Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: richtea on December 03, 2009, 12:22:13 pm

Title: 300
Post by: richtea on December 03, 2009, 12:22:13 pm
Last night I sat down and watched the film 300,the film of the Spartan's and the battle of Thermopylae.
The description of king Leonidas and the Spartans in the film is spoilt by the cartoon like villains and monsters,
in my opinion the story is strong enough to stand the test of time without the added extras.
They added nothing to the plot and a little bit more about the other Greek's that participated in the battle
would have made it just as interesting.
However, playing devil's advocate, if watching the film gets just a small percentage of it's young watchers
interested in history, then the monsters will have done a good job.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: jonny shoreboy on December 03, 2009, 05:26:08 pm
You do realise this version of the battle of Thermplyae is based on Frank Millers graphic novel (or comic book) and is not intended as a historical movie don't you???? Frank Miller has publish a lot of great graphic novels (basically comic books) so the movie was intended for the 'kids'. It is actually very close to the graphic novel 300 because of the cartoony villains etc and because of that it is a cracking movie for those fans of Frank Millers work. :-))

If you wanted to you could watch the classic movie called 300 Spartans. This version was made in the 60'(?) and was intended as a historical movie and is very similar to Spartacus etc. No cartoony monsters or villains and has a lot more info on the other Greek Hopilites. :}

Hope that helps explain the thinking behind 300 for you.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Eric65 on December 03, 2009, 05:49:32 pm
I agree Richtea, a totally ruined movie.....the true history is amazing enogh without all the silly monsters et-all.

They even got the part of the Syrian envoy being thrown into the pit wrong......it was'nt the Spartans who did that, it was the Atheniens!

There are more historical errors than an American war movie!!!!! %)

If anybody is interested in a good account of the battle, please read 'Gates of Fire', a brilliant book, with only the charecter you see the battle through the eyes of as fictional, the story of the way the battle played out was very well written.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Wasyl on December 03, 2009, 07:09:30 pm
If my ageing memory serves me well,was,nt there a film,based on the 300 Spartans,that took place in Vietnam,.."Go tell  the Spartans", {:-{

Wullie
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Peter Fitness on December 03, 2009, 08:29:20 pm
I agree with Richtea and Eric65, it's historically inaccurate, and full of gratuitous violence and gore.....hang on, isn't that what makes a great movie?  :o {-) {-)

Peter.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Wasyl on December 03, 2009, 09:19:04 pm
You said it Peter,..look at Braveheart,how more inaccurate could a film be...yet,


Wullie
Title: Re: 300
Post by: tobyker on December 03, 2009, 10:52:52 pm
Don't bother with the flicks - read AE Housman "here dead we lie......." or Simonides (various translations) - "Go tell the Spartans, thou who passeth by, that here obedient to their laws we lie".
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Peter Fitness on December 04, 2009, 05:29:13 am
You said it Peter,..look at Braveheart,how more inaccurate could a film be...yet,

Very true, Wullie, but then again, Braveheart had Aussie Mel Gibson in it, so it was always going to be good.  O0

Peter.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: tigertiger on December 04, 2009, 06:09:29 am
300 is not accurate with regards to the historical 'account' of the battle. The history itself considered to be in part a created history. The historian concerned was Herodotus, who himself was only 4 years old at the time.

In fairness the film 300 was never intended to be a history. The film was made as a faithfull copy of the Graphic Novel, it is a homage to Frank Miller.
As such the film did exactly what it was intended to do, and it was succesful in meeting its brief.

It is a bit like saying that James Bond is nothing like a real spy.
It is not the intention of the Bond franchise to depict facts.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Bunkerbarge on December 04, 2009, 08:40:58 am
The biggest problem I had with 300 was the stupid dark lighting used throughout.  It was so 'over' dramatic as to look ridiculous.

As for Braveheart, historical innaccuracies aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thought it brought a story to the world that may otherwise have been known by only a select few.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: tigertiger on December 04, 2009, 09:44:13 am
I have to confess to being a fan of graphic novels.

And yes the imagery is often dark, as are the storylines.
Title: Re: 300
Post by: Peter Fitness on December 04, 2009, 09:30:53 pm
Well Richard, you know that Hollywood never lets facts get in the way of a good story, but I agree with you about Braveheart. The film made people aware of the legend of William Wallace, and the history surrounding that legend.