300

[elaby]

I was talking to someone about 300 today and she said I should write a review of it because I did such a good job explaining why she should see it *laughs* So I'm going to! *just had a massive mood boost from finding out she doesn't have to stay on campus until 8:30 tonight*

This is one of those movies where the commercials may have made it seem like it was all fighting and blood and no plot. The plot was there and it was good, but it was by no means phenomenal - what was phenomenal was the experience of watching this film.


Anyone who might have expected a completely historically accurate portrayal of the battle of Thermopylae would have had their expectations shifted the moment the visuals began. This movie did not LOOK like the gritty, dirty, we're-trying-to-accurately-portray-the-ancients style that we've seen in other films. The quality of light itself, the coloring, the costuming, the sets, the scenery - everything gave the impression, to me at least, of unreality. It was an epic unreality, but I didn't think for one second that I was supposed to take this film as a serious portrayal of exactly what might have happened at this battle. That was clear to me from the way it was filmed alone. The violence reminded me of animated violence. This was not the kind of thing that might make you nauseous - no splattered brains like in Braveheart, no shudder-inducing no-holds-barred brutality like in Pan's Labyrinth - it was the kind where I, at least, was more awed and goose-bumped than grossed out. If you're not interested in this movie for anything else, go see it because GOD, it's cool to look at.

If you're interested in 300 because you like Greek history or ancient war movies or something like that, I'd definitely recommend seeing it. Because of the legendary feel of it, I didn't have any times while watching it where I thought something was unrealistic. As far as I remember from classes and know from people who know more than me, the portrayal of the Spartan way of life was pretty accurate. _melisande_, resident Classics genius, liked it, and she has impeccable taste. I felt more attached to some of the side characters than I did to the Leonidas, but I did like him, and I felt toward him like I would toward a king - respect and awe if not real sympathy. They tried to insert that with his interaction with his wife, and I didn't really feel it (I felt more of a connection between him and his men). I liked his wife more because of her own political dealings than because of her relationship with Leonidas.

Speaking of Leonidas and his wife, I think it was buttfacemakani who reviewed the sex scene so perfectly: "Also I really liked how they did the quick "WE'VE SUMMED UP EACH PARAGRAPH INTO SINGLE SENTENCES FOR YOU :D" sex scene as opposed to a Trinity/Neo visually rambling sort of thing x)" That's exactly what it was like. You were shown the good bits and not the "okay, guys, enough shots of their nekkid backs/thighs/bums/whatever" bits.

So, I really really enjoyed it, and I think most everybody would too. I mean, unless you really don't like any on-screen violence, and then obviously you wouldn't, because it was violent. There was a lot of spear-gouging and stabbing and slicing off of limbs, but it was done so damn aesthetically that even the decapitation bits didn't bother me, me who has a severed head squick.

Also, I was thinking about it in relation to movies like Alexander and Troy. Troy was so fluffy that I don't really have any big problems with it, but Alexander really TRIED to be as visually awesome as 300 and fell short. During that scene at the end where everything was shot in red, I thought something was wrong with the film. By the time I realized they were doing it on purpose to be artsy I thought it was confusing and kind of stupid, not to mention ineffectual. I enjoyed Alexander enough, but I feel like these kinds of movies work better when they're a story of a bunch of people, not of one person.


Aaah, I wanna go see it again. I haven't said that since the most recent PotC came out. Which we bought used on DVD from Blockbuster last night! *dances*

Comments

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

I liked the style - after all, it was Dilios telling the tale of how he remembered the battle, so you can forgive his elaborating on certain things, no?

I loved the film. A teeeeny bit overlong, if anything, but enormous fun. Put the final battle in LOTR to shame, and I never thought I'd say that...

[elaby.livejournal.com]

You're very right! This was a lot less chaotic and easier to follow, so you could appreciate it more.

That's a good point about Dilios :) He was good too. I totally didn't recognize his voice, but when I saw him, I recognized the actor from LotR.