Wednesday
Apr112007
Swords, Sandles and a bit of blood and gore
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 12:06AM
Hair on end
You know that sometimes you see something and it makes the hairs stand up on your arms and you get that buzz. Well for me the trailer for the 300 did just that. I watched the first trailer on the apple trailers site and it just rocked so I had been counting down the days till the film came out
The sunday following the release a pile of us headed out to the pictures to go and see the much anticipated film but we were a bit deflated. Friends had said that they had seen it and not enjoyed it so we were trying to change our expectation levels. We did not need to worry.
The film is one of those experiences where you are sitting there for 3 hours but i feels like it is 30 minutes. For me this film really rocked - it was a total action romp and it sucked you in from second one right through to the end.
Millers back
The film is based on the Frank Millers graphic novel of the same name. If you are looking for a like for like comparison then that is not what you will get - but a lot of it is there and it has not been changed that much from the original. If you are a purist then you may not like it.
If you liked Sin City (another Miller inspired movie) then this may well appeal to you. Rather than the monchrome black and white of Sin City, the 300 is shot in a sepia tone but there are still those stylish splashes of colour. The spartans have red cloaks which provide a primary colour source throughout - along with other key items throughout the film
If you are a history buff then this film may not ring your bell either. It is not 100% accurate from the historical perspective, but then again it is a film. In the same way that Troy did not show that the spartans (yep they were there as well) laid siege for 100 years this film does not reflect all of the historical truths. Hey you know its a film not a documentary so if thats what you want then this is not where you want to be.
Points of view
This film really works if you take it as being told by a spartan to other spartans to let them know what happens. You get to see how the unexplained or unusual from your enemy becomes demonized and is then seen as the boogy man. There are those that have said that they thought the demonized images of the film made no sense but you really need to look at this as being from the perspective of only one side and how they would exaggerate the things that the saw and experienced.
More than it appears to be - or just what it says on the tin?
For me this film is one which raises some interesting questions. What does this film tell us about our experiences of those things that we fear or do not understand. What about those things that others tell us - how do their fears or biases affect the message that we receive from them. It is intriguing - to me anyway. This film exaggerates this idea but I guess the message is in there.
There are a few other ideas you can take from the film - the most obvious being courage under fire - at the end of the day it is a story about how a few stood up to many and showed the power of belief in themselves and those around them.
You could also look at this film from the perspective that it shows how there are occasions where it only takes 1 persons actions to bring down many and that the treatment you receive may be a reflection of that which you give. It could be a tale of how pride come before a fall - but this is not the focus of the film - but the message is there if you look hard enough (kinda like the truth is out there)
At the end of the day what remains - no matter how you look at it is that you are left with a good film that will appeal to those who like swords and sandals epics - with a movie noir look.
Even if you do not want to ponder whether there are messages in the film you should give it a try.
You know that sometimes you see something and it makes the hairs stand up on your arms and you get that buzz. Well for me the trailer for the 300 did just that. I watched the first trailer on the apple trailers site and it just rocked so I had been counting down the days till the film came out
The sunday following the release a pile of us headed out to the pictures to go and see the much anticipated film but we were a bit deflated. Friends had said that they had seen it and not enjoyed it so we were trying to change our expectation levels. We did not need to worry.
The film is one of those experiences where you are sitting there for 3 hours but i feels like it is 30 minutes. For me this film really rocked - it was a total action romp and it sucked you in from second one right through to the end.
Millers back
The film is based on the Frank Millers graphic novel of the same name. If you are looking for a like for like comparison then that is not what you will get - but a lot of it is there and it has not been changed that much from the original. If you are a purist then you may not like it.
If you liked Sin City (another Miller inspired movie) then this may well appeal to you. Rather than the monchrome black and white of Sin City, the 300 is shot in a sepia tone but there are still those stylish splashes of colour. The spartans have red cloaks which provide a primary colour source throughout - along with other key items throughout the film
If you are a history buff then this film may not ring your bell either. It is not 100% accurate from the historical perspective, but then again it is a film. In the same way that Troy did not show that the spartans (yep they were there as well) laid siege for 100 years this film does not reflect all of the historical truths. Hey you know its a film not a documentary so if thats what you want then this is not where you want to be.
Points of view
This film really works if you take it as being told by a spartan to other spartans to let them know what happens. You get to see how the unexplained or unusual from your enemy becomes demonized and is then seen as the boogy man. There are those that have said that they thought the demonized images of the film made no sense but you really need to look at this as being from the perspective of only one side and how they would exaggerate the things that the saw and experienced.
More than it appears to be - or just what it says on the tin?
For me this film is one which raises some interesting questions. What does this film tell us about our experiences of those things that we fear or do not understand. What about those things that others tell us - how do their fears or biases affect the message that we receive from them. It is intriguing - to me anyway. This film exaggerates this idea but I guess the message is in there.
There are a few other ideas you can take from the film - the most obvious being courage under fire - at the end of the day it is a story about how a few stood up to many and showed the power of belief in themselves and those around them.
You could also look at this film from the perspective that it shows how there are occasions where it only takes 1 persons actions to bring down many and that the treatment you receive may be a reflection of that which you give. It could be a tale of how pride come before a fall - but this is not the focus of the film - but the message is there if you look hard enough (kinda like the truth is out there)
At the end of the day what remains - no matter how you look at it is that you are left with a good film that will appeal to those who like swords and sandals epics - with a movie noir look.
Even if you do not want to ponder whether there are messages in the film you should give it a try.
Reader Comments