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 ...
Sparta later handed Greek Asia Minor to Persia without so much as a fond farewell. Xerxes could've stayed home and let Spartan hegemony do the dirty work for him.
That's only because you're already dead.
Harsh...
Okers...
I was wondering what that smell was.
Even today, our civilization hangs by an invisible thread, that links us to the future. I am so glad that the Spartans "lost" at Thermopylae, so that the Athenians, Spartans, Corinthians, Thebans, etc. could win at Salamis and Plataea, and for that matter... that Franks won at Tours, that the Venetians won at Lepanto, and that the Austrians turned back the Turks at the gates of the West. Thank you, Leonidas and brother Spartan warriors for your sacrifice.
I neither said nor implied this.
And more than one person has said or implie that the Spartans were "free men" and had a democracy.
Not a single person who has posted on this thread has stated such.
Your obivous hysteria over this movie clues us into you being a liberal. However, it's your willingness to lie, even when the lack of evidence is staring you in the face, is what confirms that you are a liberal.
As I implied in my comment, the recommendation not to see the movie is for Christians. If you're not a Christian, you are under no obligation to honor God in your movie-watching choices.
but a missed opportunity to make a better film
Without betraying sources....I know a key player in the decision to produce this film and it was a brave and courageous decision, given the 'powers that be' in Hollywierd. When any film is given the 'green light' there are many, many compromises that have already been made, as well as more in the forthcoming production process. It is amazing that this film was made at all, and it is a definite feather in the cap of the few who took a deep breath and made it happen when surrounded by the PC crowd.
Nah. Didn't think it needed a smiley.
Cut and paste this into my previous post :-)
Yea, real battle is everyone just falling down holding their chest.....
The Spartans of the film were not depicted as historically accurate Spartans. They were a representation of the good guys. Therefore, the movie was Hollywood good guys versus Hollywood bad guys. You feel the need to insert historical accuracy, the 300 all died & that was shown. Worry yourself about the Spartans spouting all kinds rhetoric about freedom & defending their way of life, you miss the larger point.
What ever floats your boat.
Actually as a Bible believing Christian I found many Pro Christian elements in the fim.
That was my point: the reviews you psoted were inelegantly unsophisticated. They merely scratched at the surface. I expect more from thoughtful analysis from self styled Christian reviewers.
"Not a single person who has posted on this thread has stated such."
Oh?
"It was a film of selfless honor and duty, that free men choosing to die can overcome evil."
Interesting, but not unexpected....if it's not about two cowboys boofing each other, it has to go through the HollyWierd committee of censors....
I'm sure it had nothing to do with that massive slave army of his. Him and his troops were just in Greece for a picnic. Right?
As for FOMENTing trouble in his "kingdom", the Ionian colonists weren't hurting anyone before the Persians decided they wanted to expand their Empire to include them. Setting up a puppet Dictator didn't go over so well, so the Ionian Greeks revolted, burnt a city, and took off for Marathon.
The Persians, Po'ed that some snotty Greeks would dare question their Empire building went after them... And repeated got their butts handed to them by Greek troops.
You don't need to revise history or edit out the parts you don't like. It'll stand on it's own...
"They kept a class of people who were essentially slaves called Helots"
Well, America keeps a class of slaves called conservatives, and the teachers, media, and academics are our rulers. Since they hate this movie, I think I'll give the director some historical creativity since it is a movie and not a documentary.
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