DVD REVIEWS: 300, 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH, THE FILM CREW AND MORE

[MattBrady]

by Steve Fritz

Post San Diego Pt. 2. In this second column I’ve compiled all the non-animated materials I’ve had the time to look over in the last two weeks. There’s some more items of interest starting to make their way to my player, so let’s not waste any time and get to it..

300: SPECIAL EDITION (WB) (2 DVDs)

I’ll admit I was pretty blown away when I saw this film the first time on the big screen. The cinematic translation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel felt pretty true and the cinematography was astounding. What I can’t help but notice now is this one is starting to wear kind of thin.

The real problem with the film really isn’t its political implications. I think what got me is when you compare it to other classics such as Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus, the film ends up being one huge dog and pony show without as much substance as it purports. The true culprits are the actors, with the exception of Rodrigo Santoro, who end up looking about as stiff and flat as the paintings on Greek pottery. Yes, they jump through hoops in the combat scenes in ways that are truly impressive, but all their stoic mannerisms start looking pretty heavy handed after the second viewing and don’t get any better thereon.

Also problematic is Miller’s reinterpretation of history. Sure, the battle Thermopolye is the stuff of legend, but anyone with even a tad of ancient history in their brain bank will tell you the war was really won by the Athenians, and at sea. Yes, King Leonidas and his Spartans fought bravely, but their failure eventually meant the near total destruction of the Hellenic confederation. Further, what is conveniently forgotten isn’t that the Spartans were so “pure” and “freedom loving.” The truth is they were such monstrous slave drivers (in the true sense of the word), their own people would overthrow them in the long run.

As for this collection, the inclusion of the deleted scenes do add a bit to the overall film, but still not enough to reconvert me back to the cause. Yes, when push comes to shove, 300 is some magnificent eye candy. It’s just now leaving a bad after taste in my mouth.

THE FILM CREW PRESENTS HOLLYWOOD AFTER DARK (Shout Factory!)

If this series proves anything, it’s that the Mystery Science Theater crew are alive, well and have found a whole pile of new films to root, skewer and bar-b-cue.

Hollywood After Dark stars a relatively young Rue McClennahan as a stripper with “standards.” Trying to bring these standards down are a number of grade C noir characters who are also planning a rather inventive Brinks truck heist. The real reason probably anyone went to see the film was to see the future Golden Girl and several other more comely strippers do their routines in their beach wear or slightly less. It’s 1964 guys, so don’t get your hopes up too, too high.

Now while the commentary of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett has some real zingers (I especially love the Condi Rice commentary revolving one particular stripper), the truth is some of the best lines are said by the actors themselves. There’s one or two lines Rue’s “co-star” Anthony Vorno utters that will leave you spewing popcorn for their sheer awfulness. Suggestion guys: Make your commentary optional, so true fans of all things psychotronic can appreciate these lines in their own right.

And for the record, I also miss Tom Servo and his pals, but that’s how it goes.

As it stands, Shout Factory! has a second film in the works, the sci-fi rotted chestnut entitled Killers From Space. Personally, considering just what a stoner spectacular that film was, I can’t wait to see what the Film Crew does to it.

20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH: 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Columbia) (2 DVDs)

I bear no shame in saying that I’m a total sucker for the work of Ray Harryhausen, whose ground-and-backbreaking work in stop motion animation special effects is still hard to top. Having this particular movie back in circulation just makes everything all the sweeter to me.

For those unfamiliar, 20 Million is overall a pretty basic alien invasion film. An American space ship lands off the coast of Sicily carrying an unexpected and unwanted passenger. Before the film is over, the big green thing stomps about half the Italian peninsula harder than a batch of grapes in a wine barrel, and we’re in on all the fun. Is the acting stiff? You’d think all the actors had their spines replaced with pool cues. Is the dialogue hokey? Yeesh, you can have a field day with some of the lines.

On the other hand, Harryhausen’s sets and monster are some of the most spectacular he would produce outside of his mythological films such as Jason & The Argonauts or his Sinbad films. The set also comes in with a really interesting side documentary where protégé Tim Burton discusses the work and career of the master animator. I even don’t mind the colorization process applied to this job, which feels right with its rather garish palette.

From what I understand, Columbia Pictures is now hard at work at restoring a lot more of Harryhausen’s work. All I can add is if it shows all the same love and care that this set displays, it’s well worth it.

ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (BBC) (29 DVDs)

When the Beeb sent me this massive boxed set, I was obviously pretty amazed that there really was that many episodes, much less seasons, of this PBS perennial. Then I remembered there was a time that I really did watch this show pretty religiously and how it took quite a while for me to start seeing repeats.

For those unfamiliar with Creatures, the series was based on the semi-autobiographical tales of James Herriot. Christopher Timothy played the young Herriot, who in the series starts as an inexperienced veterinarian landing his first real job as an understudy to senior doctor Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy). We watch him mature, become a highly skilled vet in his own right, cope with his charming but immature son of Farnon, Tristan (Peter Davison), develop his own family, and eventually become a pillar in his adopted British countryside home. In it’s quiet and assuming way, it was everything shows like 7th Heaven or Everwood ever wanted to be, a show one can watch with the kids that still manages to entertain.

And what was this shows simple secrets? It was twofold. First and foremost, it had an incredible cast ranging from the ever-amazing Hardy all the way down to even the smallest part. Second, the show never stooped to low end melodramatics or histrionics. Every crisis was met with the classic stiff upper lip but the show never forgot how to be incredibly funny at the same time.

Obviously, no one in their right mind is going to sit through the darn near 4,000 minutes of this huge set and provide a detailed analysis (at least when one does a weekly column). On the other hand, I have to admit as I jumped around from season to season, I had absolutely no problem finding a particular episode I had very fond memories of, as well as a few that I had forgotten and was glad to be reminded of. The show’s mix of straightforward storytelling and high caliber performances made sure I would stick around for an extra episode or two, whether that was my original intention or not. So while I have to admit the $300+ this set is going to cost is definitely on the high end, I’m still going to say that when all is said and done, this one’s worth it. I know it’s going to look real good sitting next to my complete collection of Monty Python’s Flying Circus (and you can derive whatever you want by that statement).

BEAUTY & THE BEAST THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (Paramount) (6 DVDs)

Among the hardcore fans of this series, this season probably stands out as its pinnacle. It blended modern fantasy with romance in a manner that managed to make hardcore fans of all ages glued to the tube for its run.

The characters of Vincent and Catherine (Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton, or Hellboy and Sarah Conner) were now firmly established, as well as the incredible world Ron Koplow had created for them under the streets of New York. Now it was time to bring out the real threat to their harmony, in the form of Paraclesus (Tony Jay). In the process, the power struggle that ensues would be some of the best 80s TV. The end result would be an Emmy Award for Perlman, who was as dark a horse to ever win the statuette as ever there was one. The series also pulled a Golden Globe. Not bad for a series that had to fight for its existence ratings-wise every week.

Unlike the first season set, this series comes with a few introductions from Perlman and Hamilton. While they make some interesting, if minor insights, it begs for a lot more, like maybe commentary from creator Ron Koplow himself. It would be something to see how he conceived this entire remarkable World Below and the unforgettable characters who populated it. It would also be interesting on hear how they managed to survive for a third season knowing the ratings were never the best and Hamilton herself was about to jump ship.

In the meantime, the 22 episodes collected here are a must have for any decent TV library. Can’t wait for season three to round out the collection.

A BIT OF FRY & LAURIE: COMPLETE COLLECTION (BBC) (4 DVDS)

One wonders if fellow classmate Emma Thompson knew what she was doing when she introduced pals Hugh Laurie and Steven Fry to each other. As it turns out, the Cambridge University majors became one of the greatest modern comedy duos the UK ever produced.

For those who don’t know, after doing some time on the circuit, Fry & Laurie rapidly rose through the BBC ranks to earn this sketch comedy series. As in true British tradition, a “season” is kept remarkably short (26 half-hours over four years), then the two moved on to work on P.G. Woodhouse’s immortal Jeeves and Wooster short stories. As A Bit stands though, it’s amazing to consider these two managed to come up with such a remarkable amount of prime, incredibly intelligent humor for the period the show was on.

These days, Laurie has been indulging his sense of being overly melodramatic in the series House. As for Fry? He’s hosting one of the most amazing game shows called QI, where the most points are given for the most creative answer (and by that one doesn’t mean the most accurate).

