Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 300

This is topic 300 in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeremy Spracklen (Member # 18) on 03-08-2007, 02:14 AM:

Two words - fucking retarded.

I liked that ending better when it was in Gladiator. In fact, I would like to splice that in at the end. If anyone has the last reel of Gladiator, I would be willing to take it off their hands for $4, half a bottle of Tide and a used Donald Trump doll.

The only thing that was cool at the end when you see that the main guy was wearing his Frank-n-Furter undies the entire time. Then, as a tribute, the whole army fights in their Frank-n-Furter drawers while some guy cribs from Braveheart. Oh...hope that didn't ruin it for anyone.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 03-09-2007, 12:31 AM:

If Jeremy hated it enough to post a review, then it must be great.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-09-2007, 12:56 AM:

[puke]

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 03-09-2007, 01:04 AM:

I rather liked it. I thought it was going to be some silly MTVish jerky cam/semi-modernized garbage. It was actually well shot with authentic dialogue.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-09-2007, 08:00 AM:

quote: Jeremy Spracklen
$4, half a bottle of Tide and a used Donald Trump doll.

What are you, McGuyver? That doesn't make any sense. You completely forgot to ask for a toothpick, dental floss, a nine iron, and six copies of Tank Girl on DVD.

Ciao

Posted by Chad M Calpito (Member # 3736) on 03-09-2007, 04:44 PM:

I thought the movie was really good to watch. The special effects were great, especially the sound effects.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-09-2007, 06:38 PM:

The Donald Trump doll is "used"?

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-10-2007, 12:05 AM:

With the exception of the two D Cinema 3-D showings at the Dole Cannery 18 in Honolulu, "300" will be the first screening of a regular feature film in digital at that theatre. Because I took advantage of a Best Buy promotion, I have a DVD showing how the film was made as well as a free ticket to the movie and I am planning to use it this week end. I will post my comments about the film and the presentation after I see the movie.

-Claude

Posted by Alex Grueneberg (Member # 2652) on 03-10-2007, 12:57 AM:

The sound mix on this packs a serious punch. Opening logos [thumbsup]

Other then that this isn't really my forte and the slow motion got a little masturbatory after a while.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 03-10-2007, 02:39 AM:

But it's based on a comic book!

Now, how long before some nut-job informs me it's a GRAPHIC NOVEL, not a comic book!

Get a life...

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 03-10-2007, 02:44 AM:

quote: Dustin Mitchell
It was actually well shot with authentic dialogue.

Authentic dialog? In Ancient Greek? Αλέιθια? Did Mel Gibson have anything to do with the production?

Posted by Kyle Anderson (Member # 3504) on 03-10-2007, 03:41 AM:

EXCELLENT, except that the ending kinda sucked (a bit long-winded; could have cut a minute out of the dialogue and it would have been more consistent with the sight of 10k Spartans) =/

Action sequences were AWESOME... denotes multiple moments of sit-back and sigh at how badass that just was. Loved the 40 seconds of focus on each of the main warriors in combat - great choreography, used to great effect - cinematography was top-notch!

4.5/5 -.5 for the poorly done ending. +.5 for the nudity (take that Gladiator)

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-10-2007, 04:01 AM:

quote: Mike Spaeth
Now, how long before some nut-job informs me it's a GRAPHIC NOVEL, not a comic book!

Get a life...

Hey it's a GRAPHIC NOVEL, not a comic book!!!

Nut job out.

Actually there is a difference. Comic books are for babies, graphic novels are for grown up loser men who can't get a girlfriend.

Ciao

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 03-10-2007, 08:02 AM:

So, there is a definite Greco factor in this?

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-10-2007, 11:12 AM:

It's a comic book, not a graphic novel! Graphic novels are for people who feel insecure reading comic books, and comic books are for people who don't give a shit.

If you were to ask Frank Miller, I bet he'd say it's a comic book.

