things I did not expect

[rm]

300 may be the most divisive film since American Beauty.

More "how the fuck could you possibily think that?" conversations than I could possibly have imagined.

Comments

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it, and despite the fact that a number of people whose opinions I respect (like you) said good things about it, I think it would annoy me. I don't ask for complete historical accuracy, but the whole "a bunch of brave manly white guys stand up against the evil gay brown hordes" vibe makes me twitchy. Also, I've never thought Gerard Butler was hot, and I really don't think he's hot with the beard. Finally, I don't like rape scenes, especially when they're gratuitous. I'll be skipping this one.

[schonste.livejournal.com]

I didn't find the rape scene to be gratuitous -- the female character was too strong for that, really.

Also, it wasn't meant to have "evil gay brown hordes" vibe; it was from the point of view from the Spartans, which did make the Persians seem evil. You could say they made Xerxes "gay" but only because he was wearing makeup. It didn't feminize him; it made him a God King, like pharaohs of ~olde~.

The only gratuitous thing in the movie was blood, so much amazing beautiful cinematographical blood that made me feel slightly bad for loving it so much.

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

I didn't find the rape scene to be gratuitous -- the female character was too strong for that, really.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though, but wasn't that scene an addition that was just for the movie, that wasn't in the original comic? If so, then why put it in at all?

Also, it wasn't meant to have "evil gay brown hordes" vibe; it was from the point of view from the Spartans, which did make the Persians seem evil.

See, saying that it wasn't meant to have the evil brown hordes vibe, but having the entire thing told from the perspective of the white guys doesn't really work for me. Of course the Spartans saw the Persians as evil, just as most people in this country view the Middle East as being populated by an undifferentiated mass of brown people who hate our way of life.

I'm not saying that you or anyone else is wrong for liking it. I'm saying that for me, a movie about white guys fighting a bunch of evil guys who are not only brown, but happen to be from the part of the world that our government is trying desperately to make a case for invading would make me uncomfortable, and I don't really want to pay $10.00 for that privilege.

[schonste.livejournal.com]

I can see your point.

[msmarlamae.livejournal.com]

I hadn't considered this at all, my husband and I often argue (lovingly) about films vs. politics - he brought it up these points but not as aptly said. While I'm not a fan of our current goverment, I did not see this as a propganda film at all. (Not suggesting you termed it as such, but I've seen it supposed elsewhere) However I didn't see V as a statement against Bush either.

I see in both movies, good and bad in them in regards to many of the regimes in our past, current and future. Statements of warning, and also hope - even in obviously flawed characters. I can see your point however, really does put a different spin on the movies when I switch the view point.