Still, for all those who love the English language and those who can turn a phrase to mean just about anything one wants it to, you must have this collection. It’s truly seminal work of two of the brightest creative wits of the last two decades, and will make you look real good sitting in your collection.

PERFECT CREATURE (Fox)

Didn’t know what I was walking into when this film first came out in 2006, but I was more than glad to have seen it afterwards.

Created by the relatively unknown Glenn Standing, this film might best be called an alternative history based on the proposition that sometime a few hundred years ago, mankind created a form of genetic alchemy where their greatest creation were vampires. Rather than ending up in a war with holy water and wooden stakes, humanity and vampires managed to figure out a way to coexist, with the new breed becoming a sort of holy order known as the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood makes incredible advances in religion and science, humanity makes sure they have plenty of blood to sip in their cocktail glasses.

Zoom to present day, when things go horribly wrong.

The highly underrated Dougray Scott and Saffron Burrows star as the vampire and human pair who must save the day, while Leo Gregory is the villain with an incredible agenda of his own. The world they inhabit is a wild mixture of steampunk and gothic horror, with superlative special effects all around.

No matter what, the one thing this film is making me want to do is search out more films from Standing. The way he’s managed to reset the vampire mythos makes one think he’s got some other very interesting things out there.

PRINCESS RACOON (Geneon)

Now this is a very strange film, a very strange one indeed.

The concept of Zhang Ziyi starring in a fairy tale has its appeal. Based on a number of Japanese myths, Princess Raccoon (which really should be called Princess Tanuki) is ostensibly an operetta. But when you get really down to it, this film will either confuse the heck out of you, charm the socks off of you or leave you colder than a raccoon’s favorite meal (dead fish and garbage).

Co-star Joe Odagiri is Prince Amechiyo the unfortunate son of a Japanese king (played by Mikijiro Hira) so vain that when the boy’s looks surpass his pa’s, pops orders him killed. The reference to Sleeping Beauty, right down to pops asking who is the fairest in his land, isn’t the only western reference here. As good princes shouldn’t be falling in love with a trickster demon, even one in the form of Zhang, you will also find plenty of Shakespeare, and not just Romeo & Juliet, either.

There’s a number of other interesting comments running through this bizarre confection from director Seijun Suzuki (best known for the rarely seen live action version of Lupin III). Witches are all Catholics, especially the incredible “Virgen” Hag. The staging alternates between anything from classic Noh theatre to the over-the-top pop films of Ken Russell and some truly horrendously bad Broadway. There’s even a scene where a Japanese kinda mariachi band running inbetween the sumo wrestlers. In between, there are special effects that will either blow your mind or remind you of some of the hokeyest stuff Japan and Hong Kong used to do in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the middle of this is Zhang, who proves that she can not only kick butt in films like Crouching Tiger, but can also do a little tap, sing competently and look tremendous in traditional kimonos. Yes it’s that strange a film. On the other hand, it seems to have earned its share of kudos on the international front, earning a number of awards and nominations both in Asia and Europe. Personally, I see this film as probably the most amazing train wreck I’ve seen in ages. Even though there are times when I wince from the sheer audacity going down and some of the really awful pop songs, I’ll be damned if I’m not putting the thing on again.

638 WAYS TO KILL CASTRO (BCI)

The city of Miami recently erupted into an incredible scene of mass hysteria. Street parties were only matched by the numbers of old timers rushing to church and on their knees thanking the creator. The cause? That Fidel Castro was apparently on his last legs and wouldn’t be around too much longer.

Imagine their extreme disappointment when he turned around and recovered.

What can you say about the supreme dictator of Cuba? Love him, hate him, don’t give a damn about him, he’s managed to do two very notable things. The first is he’s an extreme pain in America’s back side for around a half-century. The second is surviving over 600 attempts on his life in that time…at least at last count during the Clinton Administration.

This documentary covers how Castro’s rise to power, become the focus of the wrath of Americans, Cuban exiles, mob hit men and a huge percentage of his own family since he overthrew Fulgencio Batista in 1959, yet how the man has managed to endure for just short of a half-century. Assassination attempts have ranged the entire gamut, from the extremely serious to the extremely ridiculous. In the latter category includes mining a sea bed of mollusks to explode when El Presidente would take one of his scuba dives, packing a baseball full of dynamite and hurling it at him during batting practice, even an exploding cigars. What’s even more frightening is the people who attempt to kill him. It isn’t the stone cold professionals that really give you the heebies, it’s the foolishly inept and just plain psychotic who will kill entire passenger airplanes thinking it will get rid of Fidel.

