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STILLWELL: "300": Critics Hate It, America Loves It
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/28/7 | Cinnamon Stillwell

Posted on 03/28/2007 7:55:02 AM PDT by SmithL

When it comes to the offerings of Hollywood, rarely does a film resonate strongly with both mainstream America and the largely liberal world of film critics. For the two seem to inhabit different universes, particularly when it comes to depictions of patriotism, war, religion and the age-old struggle between good and evil.

When bad reviews and huge box office numbers coincide, the gulf between critics and audiences is laid bare. Such was the case with "The Passion of the Christ" and "National Treasure," both of which Americans flocked to see even as critics shook their heads in disbelief.

The unprecedented success of the recent film "300" is further evidence of this pattern. While critics have largely panned "300," Americans clearly haven't been listening. The film's opening weekend brought in $70 million, with all 57 of its early IMAX midnight showings selling out, making it the highest-grossing March opening ever and third-highest opening for an R-rated feature. And its box office numbers have remained high ever since.

Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (of "Sin City" fame) and directed by Zack Snyder, "300" is a fictional recounting of the famous Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. The battle pitted King Leonidas and his bodyguard of 300 Spartans -- aided by the Thespians -- against the vast army of the Persian King Xerxes. Seeking to block the Persian army at a narrow mountain pass until Sparta and the rest of Greece could amass the will and forces to fight, the greatly outnumbered Spartan warriors used their superior fighting skills, bravery and determination to hold the "Hot Gates" to the last man. It was the Spartan sacrifice at Thermopylae...

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 300; seenthelight
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To: Theo

"How much pornographic imagery in a movie is "acceptable" for a Christian? In other words, at what point does a Christian make the difficult decision not to see a movie due to its graphic sexuality? Ever? Two sex scenes? Ten? Only one?"

Each Christian must make their own decision. My standard is any graphic sex and I won't see the movie. Do the images improve my relationship to God or hurt it? Do they help my marriage or hurt it?

Philippians 4:8 is a good standard:

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.


101 posted on 03/28/2007 11:47:26 AM PDT by Forgiven_Sinner (Your children become what your are.)
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To: Borges

So has "300". but of course in general, critics are liberals and it flies in the face of their worldview. But if anyone doesn't think it's a good movie, then he shouls compare it with the old Richard Eagan movie of the '60s. Movies should move, and this one does.


102 posted on 03/28/2007 11:49:17 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: kromike
The main reason Liberals loathe "300" so much is that the film glorifies the notion of defending yourself & nation and does not advocate raising everybody's taxes in 480 B.C. for HillaryCare.

LOL!

103 posted on 03/28/2007 11:49:44 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: kromike

But it IS based on a true story.


104 posted on 03/28/2007 11:51:17 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner

I appreciate your sensitivity. It's uncommon to find Christians who choose not to see a movie because of some of its imagery.

I frankly *did* want to see 300, but after I learned what was in it, I had to make the difficult decision of staying home instead.


105 posted on 03/28/2007 11:51:20 AM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: Theo
http://movieguide.org/index.php?s=reviews&id=7399

ultra extreme violence progressing from babies thrown off a cliff to children being toughened by being beaten, whipped, and slugged, wolf attacks young man, woman slapped, extreme battle violence with blood spurting and bodies cut, tremendous amount of body parts, nightmarish violence, grotesque creatures; extreme sex in orgy scene like out of a pornographic magazine, with homosexual, transgender and lesbian content, plus implied and depicted fornication; lots of upper female nudity, rear male nudity, upper male nudity; drinking; and, treachery, treason, bribery, cruelty.
Thanks for the warning. I wasn't planning on seeing it anyway, but this is good to know.
106 posted on 03/28/2007 11:58:38 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: dmz

It seems to me that it all started with the NY Times review of the movie. I read it on a Friday morning, and that weekend, many other reviewers seemed to be picking up their themes from it. The NYT reviewer was fixated on, and disturbed by, the possibility that the Spartans in the movie might be interpreted by some as American soldiers holding radical Islam at bay in the War on Terror.


107 posted on 03/28/2007 12:16:00 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ

Almost all reviews of big films like this are published the day the movie opens so it seemed to be a common interpretation arrived at individually.


108 posted on 03/28/2007 12:22:54 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Borges
Almost all reviews of big films like this are published the day the movie opens so it seemed to be a common interpretation arrived at individually.

Then that just confirms that most of the major movie reviewers are unrepentant liberals who want to bash America whenever they can.

109 posted on 03/28/2007 1:39:46 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: Theo
How much pornographic imagery in a movie is "acceptable" for a Christian?



Well that's the point. This film IMO is not pornographic...not in the least sense. And who among us can judge that anyway? The erotic scenes were very stylized...as were the scenes of violence. The scenes depicting the Lord's passion in Gibson's The Passion were far more graphically real...and I adored that film for its interpretation of what really happened.

But I think your gripe is with the eroticism...right? not the blood. Again, I did not find them to be distasteful...just a depiction of sex among several of the characters (veiled mostly) to move the narrative along.
110 posted on 03/28/2007 4:14:44 PM PDT by eleni121 ( + En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great))
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To: ScreamingFist
"Heck about the only think you can say to a liberal more insulting than Molon Labe! is "I'm voting from the roof top next election"....;)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! That is a Good one, ScreamingFist!! :D:D:D:D ....and completely true!!! :)

111 posted on 04/09/2007 7:58:34 PM PDT by apro
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To: SmithL

I went and saw the film this weekend and I just don’t understand all the commotion pro or con. From the hype I thought it must be the next Gladiator and boy, was I in for a let down. It’s a crappy movie, period.


112 posted on 04/09/2007 9:55:06 PM PDT by Elyse (I refuse to feed the crocodile.)
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