300

[Sigmund Fraud]

It was great fun - dripping in testosterone, camp as christmas with plenty of slashing, bashing and OTT dialogue. The first time they were charged was . Brilliant action flick.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

The constant references to freedom irritated me muchly, other than that an enjoyable film.

 

[ch750536]

Loved the first hour but then...

SPOLIERS+++++++++++++++++
after the 23rd time that he made a speech, was attacked, defended, then killed everyone, I got a little bored.

Couldn't wait for it to end tbh.
Spoliers END+++++++++++++++

 

[Jenerys]

Cracking movie - and they are right about those pants

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Would have been a 5* film if it wasn't for all the additional bits with the wife and politicians back in Sparta (not in the book).

From another forum:

1. The facist-like Spartans are all portrayed to be noble, proper, brave heroes who are doing their best to protect freedom. From the outset of the film it is clear that Sparta in 300 is a simbol of USA, while Athens and the rest of Greece are continental Europe, and the Acadians are the British (they participate in the fighting against the Persians, but pull out at the end, and are prone to surrender). The Athenians/Europe are not thankful to Sparta/USA for protecting them against the evil Asian hordes(the film and comic book pay no attention to the fact that it was infact Athens whose efforts stopped the Persians via their fleet under Themistocles at Salaminas).

2. All of the persians, who in history were very, very civilized, are portrayed as demons and subhuman inbred bastards who are (although the war in question, historically, happened out of purely political reasons), ofcourse, religious fanatics believing in "a false god". Any Spartan or Greek in general is, claims this movie, as a man, worth infinitely more than any Persian. Also, any Spartan who opposes Sparta's war effort is deformed and innately evil. A traitor=evil=democrat.

3. Scenes of carnage in which the "heroic Spartans" fight for the Spartan way of life, killing the unworthy, sadistic, "EVIL ASIAN HORDES" (term used in movie) are all made out to be fun skirmishes, with "evilish" arabic music playing in the background while the Arabic-like Persians are being hacked to pieces.

4. The movie portrays a debate in Sparta's "parliament" between the loyal Spartans (obviously representing people who support America's wars) and the evil opposers who refuse to send more troops to help the war effort. The "democrat" in question is, ofcourse, a rapist and is slain by a blade very swiftly.

5. Unlike "Kingdom of Heaven", which deals with a "clash of civilizations" by showing the good and the bad sides of both sides (the muslims are portrayed as humans, just like the Christians, both sides have war-mongers and innocents,AND WAR ITSELF is the badguy)- 300 tries to communicate the message that War against "Asia's endless hordes", the evil, subhuman, hordes who do not share Sparta's moral virtues and way of life, is JUST.

5. Spartan affinity towards homosexuality is a well known and documented fact. There is none of this in "300". Infact, the "virtuous, liberty loving Spartans" only have sex, heterosexual ofcourse, for love's sake, while the "deformed, decadent Persians" are lustful, evil monsters who mate to satisfy their primitive urges. Spartans have no urges.

I am not making any of this up, see the movie and it is all there, if you can get past the action scenes. The message of hate is clear and present from minute 1 to the end - the Persians are literally deformed, they are literally monsters. This movie dehumanises Asians and especially Arabs. Is it not easier to kill a non-human? And this at a time when USA is waging 2 wars in 2 muslim countries and is most likely goiing to invade a third (which, by the way, is the cradle of Persian civilization - Iran). 300 is nothing more than an attempt to provide more support to American troops overseas.

The comic book was not this racist. I have read it and I own a copy. It is an action-packed, colourful, and very shallow set of clished moments, but it is not racist. And it is fun.

The movie is racist, however. Despicably so.

 

[Crispy]

IT DOESN'T MATTER!

It's all about the slo-mo battle sequences, sod all the posturing. I'm going to see this tomorrow and I may well put some headphones in and listen to very loud heavy metal music instead of listening to the film.

 

[DotCommunist]

I enjoyed it. Nice line in stylised ultraviolence



this is SPARTA!!!!

 

[ChrisFilter]

IT DOESN'T MATTER!

Quite...

The dialogue is worth listening to, I think.. pretty funny in places.

 

[Santino]

Leonidas' accent sometimes lapsed into Sean Connery.

"We musht fight the Pershians. We musht defend Greesh and Shparta."

 

[Jim2k5]

i loved it and i will go see it again

 

[jayeola]

IT DOESN'T MATTER!