Directed by young documentarian Dollan Cannell, this sophomore effort is a vast improvement over his previous work The Importance of Being Famous. This should be something people of all political stripes should take a look at.

In the meantime, there’s a few million south Floridians still waiting for the inevitable day Castro kicks the bucket. If and when it happens I’m sure there will be celebrations going all the way up to Martin County.

Yet, in the back of my head, I get the impression Castro will foil those plans, too. After seeing this doc, all I can say is more power to him.

STAR TREK FAN COLLECTIVES (5-PACK) (Paramount)
• Borg (4 DVDs)
• Captain’s Log (5 DVDs)
• Klingons (4 DVDs)
• Q (4 DVDs)
• Time Travel (4 DVDs)

Five years back, Paramount came up with an interesting plan to keep their Star Trek franchise fresh for the fans. They came up with a few themes, and then asked the fans to vote on their fave past episodes around said themes. The results were these multi-disc sets listed above.

As one can imagine, the quality of each set is a mixed bag. To me, the weakest is the Time Travel set, but it still comes with the absolutely eternal “City On The Edge of Forever” and the uproariously funny and perfectly self-referential “Trials and Tribble-ations.” The most interesting set is the Captain’s Log, where not only the fans got to vote on their favorites from the original series to the last series, Enterprise…while at the same time the five captains (Shatner, Stewart, Brooks, Mulgrew and Bakula) also show their own personal faves. To be honest, the Klingon collection also has more than its share of moments.

With the heat again building up over the idea of JJ Abrams creating some new Trek, Paramount has now done us all the favor of putting all five sets together under the relatively pricey tag of $125. Then again, if you went to your local DVD palace this set would probably cost you an extra $50 or so, this might actually fall under the bargain category.

No matter what, these sets are keepers. I can see them standing right proud with the complete film and season collections.

THE TASTE FOR TEA: Limited Edition (Viz)

Over on this side of the Pacific, director Katsuhito Ishii is best known for directing the anime segment of Kill Bill 1. Actually, he’s one of the up and coming live action directors over in his native Japan, with the films Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl and Party 7 to his credits. That doesn’t mean anime techniques aren’t part of his arsenal. In fact, it’s his use of a number of animated tricks in a live action format that he’s building his reputation on.

The Taste For Tea is Ishii’s fourth directorial effort. It tells the tale of a relatively “eccentric” Asian family living north of Tokyo, where there apparently is still lots of country left. From there we watch them go through a series of Altman-like vignettes, each one stranger than the last. It makes you appreciate why Sherlock Holmes hated leaving the city. People are truly weird out there. Ishii’s crew just happens to be charmingly so.

Even though each sequence seems to have no discernable connection to the previous, over the next 144 minutes one slowly comes to realize there is a unifying thread. It would ruin the film to give it away, but in the end one has to give Ishii his props for managing to keep it so well on the down low that it’s a true surprise when it does strike.

Apparently the world is starting to give Ishii his props, too. Tea has won its share of awards. The bonus DVD basks in Ishii’s glory as well as provides a three-minute animated short. What’s important is this film manages to keep you in its grips in its low key way. In all, a nice one to hunt up.

WELCOME TO THE GRINDHOUSE SERIES (Deimos)
• Pickup/The Teacher
• Black Candles/Evil Eye

So just what have Quentin Tarantino and Roberto Rodriguez wrought?

Somehow, some way the Navarre Corporation got their hands on the Crown International Film collection and began reissuing these C-movie titles under the Starlite label. With this series they tried to recreate the drive-in experience replete with food commercial, over-exposed animated shorts and trailers for upcoming double-features (again from the Crown…uh, library).

Not that I’m going to trounce the collection for its trashiness. Hardly. If anything the big problem with most of the Crown films I’d ever saw was guys like Roger Corman always did it, well, “better.” The Starlite packaging more often than not ended up better than what they contained.

So here comes Tarantino and Rodriguez, who suddenly make the term “Grindhouse” the fave pop term for what the Starlite library had been all about from the beginning. The main problem here is Navarre has stripped out the cartoons and food features, leaving us only the trailers and main films. Imagine my non-surprise when I saw certain Starlite titles (most notably Pom Pom Girls) will soon enough be under the Grindhouse marquis.

