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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Some Brief, Reactionary Thoughts On 300 — Because That's All The Film Merits

I watched Zack Snyder's 300 last night — my first, and (God willing) only, time. If the blogosphere is any indication, 300 has usurped Ridley Scott's Gladiator as the alpha-male-wannabe's movie of choice. I'd say I was equally entertained by both flicks — which is to say, not very. Back when I read the comic book it had never struck me as such a thin retelling of Rob Roy (wp). But there it is.

Alright: on to the ledger. On the minus side: yak, yak, yak/hack, hack hack; humorless cartoon hijinx, self-regarding seriousness way off the charts.

On the plus side: loved the digital texture(!), as well as much of the soundtrack; the script is an endless cornucopia of unintended giggles. And gay men must LOVE this film! Man, this film is gayer than Socrates on a bender in Lesbos! Back up that dump truck, Zack; we'll take those ironies right here!

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4 comments:

  1. DarkoV9:26 pm

    An embarrassing admission.
    I went to see this movie went it first came out because 1) It was showing at an IMAX theater in Pittsburgh.
    2) It was a daughter-father opportunity.
    3) In wintertime, in the dark cold dark (did I say dark 2-3 times yet?) nights of winter in Pittsburgh, going to an IMAX movie showing of any movie is the thing to do.
    4) I was bewildered by all of the hype.

    While I agree with your minuses AND your pluses, the experience of seeing the movie @ an IMAX theater blinded me to the minuses. THere were older women crying (yes...crying) at some of the scenes. THere were a lot of people cringing and ducking in their seats. And, yes, thee were a LOT of guys hollering "DUUUUUUUUDE" at appropriate and inappropriate times.

    Did I like the movie? Nahhh. Did I like the experience of seeing it live in the first week it was showing while there was palpable testosterone in the movie theater and minimal laughter? Yep, yes I did. I'd probably not see it again as there's no point but a one night stand with "300" was certainly memorable.

    IMAX does save all things.

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  2. Whisky Prajer6:52 am

    There can be no higher testament to the IMAX format's ability to baffle and bewilder than this: "crying."

    Crying?!?

    DUUUUUUUUDE

    Man, I saw Star Trek on IMAX, and found myself frequently confused by what was happening on that football stadium sized screen -- and I'd already seen the movie four times on screens much smaller. Mind you, there's so much slo-mo decapitatin' and jugulatin' happening in this movie that I could almost see it actually working on the IMAX format.

    Not that I'll be queuing up should IMAX be attempting a 300 revival night.

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  3. DarkoV4:45 pm

    The IMAX version was so explicit that gagging at the too-close-for-stomach-troubles shots of toe jammy feet in stench-packed sandals was hard to control.

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  4. Whisky Prajer5:47 pm

    Alright: now I'm crying.

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