They told me I couldn't criticize 300

[Patroklos]

Also, Thermopylae itself was not really as important as history will tell you. Far more impressive was the little known fleet battle won by Themistocles against the Persian fleet that outnumbered him 10/1. The details of just how he pulled it off are sketchy, though after fending off the Persians for a few days a storm wiped out the enemy fleet.

Without that concurrent victory, the Persians would have just sailed right around the Greeks at the pass and surrounded them.

[BeBMan]

Salamis

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Who gives a **** about realism? It's a movie adapted from a comic book and in that context it's a great movie!

For the record, I didn't care about the historical accuracy, either. I believe the movie managed to suck on its own merits.

[MikeH]

The Wikipedia entry for Thermopylae is really a very decent place to start reading if you are interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

[Patroklos]

Salamis

Nah, that was later and indeed

The naval battle at the same time as Thermopylea was the Battle of Artemisiam.

[BeBMan]

True

[Q Classic]

A friend of mine had a very apt description: it sucked because it was like a bad, non-interactive video game.

Small battle small battle small battle BOSS FIGHT!!!! cutscene in Sparta small battle small battle small battle BOSS FIGHT!!!! cutscene in Xerxes's camp small battle small battle small battle BOSS FIGHT!!!! cutscene in the bathhouse small battle small battle...

[DanS]

Were we watching the same movie?

As a piece of art and as a representation of the story in the comic book, the movie rocked. It was just beautiful; very much like Gladiator in this regard. It was a fun and gripping action and adventure movie besides.

Seriously, some of you must have a problem suspending disbelief to watch a movie for a couple hours.

[DanS]

For contemporary movies that suck, see, e.g. Beowulf.

I watched 300 and Beowulf on successive days 2 weeks ago. My eyes were bleeding as I watched Beowulf.

[BeBMan]

Umm, Gladiator was much better. Not because it was all historically accurate (it had its inaccuracies as well), but the characters felt like real persons, not like lifeless representations of some simple stereotypes. That is why 300 didn't work for me, despite all the - admittedly sometimes spectacular - visuals.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by DanS
For contemporary movies that suck, see, e.g. Beowulf.

I watched 300 and Beowulf on successive days 2 weeks ago. My eyes were bleeding as I watched Beowulf.

There were some bits that were good, mostly the bits with CGI Angelina. The dragon was quite good too.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


For the record, I didn't care about the historical accuracy, either. I believe the movie managed to suck on its own merits.

Suck how?

Didnt like the art?
Didnt like the topic?
Didnt like the message?
Didnt like the fighting/blood-gore?

The acting was **** but it wasnt brilliant in Blade Runner either which I think 300 compares well with.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by DanS
I watched 300 and Beowulf on successive days 2 weeks ago. My eyes were bleeding as I watched Beowulf.

Oh you poor guy. I waited until it came out on cable and was able to switch to another channel. Even the nearly naked Angelina Jolie was boring.

[DanS]

The CGI Angelina was very good. The rest was just painful.

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by DanS
Were we watching the same movie?

As a piece of art and as a representation of the story in the comic book, the movie rocked. It was just beautiful; very much like Gladiator in this regard. It was a fun and gripping action and adventure movie besides.

Seriously, some of you must have a problem suspending disbelief to watch a movie for a couple hours.

I suspended disbelief all right. I thought it was an amusing way to pass 2 hours or so.

That doesn't mean I think it was good, or a work of cinematic art.

There's a difference between stylish and stylized; both Sin City and 300 fell afoul of the distinction, as they were stylized, but not stylish.

Admittedly, I refuse to see Beowulf, so I have nothing to say on that.