As for the films? Well, the average here wouldn’t be too bad if we were playing baseball. The only real hit with me is Black Candles, an nice piece of Euro Trash that mixes Rosemary’s Baby with The Devil In Miss Jones. While the film never goes to the extremes of either of its sources, it has its moments. Wish one could say anything near as good about Evil Eye. An Italian 1974 shlocker, Richard Conte is a multimillionaire or something like that who always seems to be around grisly murders. To be honest, it’s the best sleeping pill I’ve had in ages. Managed to fall asleep on this one on three different occasions. That’s saying something.

As for the other offering, both films are late 60s/early 70s throwback to when “liberated” women meant we usually saw them with most of their clothes off. The Teacher is notable for being one of the absolute last projects former child star Jay North worked on. Otherwise it’s a twist on The Graduate with North in the Hoffman role and even the inclusion of an obsessive, murderous ex-Nam vet (Tony Jacobs) doesn’t help. Pickup is essentially a guy and two gals stranded on a tour bus in the Florida Everglades and taking advantage of the situation. It’s actually better than The Teacher.

As stands, it seems Navarre isn’t the only company going buck wild with the Grindhouse nomenclature. A quick check of some retail sites finds about 40 different releases with the word in it, at least for this year. So while I’m not going to take a baseball bat to Quentin and Roberto’s concept, I get the feeling you better not put me in the same room with some of the low lives that are now running with it.

Let’s say I could make real life a lot more interesting than some of the movies I just saw.

[Xeero]

Hmm, a positive review of Perfect Creature? I saw this movie and although the premise was great, special effects, etc, it was highly disappointing in the end. So much more could have happened in the story, the final fight between the characters were very anti-climactic, and overall after everything was done, the film seemed very short.

The production work and acting were great. But I felt that overall, the film-makers of this film spent tons of money on beautiful over-head panning shots of the city when they could have used that money to make the 3rd part of the movie better than it came out.

[Dolphy007]

Although 300 was full of historical inaccuracies, it was a great film to watch.

[ahota88]

So wait. This guy is complaining because a movie based on a graphic novel is not historically accurate? Good lord...

[kung-pao]

Comparing 300 to Spartacus Get a clue man. It's a comic book movie.

[Rich L]

Yep 300 is a bit empty - but it's still a pretty good movie if you switch your brain off.

And A Bit of Fry and Laurie is simply fantastic - really intelligent humor. And if you're any kind of fan of either Fry or Laurie, for the love of god, get Black Adder - especially 2-4.

[erikthered25]

Originally Posted by ahota88

So wait. This guy is complaining because a movie based on a graphic novel is not historically accurate? Good lord...

Well some people are history buffs or at least would like someone who recreates someone else's history to take a stab and at least getting the major stuff right. I personally don't think that you have a right take established history and turn it on it's head for entertainment value. I know I'm in the minority so naysayers there is no need to respond. This is why I don't go to movies based on historical facts cuz folks tend to get carried away with their revisionist pen.

[householdbum]

Originally Posted by erikthered25

Well some people are history buffs or at least would like someone who recreates someone else's history to take a stab and at least getting the major stuff right. I personally don't think that you have a right take established history and turn it on it's head for entertainment value. I know I'm in the minority so naysayers there is no need to respond. This is why I don't go to movies based on historical facts cuz folks tend to get carried away with their revisionist pen.

Totally agree. Not just a history major, I was an Ancient histroy major specifically and spent numerous classes on the Greeks. You can't help but notice the historical inaccuracies when watching 300. Is it a fun movie. Absoultely. But, it did get under my skin how much was actually changed from the battle. The only thing i can compare it to is being a Spider-Man nut, then watching the trilogy and being pissed about what Hollywood decided to change. You can't help comparing it to the comic.

[fast eddie]

300 is historically inaccurate? Who cares?! To me, that's a non factor in determining whether it was an entertaining movie. Plus, I don't remember Miller ever really coming out and declaring his work as 100% truth. I think we all need to remember a little thing called "dramatic license".

