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When the movie 300 came into the cinemas 2007, I was not tempted to watch it (ditto at the DVD release later that year). The topic wasn't that interesting to me.
However, since then the movie managed to be called (in no specific order & no assumption of completeness): fascist, racist, communist, (+ a lot more -ists), inhuman, violence-glorifying, historically incorrect and politically incorrect towards the elderly, the disabled, artisans, craftspeople, women, African people, Asian people - and it pissed off the entire nation of Iran.
All that while still getting a cinema rating of FSK-16 (roughly an "R") in Germany. Wow.
Let's say, I was intrigued. Today I sat down and watched it. And found that I liked it. A lot.
So what is 300?
Is it violent? yes.
Is it historically incorrect? Not more than most flicks I've come across that demand to be "history movies" (it never claimed to be one).
Is it politically incorrect? If you take the characters and creatures as historical / real people & animals, then yes. However, within the comic plot, the characters work - they are drawn to resemble their plot role, features emphasized to the point of caricature - matching the comic the film is based on one on one - and in that the film is a lot more fantasy than history!
Miller's works (Sin City, 300...) are controversial, to say the least. They are no kiddy stuff and I know grown-ups who prefer reading nicer things, but those aren't the intended audience. The others: Grab the hot chili chips, a coke (or coffee) and enjoy the show!
Because 300 is one of the most precise and visually striking comic adaptations I've come across so far.
However, since then the movie managed to be called (in no specific order & no assumption of completeness): fascist, racist, communist, (+ a lot more -ists), inhuman, violence-glorifying, historically incorrect and politically incorrect towards the elderly, the disabled, artisans, craftspeople, women, African people, Asian people - and it pissed off the entire nation of Iran.
All that while still getting a cinema rating of FSK-16 (roughly an "R") in Germany. Wow.
Let's say, I was intrigued. Today I sat down and watched it. And found that I liked it. A lot.
So what is 300?
Is it violent? yes.
Is it historically incorrect? Not more than most flicks I've come across that demand to be "history movies" (it never claimed to be one).
Is it politically incorrect? If you take the characters and creatures as historical / real people & animals, then yes. However, within the comic plot, the characters work - they are drawn to resemble their plot role, features emphasized to the point of caricature - matching the comic the film is based on one on one - and in that the film is a lot more fantasy than history!
Miller's works (Sin City, 300...) are controversial, to say the least. They are no kiddy stuff and I know grown-ups who prefer reading nicer things, but those aren't the intended audience. The others: Grab the hot chili chips, a coke (or coffee) and enjoy the show!
Because 300 is one of the most precise and visually striking comic adaptations I've come across so far.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-22 15:00 (UTC)From:Clearly, a movie I should watch. :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-22 15:10 (UTC)From:Basically, the film has been called politically incorrect for so many reasons that it is probably the most politically correct movie out there by now - because absolutely everybody on Earth can find a reason to be pissed off about it. ;)
But it really *is* a visually striking comic adaptation (full of computer-morph-improved muscles, sweat, and splatter)! :)