD or Blu Ray because it's bound to look amazing.

[Fish Sauce]

It's just silly ivory tower dudes over-analysing the movie and missing the point as usual.

Yeah, the review I read with the Nazi comment seemed like the guy just did not get it.

[Infra-Man]

Sometimes a movie with a bunch of tough buff guys decapitating each other is just a cigar.

[BlairH]

Sometimes a movie with a bunch of tough buff guys decapitating each other is just a cigar.

I wouldn't have it any other way...

[Hybrid2]

The funny thing about trying to insert politics into this: During one of the overseas press conferences, some reporters asked the director whether Xerxes was supposed to be Bush, while others insisted that Leonidas was supposed to be Bush. The director was confused because he was merely trying to tell a good story and to stay faithful to the source material (which he absolutely succeeded in doing.) which was written in '97. LONG before either Bush or the War on Terrorism started, thus making both arguments null and void.

Also, to Xenos' question, everyone in the theater loved the movie. They were still raving about it afterwards.

Maybe he should have told them that this is a real battle that hapenned a long,long time ago?

Wonder who they think Bush is in Platoon?

....morons.

[Gail Simone]

I want to SEE IT SO BAD.

I wasn't a fan of the book, frankly.

But I hear great stuff about the movie.

Gail

[Kyuubi]

Maybe he should have told them that this is a real battle that hapenned a long,long time ago?

Wonder who they think Bush is in Platoon?

....morons.


Bunny?


Or maybe Dr. Cox?

[The Xenos]

A few of the critics just appear to be giving it a bad review due to either the masculinity of the film or it's "politics" (a few of them say it's comparable to a Nazi propaganda film).

Actually, maybe there's a compliment in that. You have to admit that director Leni Riefenstahl (http://imdb.com/name/nm0726166/) did amazing things cinematically with those propaganda films. If you ignore that the films were made to fuel the horrible power that was the Nazi party, her work there was really well done as films.

Even Frank Miller has commented that the society was somewhat proto-fascism. Someone commented he did, but I only found one comment like it so far.

http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20070305_interview_frank_miller.html

FRANK MILLER: Gorgo was renowned for being a brilliant politician. Very little is known about their relationship or of how romantic it was; but as a political team they were formidable. Spartan women had more rights than any women of that period of History, which contradicts in a way the fascist image of so much of their other behavior. It does seem to be clear that Gorgo was probably Leonidas’ most important counselor.

[Shisho]

Okay y'all, I know I have a quirky sense of humor and all, but this had me laughing out loud at work today. I found this while looking for a little pick-me-up on Cute Overload.

http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2007/04/nice_juxtaposis.html

[heystacy]

Okay y'all, I know I have a quirky sense of humor and all, but this had me laughing out loud at work today. I found this while looking for a little pick-me-up on Cute Overload.

http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2007/04/nice_juxtaposis.html

That was funny. lol

[Shisho]

It's still funny to me. The big macho warrior guys and the little mewing kittens. I can't help it. It tickles me.