It's all about the slo-mo battle sequences, sod all the posturing. I'm going to see this tomorrow and I may well put some headphones in and listen to very loud heavy metal music instead of listening to the film.

That's a bloody good idea! Dialogue was --awfull--. The nineteenth battle-rousing speach....

"On thish day we shave our freedom!

 

[DotCommunist]

That's a bloody good idea! Dialogue was --awfull--. The nineteenth battle-rousing speach....

"On thish day we shave our freedom!

I quite enjoyed the 'Enjoy your breakfast, because tonight we dine IN HELL'

Bit. I saw it coming and roared IN HELL along with Leonides

which startled my flatmate a bit

 

[Cloo]

Going to it at IMAX on Thursday! We were shoo-ins for that when we walked past there and saw the photos.

 

[A.J.]

Can someone explain why everyone is so concerned about them highlighting and talking about the fight for freedom so much, people need to remember that was the whole point of the battle, they were fighting against enslavement, its nothing to do with Dubya or recent wars and troubles. I think everyone needs to remember that people were fighting for 'freedom' long before American foreign policy turned the word into a joke.

Enjoy the film, its a big ballsy in your face popcorn blockbuster, intellectualize about it all you want but IMO you lose sight of what it was designed to do by the makers. Saw it on IMAX, utterly spectacular film, loved it, will watch it again, its a brilliant interpretation of the graphic novel. What it isnt is a commentary on the modern geopolitical environment.

 

[treefrog]

Yay! Going to see it at the IMAX on Friday. Really, really looking forward to it!

 

[fucthest8]

From another forum: "... is a simbol of USA ... "

I absolutely refuse to deal with anything written by a person who can't spell symbol.

People really need to get the fuck out more. Who was it earlier on this thread who said something about a particular superhero being more like "dailymail man"

NO! Superheroes in incredibly conservative shocker!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT


FFS.

 

[Crispy]

Stupid film. Really, really stupid

Oh, and has screen 1 at the Ritzy in Brixton got a digital projector now? The image quality was outstanding and rock-steady.

There were only 50 or so of us there, but people still clapped a bit and joined in some of the cheesier lines

 

[jayeola]

But there were "cheeshy linesh for freedom!"

 

[DotCommunist]

Stupid film. Really, really stupid

Oh, and has screen 1 at the Ritzy in Brixton got a digital projector now? The image quality was outstanding and rock-steady.

There were only 50 or so of us there, but people still clapped a bit and joined in some of the cheesier lines

Did you join in with the 'tonight we dine IN HELL' bit.

twas my favorite line in the whole film that.

 

[Crispy]

Nah, didn't know it was coming. I haven't read the comic, haven't read reviews for the film, haven't seen it before. Just saw a trailer for it last week and thought "I have to see that. Prefferably stoned off my face." Which I was. It was ace

 

[pyrovitae]

...and thought "I have to see that. Prefferably stoned off my face." Which I was. It was ace

ha, i was stoned too, which made queuing for refreshments...interesting.

i was slightly disappointed but thoroughly entertained. and no, those statements aren't contradictory.

 

[Mrs Bradley]

saw it at the weekend with Buddy - er...it was ok, agreed that the Brian Blessed method was used first and foremost and also felt that the whole thing was abit er...y'know panto

 

[Augie March]

Makes you want to jump out the cinema, charge people down in the street and bellow words like "FREEEDOOM!!" and "GLOOORRRY!!" into their terrified little faces.

A testestrone fuelled angry 2 hours to be enjoyed with tounge firmly placed in cheek because, lets face it, it's all very blokey, but it's VERY camp at the same time.

 

[Crispy]

greasy muscles and blood, it's great!

I want to see this film edited down to 30 minutes of non-stop violence. It's some of the best movie violence ever actually.

 

[Strumpet]

Gonna see it tomorrow.

 

[DotCommunist]

 

[DotCommunist]

 

[DotCommunist]

 

[ChrisFilter]

It's some of the best movie violence ever actually.

Agreed, the first leg chop was a joy to behold

 

[El Sueno]

I saw this on Wednesday, and thought it was great fun. I haven't been so mesmerised by violence since the last time I got beaten up. Some of it was kinda stupid, and there were some pointless scenes (porno montage anyone?) but the main thing is, when I left the cinema I was leaping about like a six year old, shouting "Hooh!" and asking my date "Can we be Spartans?".

"Tonight we dine.. in Pizza Expreess"