The bad news here is that I agree with the rest of the 300 review. I was impressed with the style of the movie and it's ability to capture the essence and style of the graphic novel, however, it does begin to wear thin after even the first half. I mean, it's cool and all, but how many battle scenes on steroids can one person watch before it becomes redundant, hence, boring? Great story punctuated here and there with great action sequences is where it's at. Great action should complement a great story, not try to be the story.

So, I have to agree that 300 was great "eye candy" but lacks substance and therefore lacks true staying power.

[jaredgood1]

It's incredibly shallow. It's so shallow you can read any political allegory into it (hell, it's easy to argue that the US is the Persian Empire and the Spartans are Iraqi suicide bombers). Even the GN is shallow. I tell people who haven't seen 300 "if you've seen Sin City, you've seen 300".

Now, the movie is really fun and really pretty to look at. I won't take that away from it. It's the movie equivalent of that really hot girl you date, have great sex with, but wouldn't ever marry because she's about as sharp as a sack of wet mice.

[stasisbal]

Being a history minor, I've learned that history people are some of the biggest geeks on the planet. Can't get anything wrong or they cry about it. I don't see how you can completely trust all historical records in the first place. History is interesting, important, and often cool, but dammit, historical fiction is cool too. Historical criticisms of 300 aren't really apt, I don't see that ever being the point.

I will agree though, I'm not sure 300 has the staying power I thought it would when I first saw it in the theater a couple of times. It's extremely sensationalist (on purpose I'm sure), so repeat viewings on DVD will probably wear thin. At least the first time I watched my DVD, I was already questioning how great I originally thought the movie was. That said, it's still freakin' awesome.

[MadBandit]

300, 20 Million Years and Pickup/The Teacher sound like my type of DVDs.

BTW, Steve, are you going to review Popeye The Sailor: 1933-1938 Volume One?

[mistknight]

I can't believe anyone actually believes that 300 is supposed to represent history in any fashion. 300 is a mythological piece in the vein of The Iliad or The Odyssey. Does anyone actually believe Homer's classics are representing history? Of course not! Heck, even Herodotus' "historical" records are full of dramatic pose such as the arrows blocking out the sun. 300 is mythology just like you read back in high school. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Wellness]

While there is truth in 300 being shallow, it still is a well done and entertaining film. I mean is there any movie based on a historical event that is ever completely accurate or doesn't try to pull the viewers to favoring one side of a conflict?

Honestly, I still hold it as the first great "mainstream" movie of the year and easily trumpts all he blockbuster sequels that have comeout this summer. It won't touch the Bourne movie but nothing else will in these end days of summer.

[Da_Black_Goku]

Honestly, anyone who watches movies for historical accuracy is a moron
anyway... good lord, The Patriot, New World, JFK, Talk To Me etc etc etc
are all perfect examples of hollywoodized distorted storytelling - it's
ridiculous. The point is, and will ALWAYS be, it was a FUN movie to
watch and worth every misinterpreted cent I poured into watching it. No
one watching that flick should have been dumb enough to think that the
Spartans were these overly-honorable warriors in reality, or that the Persians were these barbarians with goat-headed, hash smoking monsters. Sometimes,
you just have to take something for face-value and leave it at that.

You want a history lesson? Go pick up a few books and compare them to
get a semblance of what may be the truth.

The End.

[mclennon]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Yet, in the back of my head, I get the impression Castro will foil those plans, too. After seeing this doc, all I can say is more power to him.

Wow. Yeah, more power to a brutal dictator that imprisons and executes those who dare criticize him. How could those Cuban immigrants celebrate the demise of this great man?

People who romanticize totalitarian dictators just confound me. Sorry. I guess he’s a good guy to some simply because he is an enemy of the US? Whatever.

[cernunnos]

No review for Pathfinder?

[CelticPride7]

The historical inaccuracies that were present throughout the entire film bothered me at first, but at the end of the film when it is revealed that what the audience was viewing was actually a story being told by a storyteller the inaccuracies make sense. The fact is both the film and the graphic novel are not trying to display what the battle was really like but instead are showing a storyteller’s attempt to rally an army by changing facts and creating propaganda. If one looks at the film as a form of Spartan propaganda used to rally a Greek army to victory the historical inaccuracies are easier to overlook and one can better enjoy the film.