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 03-10-2007, 11:59 AM:

Richard, OH YEAH!. I'll just say Coat Hangars.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-10-2007, 01:03 PM:

Location: Carmike 8, Lawton, OK
Auditorium: #5 (THX hardware, but not officially certified)
Format: Christie DLP, 2048 X 858 pixels, JPEG 2000, LPCM 5.1 audio

I found 300 to be a pretty decent action flick, with the show's quality strengthened by the graphic visuals lifted directly out of Frank Miller's graphic novel. Three stars out of four.

300 is NOT meant to be interpreted as an accurate historical account of the Battle of Thermopylae, which was but one of many events in the Greco-Persian War. We don't hear anything about more famed Greek leaders like Themistocles who guided a lot of the larger overall strategy in the war. 300 also leaves out the fact 700 Thespian warriors died in the final assault as well. Probably the biggest fact left out is how King Leonidas' famed last stand at the "Hot Gates" bought the retreating Greek army enough time to regroup, then rebuild and ultimately smash the Persian army and force Xerxes to retreat to Asia (where he would be murdered by one of his close associates years later). But, again, this is essentially meant as a comic book movie, not a representation of historical accuracy. Anyone who goes in expecting the former is making a very serious mistake, one that is their own fault.

If you leave out some of the monstrous fighters, replace the goofy hunchback with a man named Ephialtes and have Xerxes standing less than 8 feet tall and speaking in a voice not altered in ProTools you would have something a little closer to what actually happened.

This movie probably could have been handled better in some of the action sequences, but all the CGI blood splattering was actually sort of fun. It had me thinking of old Sam Peckinpah movies like The Wild Bunch and Cross of Iron. The depth of field blurring effects on the blood spatter was also kind of cool, but it didn't exactly match up with the generally more deep depth of field in the rest of the frame. How come the Spartans weren't getting drenched in all the blood and guts they were slicing and spearing out of those Persians?

The dialog? Ridiculous. Again, this is a comic book movie. Comic books and graphic novels are meant to have stupidly ridiculous dialog. Just like pro wrestling. It would be more stupid to have the characters talking like they were out of a Merchant and Ivory flick. I did groan with nausea when Leonidas said, "have your breakfast and eat it hearty, for tonight we dine in Hell!" Who, besides a pirate, uses the word "hearty?" Ugh.

Greco factor? There's a few scenes that amp up that meter. If you like pale, skinny red-heads (I dated one years ago) the scene with the "oracle" might have some value. Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) has her breasts bouncing in a love scene with King Leonidas (Gerard Butler). Nipples like pencil erasers. Hehe. Xerxes has a harem full of bare breasted slaves.

Anyone who liked the look of Sin City should like how this movie looks as well. This one was shot in Super35 instead of video, but I suspect everything was put through a 2K digital intermediate anyway. Some of the more deliberately grainy shots revealed limitations of the 2K digital cinema format.

The audio had a lot of dynamic energy to it right from the opening title logos and onward. My only complaint with the sound is I felt there could have been a little more surround action.

Music score choices were odd. When the heavy metal guitar stuff happened it threated to drag the show in to anachronistic territory previously mined by movies like A Knight's Tale. I think such movies need to stick with the more traditional (and safe) orchestral scores.

Few people appreciate good film title sequences. I liked the opening and closing titles of 300. The closing titles were particularly cool. Frank Miller's artwork was extracted into 3D space and animated, along with all sorts of red animated blood splatter.

One thing I did not like about the style of 300: certain choices in the camera moves. It's that Toyota commercial and MTV music video nonsense again.

