I wouldn't disagree, but my point was there was no competition to the combat. The Spartans would basically run up, swing sword, kill guy. At most ~3 slashes to beat the Persian. Unlike a movie like Gladiator there were no interesting fights. (Speaking of gladiator why did they use the same song for the credits that gladiator did?) Take when they were pushing those Persians off a cliff, a lot of the Persians just were holding their spears straight up as if they were on guard duty, doing nothing as they were getting pushed off. I'm no expert, but I feel pretty confident in thinking that you don't herd a war elephant where you want it to go. Regardless, it is a general rule for story tellers to "show, not tell", and they definitely did the latter, in a cliff-note style.
Gladiator was really cool the first time I watched it. The second time, I realized there was all too much dialogue.
I LOVED it from start to finish. Awesome camerawork, computer graphics, the lighting, the story, the characters and the soundtrack were all breath taking. Not to mention all that Meat! EXCELLENT film. Better than I expected.
If you want to see a good fight, watch the second last episode of the first season of the series Rome.
I watch Rome! I'm 2 episodes behind. A friend with HBO/Showtime records it for me! I hate that it ends for good now.
I have to agree with Genji on this one: It was an excellent film. I finally got to see it again and it was just brilliantly done. Also, I was pleased that it was "mostly accurate". Certainly, not a 100 percent retelling of the story, but definitely accurate in the sense that it captured the majority of the events. It was also unabashedly heroic. A refreshing film that affirms manly virtues, instead of denigrates them, or mires things in a nihilistic moral relativism that diminishes the overall impact of the film. Moreover, though the Persians were not savages, they were ceaseless invaders and lusty conquerors. For those who claim they were "mischaracterized" did not realize that such was part of symbolic meaning of the film. And to say that Sparta was "less free" for Spartan men does not take into consideration the entire notion of Spartan timocracy.
Well Said. I look forward to buying it on DVD with all the extras. One of the best films of the last 12 months imo.
Watching annoying Gerard Butler makes more annoying grimaces all the time, isn't worthy of loss of precious two hours of life. Rubbish!
I must see it again at the theater. And I must buy the DVD when it's out. Buying Children of Men this weekend. One of my top 3 movies of 06.
To be honest, I liked the preview better, where they played NIN. The music crescendoing as Leonidas shouted "This is SPARTA!" and kicking the dude down the well, followed by a cut up of action and monstrous Persians. For such a strong piece of conservative propoganda, I'm surprised you liked it, Genji.
Conservative propaganda?? I know there's been criticism about the "white" Sparts and the heathen Persians but that's the only thing I can think of that could be considered 'conservative propaganda.' I love film on ancient history, even if distorted. The filmstock, imagery and computer work is spectacular. Not to mention it's probably the gayest movie I've ever seen with all the leather thongs, abs, bulging chests and sweaty backs!
See it for yourself. For people that like to nitpick at movies to find anything negative there's probably something they'll find to moan about. If the previews interest you go see it. If not then don't see it.
You're only a janitor, so I can understand that you got all wrapped up in the pretty pictures and failed to think critically. jaykay jaykay. But seriously, practically every line in that movie was a piece of republican rhetoric. Can you not see the enormous parallels between the words and actions of the good guys, the words of the treacherous politician, and the ultimate out come of it all? There was no mention in the entire film of how the battle at thermopylae didn't accomplish much- Athens won the day with its triremes. Sparta would have been fine, safe on its island, from the hordes of Persians. Every message was us vs. them, freedom, and sometimes you have to break laws and kill messengers to save the entire free world, even if other people don't like it. That stands in complete agreement with the Republican platform. But don't take my word for it.
Battle of Artemisium(Athens naval battle at he same time as Thermopylae) was a draw and Athenians let their city be sacked without a fight. They left to the Isle of Salamis. Thermopylae probably allowed such an orderly retreat. If you don't think holding up the Persians for a week, did not help Greek manuvers and retreats in the south, I don't know what to tell you. To say Thermopylae accompished nothing shows total ignorance of these battles, or you are absolutely unschooled in military strategy. This exact same tactic had been used at the same place after and in modern times even, with similar results. As for the movie being backed by "Republican" interests, I could care less. I really doubt it though, events back then have little to do with today. These people really were fighting for "survival". Survival of their history, culture and to ensure their children were not made slaves. Fighting for that and fighting for money, oil, and pimping out business contracts to rebuild bombed out countries, are pretty far removed.
Yes, but it was 5,000 or so other greeks that held them up a week. The 300 spartans and their thespian comrades held them up 1 day.