Bad Movie Logo
"A website to the detriment of good film"
Custom Search
HOMEB-MOVIE REVIEWSREADER REVIEWSFORUMINTERVIEWSUPDATESABOUT
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 19, 2024, 12:22:22 AM
712922 Posts in 53040 Topics by 7722 Members
Latest Member: GenevaBarr
Badmovies.org Forum  |  Movies  |  Bad Movies  |  Frank Miller's 300 « previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: Frank Miller's 300  (Read 3372 times)
Derf
Crazy Rabbity Thingy
Proofreader
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 429
Posts: 2564


Lagomorphs: menace or underutilized resource?


« on: June 17, 2008, 09:18:38 AM »

Yes, I am way behind the times, but I just saw Frank Miller's 300 on DVD. And yes, I know there is a thread about it in the Good Movies section. I read it through, but I just couldn't post this there in good conscience. I don't mean to denigrate anyone else's opinion of the movie, but it just didn't work for me at all. There was no real character development beyond sketchy details of Leonidas's upbringing. The tacked-on love story between Leonidas and Gorgo was handled poorly; we are just supposed to "know" their love is deep because the soundtrack tells us so (again, it's a matter of character development). The political subplot is too sketchy to work--one weasel politician who has somehow sold out to the Persians to somehow vaguely keep the council from sending reinforcements (though we don't know exactly how) does not make for good storytelling. Nor does having to simply accept that Spartans are the roughest, toughest hombres west of the Pecos (sorry, I'm from Texas) just because they constantly tell us that they are. Which brings me to the dialog. The constant browbeating of the audience with lines like, "Because we are Spartans," "This is Sparta," and "We Spartans are the roughest, toughest hombres west of the Pecos" (or words to that effect) just got on my nerves. I knew the outcome going into the movie (it was never a secret, I know), but there was just no one I cared about enough to make it matter to me that they all die. For me, there was just no real human element to the story. There was potential, but it was largely unexplored potential left in sketch form. I realize that the movie would have been too long if characters had been developed using good storytelling techniques, but things could have been done better than they were. And then there were all the "freak" characters: the priests, the Immortals, Ephialtes (the hunchback of Notre Dame Greece), the cantina scene in Xerxes's mobile palace, the big chained-up warrior guy (I expected a little fat kid with a Baby Ruth to run up and yell "Chunk loves Sloth!" and save Leonidas). I know this was to add a "mystical" element to the story, but they just seemed overdone and out of place. The effects were good; I liked the look of the movie, but, like most modern movies, the storytelling aspects were underdone, and the "epic" feel was delivered through film techniques (the slow-mo stuff, mainly) and the soundtrack.

Again, I don't mean to put down anyone else's opinion of the movie, but it just came up very short for me. It wasn't entertaining enough to be a good "bad" movie, and it wasn't good enough to be a good movie. Luckily for me, a friend loaned it to me (for the sole reason of preparing me to see Meet the Spartans), so I didn't spend any money, just two hours of my life.
Logged

"They tap dance not, neither do they fart." --Greensleeves, on the Fig Men of the Imagination, in "Twice Upon a Time."
trekgeezer
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 4973


We're all just victims of circumstance


« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2008, 11:47:12 AM »

Had your testosterone checked there lately Derf? (only kidding).   This movie goes in the same category as the original Predator, a testosterone fueled fantasy. It's all about the action.

By the way, if you read anything about the Spartans you will see that they were rather stuck on themselves.

I think a lot of the appeal of the movie is the same as Sin City (also by Frank Miller).  The movie was made is like the graphic novel come to life.
Logged




And you thought Trek isn't cool.
peter johnson
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 107
Posts: 1489



« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2008, 11:54:25 AM »

Yes, the film was all about an Exercise in Style -- Either you take it on that level or not.  Myself, I did enjoy it, but not as much as Sin City.
You may want to check out the 60's film "The 300 Spartans", which is told with zero special effects & a cast of thousands.  The elements of the storyline are all essentially true, except both versions skip the part about the 1000 Thespians (Look it up) who also gave their lives to buy time.
peter johnson/denny thespis
Logged

I have no idea what this means.
Mr. DS
Master Of Cinematic Bowel Movements
B-Movie Kraken
*****

Karma: 1869
Posts: 15511


Get this thread cleaned up or YOU'RE FIRED!!!


