
I am partial toward movies that can entertain and educate me at the same time, whether about the British monarchy (The Queen) or an unsolved serial-killer case (Zodiac). That's my excuse for really wanting to see the epic new action movie, 300, in IMAX. I figure not only will it rule, but it might also teach me something about Spartan and Persian history.
Opening nationwide this Friday in both regular and IMAX theaters, the movie combines live action and animation for an effect that's sort of like Lord of the Rings meets Sin City. At the same time, it looks like nothing I've ever seen on film. 300 is based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller, who also wrote Sin City, but this time, he's zeroing in on the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, an epic match-up that pitted the Spartans against the much larger Persian army. The movie stars Gerard Butler (the Phantom in the recent Phantom of the Opera movie) and David Wenham, who I loved as Farimir in the LOTR trilogy.
Are you guys interested in seeing 300? Watch the trailer and tell me after you read more
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

















Too Faced
Promod
Elizabeth Arden
I can't wait for this movie to come out!
1i think it looks really graphic, but intense. I'm ready to see it!!!
2Yep - tons of CG which warrants going to the theatre
3I'd like to see it, so would The Man.
That's funny that you said that about educating yourself with movies. I'm a sad Christian to admit that most of what I know about the bible has come from movies...and history...
4It looks gorgeous! I emailed the videos off the 300 site to my Western and Islam profs and both are quite excited... although they're not so behind the history it provides. But of course people shouldn't expect the script to have been developed from a textbook.
5This movie looks very entertaining with quite a lot of eye candy to offer. I would hope that you are joking though about learning any actual historical fact from this film. Hollywood is RARELY ever accurate when portraying historical figures and events--especially in epic battle films with a moral. Don't get me started on how wildly inaccurate and fabricated Braveheart was! Entertaining for sure--but not a movie you can consider a history lesson. Not unless you want an "F".
So I would treat this film as entertainment, and if it interests you in that time period, great! Go home from the theatre and look up historical fact on the net and educate yourself.
6Yeah, don't worry, Nicadema. I was kind of joking about 300 being a good educational movie. But often, even movies that get all the facts wrong about an historical event will make me interested in reading up on that period of history.
7Hah! I kinda wasn't. No, really, though...I know I can't rely on hollywood to provide me with a degree in History...but I don't really care too much about it, either. If they didn't feel it was important enough to teach me about it in school, a fictional account will do just fine in my book. In the end, everything comes down to heresay and points of view anyway!
8Eh, I'm not so interested it, despite how much I loved both "Sin City" and "LOTR."
9I thought that was the case Buzzsugar
Well Butrfly, I can see your point. The part of me that worked hard for my degree in history cringed a bit when I read it, but to each his own. Though the ever true adage came to mind, "To not care about history leaves a society doomed to repeat it"
In truth I am tired of having debates with people whose sole knowledge of history is derived from movies and TV shows. It saddens me when people are not willing to self educate and grow their knowledge beyond what they may have been taught in school. I am well educated and have several degrees--but my most interesting breakthroughs in education came from my experiences and pursuit of knowledge OUTSIDE of the classroom.
Buzzsugar has it right--its wonderful when a movie can inspire someone to research a historical figure or particular time period. You often find that the hollywood version played fast and loose with the facts, but what you learn teaches you the truth behind the inspiration for the movie you enjoyed.
10this movie looks crazzzzy. i'm seeing it like the day it comes out!
11i didn't really feel like seeing this movie, but the BF is begging me! haha... but i do like graphic films....
12I don't have a lot of interest in seeing it...maybe if someone pays for my ticket I'll go.
13i didn't even know about this movie
looks good to me!
..a thousand different versions of yourself..
14definitely cannot wait! i think i saw the preview for it when i saw the departed and me and the BF have been looking forwaard to it...we loved Sin City and we both love most movies based in history.
15What does "300" represent? Looks like an interesting film.
16I think it's the year, isn't it?
Thanks for your concern, Nicadema. I think I'll do just fine. Honestly, I WISH I had time to learn about stuff, but LIFE happened and it just takes all my time. I would love to have the time to go SEE a movie, let alone time to RESEARCH it later. Hah! Maybe when I'm old.
17300 refers to the number of Spartan warriors who faced a Persian army of thousands bent on invading the Greek world. Their deaths and sacrifice is what this movie is about.
This is not a movie that will be accurate about quite a few things as it is based on a graphic novel that took liberties with the facts in the first place. The Persian King in reality looked nothing like how they are portraying him. He wasn't a hairless jewelry adorned effeminate. Which is odd--given that
Hollywood is once again toning down the factual homosexuality of this time period. It is well known that Spartans had a sexual flexibility. The elite fighting troops tended to be fighting "pairs". Lovers who would go to war and fight to the death for their King and their love mate. Puts a new spin on gays in the military doesn't it?
But hey--the actors worked VERY hard on those incredibly hot bodies--so honestly I am going to this this for the eye candy!
18I love this movie. It is such a great movie. The fight scenes were awesome.
19Hm, the trailer doesn't really lure me into wanting to watch it, but someone recommended it so I rented it and am giving it the benefit of the doubt.
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