Zack Snyder heavily over-uses the effect where a slow motion camera shot is suddenly sped up, mainly to amplify the energy of a Spartan's weapon striking an enemy. There's also a decent bit of artificial slam-zooming effects too (the new Battlestar Galactica TV series uses the hell of that on CGI sequences).
Those kinds of visuals work only in small doses. When over-used, those camera effects turn into shtick. And the style gets damned silly. It may not seem silly now. But pop this movie into whatever video player is used 20 years from now. Take a look at it then. You'll tell yourself, "I actually thought this sort of shit was cool?" For example, watch the movie Tommy sometime. Even for a 1970s show, that movie was a bit out there. But there's parts of it now which seem so dated and so extremely silly that it's hard to not be squirming in your seat with your skin crawling and fighting vomit from coming up in your throat. One room in hell may feature endless looping video of Ann Margaret riding a couch cushion and writhing in gallons of pork and beans that exploded out of the TV set.

Anyway, I recommend 300. Just unplug your brain as much as possible when watching it.

quote: Dave Williams
Actually there is a difference. Comic books are for babies, graphic novels are for grown up loser men who can't get a girlfriend.

That's a pretty judgmental comment, even if only meant as a joke.

If some grown adult has much of his life wrapped up in comic books and has no business/monetary advantage in doing so (and has no social life as a result of it) then, yes, I would agree he is a loser.

However, regular people should feel free to indulge in seemingly geeky things from time to time and give the response, "fuck you," to anyone who has a problem with it.

Posted by Mark Strube (Member # 4190) on 03-10-2007, 11:05 PM:

I had a great time, there's some breathtaking shots in this film. However, not quite as breakthrough as many reviews would suggest. Still, a solid film, the best movie I've seen so far this year.

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 03-11-2007, 03:08 AM:

Best. Movie. This. Year.

5/5

I must see this again...in IMAX though

quote: Paul Konen
Richard, OH YEAH!. I'll just say Coat Hangars.

They were lovely [Big Grin]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-11-2007, 04:17 AM:

quote: Paul Konen
I'll just say Coat Hangars.

Huh? There are abortions in this movie? And they were lovely?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-11-2007, 06:50 AM:

I'm just amazed that the reviews for this are so good. I genuinely hated it.

First, it visually unappealing--probably the ugliest film that I've seen in months (years?). The CGI wasn't so good and had all the realism of primitive 1950s technology (think of the misregistered opticals in the crowd scenes in Ben Hur), combined with all the artifacts and shortcomings of today's CGI, combined with an excessive amount of digital-looking film grain. The whole film was mostly but not quite monochromatic and that sort of look served only to distance me from the story and characters (what worked for Letters from Iwo Jima did not work here).

Second, it was just boring. The story didn't engage me (and I am a fan of Greek and Roman history), the acting was wooden, and it just felt like a video game (which I suspect was the point). This could have been a great story and great film, but "300" just didn't fulfill that promise at all. Too bad.

In many ways, this reminded me of Troy--a terrible film that could have been great, except that Troy didn't look this ugly.

I want those two hours of my life back.

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 03-11-2007, 01:31 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) has her breasts bouncing in a love scene with King Leonidas (Gerard Butler). Nipples like pencil erasers.

No Joe. She could have put an eye out with those. The protuded enough that they could have been "Coat Hangars" [Big Grin]

(I know it was just you being you)

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-11-2007, 07:43 PM:

I'm kinda with Scott on this one. It was just barely visually interesting enough (in an ugly kind of way) to keep me watching, but aside from that I didn't think it was very good at all. It just didn't work for me. I would not recommend it.

Saw it today at the brand new Regal 15 here, in probably the largest house. Curved screen with side masking, plush seats, very spacious. Very nice theatre, will be my new first choice unless they screw up further down the road. The image and sound quality were excellent. Me likey. Only flaw in the show was just as the end credits rolled and the lights were cued up, the dowser closed, the sound cut off, and the masking changed. The projector was still running though, lamp on. Oh well.

No slamming doors today.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 03-14-2007, 12:00 PM:

Why dont you guys who hate the film just walk out of it? Certainly by the second or third reel if it doesn't have you by then, you probably wont like the rest of it. I know I had no qualms walking out of South PArk the Movie.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 03-14-2007, 01:01 PM:

quote: Mike Heenan
Why dont you guys who hate the film just walk out of it?