WWW
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2008, 11:57:02 AM »

I was ok with this movie but mind you just "ok" though. The movie is based on a comic book.  Hence all the silly gravity defying jumping, the creatures/human of unreal nature, etc.  Still, its one of those films that I feel struggles to fill it's running time.  
Logged

DarkSider's Realm
http://darksidersrealm.blogspot.com/

"You think the honey badger cares?  It doesn't give a sh*t."  Randall
Monkeyface
Dedicated Viewer
**

Karma: 2
Posts: 35



WWW
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2008, 12:00:17 PM »

I tend to agree that the story didn't really enrapture me to the point I expected.  But I had read about the Spartans before and I knew what was going on for the most part.  I've watched the movie a few times since I saw it in the theater and I just skip the first hour and to right to the battle scenes.  I thought the fights were well thought out and shot beautifully.  It makes me wonder if the Spartans really didn't look like guys who worked out 22 hours a day, or if that was just for Hollywood effect?!?

I would throw it in the good category, but not great like other movies Gladiator or Braveheart.
Logged

Derf
Crazy Rabbity Thingy
Proofreader
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 429
Posts: 2564


Lagomorphs: menace or underutilized resource?


« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2008, 06:20:51 PM »

Had your testosterone checked there lately Derf? (only kidding).   This movie goes in the same category as the original Predator, a testosterone fueled fantasy. It's all about the action.

By the way, if you read anything about the Spartans you will see that they were rather stuck on themselves.

I think a lot of the appeal of the movie is the same as Sin City (also by Frank Miller).  The movie was made is like the graphic novel come to life.

Oooh, you big meanie!  I'll scratch your eyes out! TeddyR I kid, I kid. Loved Predator, not so much this. Indeed, both are testosterone fests, but at least Predator adds some human elements, some characters to care about. I guess I'm more of an individualist; I like stories about one or two people much more than a large group, and 300, while it is mainly about Leonidas, has too many people involved. The action bored me because it was on too large a scale and I really couldn't make myself care about anyone dying, whether Spartan or Persian. At least when Ah-nold's buddies were killed in Predator, I cared a bit.

And I don't care how self-absorbed you are, your main vocabulary won't involve phrases like "I do this because I'm a ______." It will come up sometimes, but not every other sentence.

As I said in my initial post, I liked the look of the movie, but it is a movie that is all style and no substance. I was reminded of Pearl Harbor, with its lack of believable characters and dependence on a grand soundtrack to add an epic feel to a non-story. If you liked the movie, good for you. It just didn't work for me. I'm sure people would say the same about many, many movies I enjoy.
Logged

"They tap dance not, neither do they fart." --Greensleeves, on the Fig Men of the Imagination, in "Twice Upon a Time."
indianasmith
Archeologist, Theologian, Elder Scrolls Addict, and a
B-Movie Kraken
*****

Karma: 2590
Posts: 15177


A good bad movie is like popcorn for the soul!


« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2008, 07:54:34 PM »

Sorry dude, but . . . .

This one worked on every level for me, and I loved it!
Logged

"I shall smite you in the nostrils with a rod of iron, and wax your spleen with Efferdent!!"
Derf
Crazy Rabbity Thingy
Proofreader
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 429
Posts: 2564


Lagomorphs: menace or underutilized resource?


« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2008, 08:19:55 PM »

Sorry dude, but . . . .

This one worked on every level for me, and I loved it!


Well, you're a history buff. I'm a Literature buff. And Leonidas is just plain buff. And Gorgo was in the buff. We've all got our perspectives. Mine is strong on storytelling. So, .
Logged

"They tap dance not, neither do they fart." --Greensleeves, on the Fig Men of the Imagination, in "Twice Upon a Time."
indianasmith
Archeologist, Theologian, Elder Scrolls Addict, and a
B-Movie Kraken
*****

Karma: 2590
Posts: 15177


A good bad movie is like popcorn for the soul!


« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2008, 11:14:58 PM »

Sorry dude, but . . . .

This one worked on every level for me, and I loved it!


Well, you're a history buff. I'm a Literature buff. And Leonidas is just plain buff. And Gorgo was in the buff. We've all got our perspectives. Mine is strong on storytelling. So, .


karma for that one!!  I must admit I had forgotten the queen was named Gorgo . . . isn't that a Japanese movie monster?  Personally, I thought the oracle was better looking!
Logged

"I shall smite you in the nostrils with a rod of iron, and wax your spleen with Efferdent!!"
Shadow
B-Movie Site Webmaster
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 217
Posts: 1864


Primoris Malum


WWW
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2008, 01:18:09 AM »

I must admit I had forgotten the queen was named Gorgo . . . isn't that a Japanese movie monster?

English, actually. Funny you should mention it, as I just watched that movie today.
Logged

Shadow
www.bmoviegraveyard.com
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
Derf
Crazy Rabbity Thingy
Proofreader
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 429
Posts: 2564


Lagomorphs: menace or underutilized resource?


« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2008, 08:52:15 AM »

I had to look up the queen's name, and even after I did, I was worried that I had it wrong, mixing it up with the monster. I almost went back to double check but left it 'til this morning. Still, I'd rather be attacked by Queen Gorgo than by the monster Gorgo, though my wife might not like that so much.
Logged

"They tap dance not, neither do they fart." --Greensleeves, on the Fig Men of the Imagination, in "Twice Upon a Time."
the master
Guest
« Reply #11 on: June 19, 2008, 02:07:52 PM »

im very tempted so here it is
THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Logged
Torgo
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 537
Posts: 5278



« Reply #12 on: June 19, 2008, 10:19:05 PM »

when I originally saw it in a theater I gave it **1/2 out of ****. But I caught it again on DVD a while back and my rating went to *** out of ****.

Not a masterpiece by any means but a whole lot of fun if you turn your brain off and aren't looking for historical accuracy.
Logged

"There is no way out of here. It'll be dark soon. There is no way out of here."
Andrew
Administrator
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 8457


I know where my towel is.


WWW
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2008, 11:02:53 PM »

"Gates of Fire", the book upon which the film is loosely based, is on the USMC reading list.  It is a good book, and goes much more into the background of why the Spartans were such a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.  It also discards the political part of the plot.  It also sticks to why the phalanx was such a powerful weapon on the battlefield at the time, especially when used by born-and-raised-to-be-warriors the Spartans.

I liked the movie as a action film, but definitely wished it had been a little more true to the book.  It was highly stylized, and that can work for some, but completely fail for others.

In the movie, something that fit perfectly has the two kings comparing how many warriors they had brought to the Gates. 

Quote
Edit to add:  "300" is not so much a movie based on "Gates of Fire," but I believe the success of the book probably resulted in the movie.  I have never seen the graphic novel that is directly credited for the movie, but "Gates of Fire" is a book that was well received and contributed heavily to interest in the battle among people I have known over the years.  None of them had ever heard of "300."
« Last Edit: June 19, 2008, 11:09:09 PM by Andrew » Logged

Andrew Borntreger
Badmovies.org
Dennis
Yes, it's true, absolutely true. I am a
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 239
Posts: 2282


I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?


« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2008, 01:10:29 AM »

I liked this film as an action yarn, not historically accurate but the narrator is telling the story to the Spartan army just before the battle of Plataea, so he's understandably going to exaggerate a tad. Some of the dialogue in the film may be true, I'm referring to the "Then we'll fight in the shade" and also "Come and take them" remarks. The film captures the Spartan attitude and philosophy almost exactly. At that time in history the entire Spartan culture was devoted to war, they were so sure of themselves that the city of Sparta itself had no walls. There is a story told of a Spartan traveling through Persia after it was conquered by Alexander, his Persian guide took great delight in pointing out various battle sites and the burial mounds of the Greeks, telling the Spartan "Here are buried 200 Spartans, over there another 250 or so". This went on for some time until the Spartan spoke, he admitted that there were a lot of dead Spartan warriors in Persia, then  he said "It is sad that there are no Persian warriors buried in Sparta". At that time in history, in that part of the world, the city-state of Sparta was a force to be reckoned with, and treated with respect.
The History Channel has an excellent documentary about this battle, "The Last Stand of the 300", well worth watching.
 
Logged


Reach for the heavens in hope for the future for all that we can be, not what we are. Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.
Pages: [1]
Badmovies.org Forum  |  Movies  |  Bad Movies  |  Frank Miller's 300 « previous next »
    Jump to:  


    RSS Feed Subscribe Subscribe by RSS
    Email Subscribe Subscribe by Email


    Popular Articles
    How To Find A Bad Movie

    The Champions of Justice

    Plan 9 from Outer Space

    Manos, The Hands of Fate

    Podcast: Todd the Convenience Store Clerk

    Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

    Dragonball: The Magic Begins

    Cool As Ice

    The Educational Archives: Driver's Ed

    Godzilla vs. Monster Zero

    Do you have a zombie plan?

    FROM THE BADMOVIES.ORG ARCHIVES
    ImageThe Giant Claw - Slime drop

    Earth is visited by a GIANT ANTIMATTER SPACE BUZZARD! Gawk at the amazingly bad bird puppet, or chuckle over the silly dialog. This is one of the greatest b-movies ever made.

    Lesson Learned:
    • Osmosis: os·mo·sis (oz-mo'sis, os-) n., 1. When a bird eats something.

    Subscribe to Badmovies.org and get updates by email:

    HOME B-Movie Reviews Reader Reviews Forum Interviews TV Shows Advertising Information Sideshows Links Contact

    Badmovies.org is owned and operated by Andrew Borntreger. All original content is © 1998 - 2014 by its respective author(s). Image, video, and audio files are used in accordance with the Fair Use Law, and are property of the film copyright holders. You may freely link to any page (.html or .php) on this website, but reproduction in any other form must be authorized by the copyright holder.