[Bathawk]

Originally Posted by mistknight

I can't believe anyone actually believes that 300 is supposed to represent history in any fashion. 300 is a mythological piece in the vein of The Iliad or The Odyssey. Does anyone actually believe Homer's classics are representing history? Of course not! Heck, even Herodotus' "historical" records are full of dramatic pose such as the arrows blocking out the sun. 300 is mythology just like you read back in high school. Nothing more, nothing less.

Amen brother

[The Last Word]

Hmm. The same could be said about the Cuban community in Miami which romanticizes the reign of Batista. Batista's Cuba was hardly a paragon of freedom and opportunity, a fact reflected by the Miami government-in-exile, which assumes it will return to Cuba once Castro kicks the bucket and take back what "rightfully" belonged to Cuba's former elite.

Castro's a dictator, no doubt about it, but what he replaced wasn't exactly sunshine and flowers.

[TakumProti]

Originally Posted by kung-pao

Comparing 300 to Spartacus Get a clue man. It's a comic book movie.

Yes, how can you truly compare 300 to Spartacus, really? They're both sword and sandal movies and that' got to be where the similarity ends. Spartacus took place during the Thrid Servile War, in Italy, within the the Roman Empire, 300 took place during the Battle of Thermopylae, in Greece, before the rise of the Roman Republic. Similar cultural circle, different situation and movie nonetheless.

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by MadBandit

300, 20 Million Years and Pickup/The Teacher sound like my type of DVDs.

BTW, Steve, are you going to review Popeye The Sailor: 1933-1938 Volume One?

Already did in the previous all-animation column. Now POPEYE is absolutely amazing and a front runner for my set of the year. -s

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by cernunnos

No review for Pathfinder?

Without sounding too redundant, Pathfinder was two columns ago. -s

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by TakumProti

Yes, how can you truly compare 300 to Spartacus, really? They're both sword and sandal movies and that' got to be where the similarity ends. Spartacus took place during the Thrid Servile War, in Italy, within the the Roman Empire, 300 took place during the Battle of Thermopylae, in Greece, before the rise of the Roman Republic. Similar cultural circle, different situation and movie nonetheless.

Very simple, when it comes to the acting and directing, Spartacus blows 300 out of the water. It's one of Kirk Douglas' best acting jobs, and a lot of kudos must also go to Kubrick's directorial prowess.

As for the historical elements, people seem to be forgetting the Greek navy did an incredible job of tenderizing the Persians before they got to the Spartans through equally innovative seamanship, and were the real factor in winning the war afterwards. What irks me is 300 attempts to carry itself with the gravitas of accuracy when it should have gone for the grace of good storytelling. In the light of real history, it comes off as shallow and conceited. When you compare 300 to Homer, it's just another cop at Miller's love of Mike Hammer, only now carrying spears and thongs instead of 45's and spats. -s

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by The Last Word

Hmm. The same could be said about the Cuban community in Miami which romanticizes the reign of Batista. Batista's Cuba was hardly a paragon of freedom and opportunity, a fact reflected by the Miami government-in-exile, which assumes it will return to Cuba once Castro kicks the bucket and take back what "rightfully" belonged to Cuba's former elite.

Castro's a dictator, no doubt about it, but what he replaced wasn't exactly sunshine and flowers.

A-bloody-men. Besides the point of the documentary is how incredibly ridiculous the U.S. government has been on trying to kill Castro. As bad as Fidel is or isn't, the people and attempts to murder him are 1) even more dark and evil than Fidel himself and 2) come up as so ridiculously stupid it makes you understand why we're now chin deep in the various international quagmires we're currently in.

I mean lining the ocean bottom with exploding shellfish? Yeesh...

Further, the American government attempted to ASSASSINATE Fidel over 600 times between the Eisenhower to Clinton administrations. Talk about a gang that can't shoot (or much less do anything else) straight. This leads to another point...

1) Aren't we part of some agreement where we will not attempt to assassinate a sitting head of state?

2) Here's tiny little Cuba. Here's the U.S., purportedly the most powerful country in the world...and we haven't been able to lay a finger on this former lawyer and baseball player for nigh a half-century? How good does that really make us look?

As the son of legal immigrants to the U.S., I do love this country. Love it enough to tell it when it has its head where the sun don't shine. See the film before you go gaga about how Castro is evil and we're not. Actually, it doesn't put Fidel in the greatest of lights either. -s