Because you can't rightfully criticize a movie without seeing all of it. If you stay through the entire movie, at least you get the satisfaction of knowing that you can bitch and moan about it later on. Some people may value their time more than that, and that's perfectly fine. But in my mind, if I were to leave a movie early, then my opinion of that movie wouldn't count.

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 03-14-2007, 01:19 PM:

ΣΠΑΡΤΙΑΤΕΣ!
ΑΠΟΨΕ ΘΑ ΠΕΘΑΝΟΥΜΕ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΟΛΑΣΗ

I bet only Michael Schaffer will know what the above means [evil]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-14-2007, 01:28 PM:

Spartans! Tonight we die in hell?

Greeks annoy me with their damn weddings that last over 6 months at the theater. [Smile]

There were no battles in that movie for some reason.

Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 03-14-2007, 02:59 PM:

I found this movie boring as hell. I actually fell asleep halfway through it. Visual speaking...it was kewl. Boring story, terrible acting. Lots of ugly guys with ripped bods. The movie just dragged on and on. This movie works better at putting me to sleep than my ambien cr prescription. [sleep]

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-14-2007, 06:30 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Spartans! Tonight we die in hell?

No. It's "Tonight we dine in hell!"

Preceding that comment, King Leonidas tells them to have their breakfast and "eat it hearty." Goofy sounding like crazy. But it's good advice. Because anything in hell is going to be bad. And when you dine in hell, Satan will probably spoon a big dollop of shit and infected pus onto your plate!
[evil]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 03-14-2007, 11:10 PM:

Not necessarily. Greek mythology had very complex and diverse ideas about the afterlife in "Hades", some of these ideas were also rather pleasant, and there were also places where fallen heroes would go and dwell in splendor ("Isles of the Blessed"). They thought these islands were somewhere in the Western ocean. Sounds like they meant the Caribbean, although they had of course no idea these were actually there. Dunno what specifically the Spartans believed. But "Kolasis" is more the Christian word for hell, IIRC.

quote:
ΣΠΑΡΤΙΑΤΕΣ!
ΑΠΟΨΕ ΘΑ ΠΕΘΑΝΟΥΜΕ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΟΛΑΣΗ

Wouldn't they have referred to themselves as Λακεδαίμωνες?

But I think Mr Redifer was right. Θα πεθάνουμε means "we will die", doesn't it? "We will dine" should be θα γευματίζουμε or something like that.

BTW, is that movie playing in Greece in English with subtitles or in a dubbed version?

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 03-15-2007, 12:53 PM:

4/5 stars. Very fun and "different" than your everyday movie. I really like the style and was very entertained. Highly recommended as a "check your brain at the door" fun time.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-16-2007, 12:40 AM:

I attended the 11:30 am showing of "300" today at the Dole Cannery 18 in DLP and being the first non 3-D digital presentation I saw, I must admit I was very impressed with the presentation. The picture was very bright and sharp and although it was a digital presentation, the picture did not look like I was watching a high quality video image but film. The picture was so gorgeous, I felt like I was watching a 70mm presentation. I do not know what sound system was used in that THX certified auditorium but it was awesome with deep bass and enveloping surround.

As for the picture itself, I thought it was very well made and entertaining after I had checked my brains at the door.

Four out of Five stars

-Claude

Posted by Kevin Raisler (Member # 1761) on 03-16-2007, 02:02 PM:

The best movie I've seen all year 5 out of 5 stars and yes it's a total bloodbath in a glorious kind of way

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 03-17-2007, 07:41 AM:

We never dub movies. We only dub cartoons and childrens films like Charlottes Web, Babe e.t.c. All other films are shown in their original language subtitled in greek. A bit dissapointing for foreign people not knowing greek if you are watching Volver for example!

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 03-30-2007, 06:02 PM:

The first IMAX film I've seen with transexuals in the credits, this was one of the best DMR presentations. I give it 12 out of 15 perfs.

