Just got back from seeing 300 and I really, really liked it. I wasn't expecting to, either. I'd read the graphic novel and didn't really enjoy it--not that it's bad, it's just not my cup of tea--so I figured the movie would probably be impressive, but not really a good time. Wrong.
Of course, I still don't think it's for everyone. It's gory. Like, really gory. So gory that you stop noticing the gore. And it's really pretty much just a film about warriors and battle. So if you're not interested in warriors and battle, you'll probably be bored. But I was fascinated. The fight choreography is about as good as I've seen. And they used the slo-mo shots to great effect, so you can see every nuance of the complex moves. It's more like a dance than a fight. And many of the most impressive fight sequences are done in one incredibly long take.
The movie's got a lot of cliches in it, but you kinda have to let that go, given that this is the history from which a lot of those cliches sprang in the first place. And I especially loved that the Spartan women get to have a story and are as hardcore as the men.
The only thing I wasn't really sold on was the narration. I know the bardic narration is integral to the story of the book, but I don't feel like it translated as well to screen. But otherwise, it was fantastic. Also, two hours and forty minutes of muscular men (including my boyfriend Faramir!) running around in leather thongs is a pretty good way to spend the afternoon.
FYI, I got permission from certain parties to unlock my previous post about my trip to L.A. and Bones set visit, in case anyone out there was wanting to read it and couldn't.
Of course, I still don't think it's for everyone. It's gory. Like, really gory. So gory that you stop noticing the gore. And it's really pretty much just a film about warriors and battle. So if you're not interested in warriors and battle, you'll probably be bored. But I was fascinated. The fight choreography is about as good as I've seen. And they used the slo-mo shots to great effect, so you can see every nuance of the complex moves. It's more like a dance than a fight. And many of the most impressive fight sequences are done in one incredibly long take.
The movie's got a lot of cliches in it, but you kinda have to let that go, given that this is the history from which a lot of those cliches sprang in the first place. And I especially loved that the Spartan women get to have a story and are as hardcore as the men.
The only thing I wasn't really sold on was the narration. I know the bardic narration is integral to the story of the book, but I don't feel like it translated as well to screen. But otherwise, it was fantastic. Also, two hours and forty minutes of muscular men (including my boyfriend Faramir!) running around in leather thongs is a pretty good way to spend the afternoon.
FYI, I got permission from certain parties to unlock my previous post about my trip to L.A. and Bones set visit, in case anyone out there was wanting to read it and couldn't.
Comments
they added a bunch of stuff directly from Herodotus
!!!awesome!! McAwesome!!!
here's someone else's take on Frank. And yeah, 100% accurate.
Still, I just can't bring myself to see anything with his name in the title.
I'm glad you enjoyed it though.
I did see the movie, and was very satisfied by the lead female role. I'm glad it was added. Or changed, or whatever.
Sayings of Leonidas (from Plutarch)
Also from Plutarch, the sayings of Gorgo (only have this in paper form):
'When asked by a woman from Attica, 'Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?, she said: 'Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men.'
'On her husband Leonidas' departure for Thermopylae, while urging him to show himself worthy of Sparta, she asked what she should do. He said: 'Marry a good man and bear good children.'
Also, from a time further in the past, Helen of Troy was originally Spartan royalty, and Menelaus became king of Lacedaemon (Sparta) when he married her. But he was a wuss ;)
And completely agreed on Menelaus being a wuss.
Have you been watching Rome? Is it gory like those fight scenes?
Faramir is tres pretty. And he doesn't have to play a hunchback!
And I thought the actress who played Leonides wife was gorgeous! She could have been Helen. Fun movie!
In the graphic novel the men fight buck naked except for their cloaks and helmets, so when I heard they were making a movie of it starring David Wenham and Gerard Bulter I was like, HELL YEAH!
Again: my apologies for linking to a locked post.
I subsequently deleted that post, although there were several friends who wanted to read it.
post hoc, with your permission, I'll re-do the post.