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 04-01-2007, 01:37 AM:

Saw this one today with a really cool friend from work.

First of all, as a whole I really enjoyed it. Visually, how it was made to look was amazing. Although I did see some graininess I really looked behind it and just concentrated on the story, which all in all made in a good experience in my opinion. The sound quality in the theater wasn't very good. They really need an upgrade.

I liked the fact that when I came out of the theater you get that after effect feeling whenever you've seen a good movie. [Smile]

So obviously it is worth seeing, I would recommend going to a theater that has their equipment functioning properly and try to catch it on a slow day where kids aren't crying or people making noises with their popcorn bags.

[The Jen]

out of 5

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-01-2007, 01:55 AM:

quote: Mike Heenan
I know I had no qualms walking out of South PArk the Movie.

Mike you did NOT walk out of that phenomenal movie, right??? Wow, I don't know you. We have never met. We aren't even friends! [Razz]

Posted by Tracy Bellar (Member # 3049) on 04-01-2007, 03:47 PM:

I want to see it no matter how over the top it seams. How about the historical sigificance. Is it too outragous like it seams? I do want to see it. Haven't been able to yet.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 04-01-2007, 05:51 PM:

I read an interview with Miller where they were talking about how he did massive amounts of research and then took huge liberties with the facts. He said that he is a charicaturist, and that his job is to figure out who someone is, and then figure out who they really are (or something like that).

By the way, in that same interview, he repeatedly refers to his original work as "the comic book." [Razz]

Posted by Tracy Bellar (Member # 3049) on 04-02-2007, 10:52 PM:

Every time I see the preview for this movie I think of the scene in Airplane. Where is it Peter Graves looks at the kid and says, Billy, Do you like Gladiator movies.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 04-13-2007, 11:04 PM:

CINEMA: Cinemarkury 20 at Jordan Creek, West Des Moines, IA
AUDITORIUM: 3
PRESENTATION: 35mm/Dolby Digital
PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: None [Cool]

RATING: Two and one half stars (out of four)

I'm here because Jennifer wanted to go, but her friend Renee copped out. Yes, I'm the token stand-in friend.

The digital pre-show projectors have arrived. Front Row Joe and Popcorn Penny grace the screen and Jennifer says "Uh...what's with the cats?"

THE PLOT: Half-naked men ooze testosterone and speak romance novel-level dialog. Chicks melt. Well...Jennifer did. Belated apologies to the cleanup crew.

This could have been the best Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode ever.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-14-2007, 01:19 AM:

Where was Wife #1?

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-14-2007, 02:39 PM:

Did anyone see the latest episode of South Park? It's a spoof of 300, but this time the battle is between lesbians trying to save their gay bar from Persians who have bought the property. The episode even makes fun of the film making style of 300, using dramatic slow motion shots for lots of odd ball stuff.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 04-14-2007, 03:14 PM:

Wife #1 didn't want to see it. Something about too much blood. Jennifer and I both told her she would have loved it.

Looks like that South Park episode repeats through the weekend. Might have to catch that.

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 05-16-2007, 12:50 AM:

Well i finally got the chance to check this out , I have been avoiding it as many scenes i have noticed from the booth were just hacking blood baths , i gave me the wrong impression.

After watching it entirely i enjoyed it very much , the battle of so few against such great odds, even though the outcome was known it captured my attention all the way.

The print was very grainy but in this case it actually worked for the mood of the film than against it.

I will give it 4 out of 5 stars an me thinks i need an Oracle to assist at the cinema.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-16-2007, 02:10 AM:

Hey Phil

Is your email address on here up to date? I've emailed you.

John

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 05-18-2007, 08:41 AM:

yes john my email addy is correct just my home PC has been in bits for a few days so I have not check my mail recently.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-25-2007, 02:58 PM:

Thanks Paul.

[ 05-26-2007, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: John Wilson ]