Off Topic · Latest movies saw (page 2)

TMS - I didn't know there was a 60's version. Hmmm, interesting.

This newest version, cinematically, it is superb!!!

Posted by 4949:

Saw '300' last night. It was an awsome movie. Very well made. I give it **** stars.

Now! Outside of the fantasy part of it all, the only thing that is probably true of this story, is the fact that there were approximately 300 soldiers with King Leonidas I, when they all died. Below you will find some information, several versions of what might have happened at this one event. In some literature I read, it was said that he brought about 8,000 men with him and he sent all but 300 back to Sparta. Why' he did that, I'm not clear on. Like I said, there are several versions of this story, based on very little evidence of what used to be a city. There was in fact an invasion of Persians, trying to push they're way up into the beginnings of what is now Europe and the Spartans were only a tiny, tiny fraction of people who fought them off.

As for this movie, if you want to see something cool, then this is it. Be warned, for those of you with children. This film is very gory. Lots of heads being cut off, lot's of blood flying in the air and some gory looking people, who looked more like creatures. According to what I read, it was pretty much true of the warriors being taken from their mothers and trained to fight at a very young age. I thought it was important to try and tell a little of the story, before you see the movie and judge the story of what happened, by' the movie itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I

Hey I saw 300 also on Friday night. First off viscerally this movie is absolutely amazing. Gerard Butler was incredible in his role as King Leonides. I hope this movie really puts Butler on the map because he can grace my screen anytime especially with those abs.

On the flip side I was not crazy about the film's message I thought it lacked depth and sometimes the dialogue sounded like a US Army recruiting manual. On the one side you have the white guys who stand for justice, freedom, and democracy. Than on the other side you have the ethnic people, who practiced mystism, and live under tyranny. There had been tensions between the Persians and the Greeks for a long time. Really from the time the Greeks beat the Persians at the battle of Marathon and also from


One thing the movie did not depict (yes I realize this is adapation of Frank Miller's visision as opposed to the real events) what the naval battle that was being waged as the battle at Thermopylae was taking place. Themistocles led the Naval attack. The Athenians eventually won in a Naval Battle.

The Spartans were a very serious military state. When a child was born they were looked over for any defects and if they had any they were placed on a hill to die. Boys were conscripted into the army at the age of 7. Only two kinds of people could have headstones on their grave. A man that died in battle or a woman that died in childbirth.

Anyone interested in the real-life battle should check out the special the History Channel is running on the 300.

[Edited by - bitty41 on 03-11-2007 10:58 AM]

Sorry to say Bitty, I was reading up on his commentaries and apparently, he's let the abs go. So now it will probably be 'blab' gracing your screen. Sorry.

And I will say again, there are a number of different versions of this story, I noticed, with few consistent facts, like the kids being drafted at 7. The thing about the grave stone I did not know about. Fascinating stuff.

[Edited by - 4949 on 03-11-2007 12:45 PM]

"The Lives of Others," great film.

Posted by VDesai:

"The Lives of Others," great film.

Yeah, someone else said that was good. Actually, I heard something about it on NPR. What's it about again?

[Edited by - 4949 on 03-11-2007 2:29 PM]

Posted by 4949:

TMS - I didn't know there was a 60's version. Hmmm, interesting.

This newest version, cinematically, it is superb!!!

it's a little campy to be sure, but i love epic movies depicting ancient battles like that ("Gladiator" is my alltime favorite)... the original was closer to the actual historical events surrounding the battle of Thermopylae... they accurately depict the Thespian contingent that came to help the 300 Spartans, who were King Leonidas' elite personal bodyguard.

bitty, i caught that documentary on the History Channel the other day... too bad this new movie didn't depict the entire scope of the battles that were going on... woulda made for a much more epic scale IMO... can't wait to catch it though... judging from your comments it sounds like a movie i will really like.

300- Kinda like watching a video game. Enormously entertaining and a sensory overload. Don't watch it for deeper meaning or to learn something about history.

"Lives of Others," this one is sort of the opposite of the 300. It's about how artists were put under surveillance in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Really interesting movie.

Has anyone seen Casino Royale yet? I know its coming out tommorow and I plan to buy it but I wanted to know if its good as the critics say it is.

Posted by bitty41:

Has anyone seen Casino Royale yet? I know its coming out tommorow and I plan to buy it but I wanted to know if its good as the critics say it is.

IMO its up there with the Best Bonds like Goldfinger and From Russia With love. It's the best since "Goldeneye" at least, and Daniel Craig makes for an awesome Bond. Unlike the last few, the story makes sense for the most part, makes Bond more human and more badass than cheeky.

I've liked Daniel Craig since Layer Cake (another movie that I recommend) at first I thought a Blonde Bond but after seeing him in the promo pics and trailer I thought okay this is definetly working for me.

Posted by VDesai:

300- Kinda like watching a video game. Enormously entertaining and a sensory overload. Don't watch it for deeper meaning or to learn something about history.

"Lives of Others," this one is sort of the opposite of the 300. It's about how artists were put under surveillance in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Really interesting movie.

totally agree. saw it last night and loved it.

The story behind "Lives of Others" is in fact a mirror of the everyday life in the German Democratic Republic. After the fall of the wall, people had the chance to look into their surveillance protocols and you got to understand, it was not only that politicans or rebelious people were surveiled by the secret service. Pretty much everybody was surveilled by everybody else, you could never be sure if you postman or the guy behind the desk at the bank or whoever had a part in your everyday life was surveilling you. Even family members sometimes where doing it. This was such a strange an unique situation!!!!

Posted by bitty41:

Has anyone seen Casino Royale yet? I know its coming out tommorow and I plan to buy it but I wanted to know if its good as the critics say it is.

I really enjoyed it!!!! If you take into account, that this is the "first" Bond movie, it makes you understand some of the unbondlike ruggednes of Daniel Craig. In fact I think he did a wonderful Job and Eva Green is just plain breathtaking!!!!

I especially liked the par cour scene in the beginning!!!!

oh man, you will ferrell fans - got to see blades of glory. "chazz michael michaels," mens figure skating cnamp! just hilarious. napoleon dynamite as his male skating partner too! but as usual, it's all about "frank the tank" for anyone who loves this guy.

Posted by dodger78:

Posted by bitty41:

Has anyone seen Casino Royale yet? I know its coming out tommorow and I plan to buy it but I wanted to know if its good as the critics say it is.

I really enjoyed it!!!! If you take into account, that this is the "first" Bond movie, it makes you understand some of the unbondlike ruggednes of Daniel Craig. In fact I think he did a wonderful Job and Eva Green is just plain breathtaking!!!!

I especially liked the par cour scene in the beginning!!!!

I agree. I like this Bond. Each Bond brings they're own persona to each series. This Bond has a little of everything. I look foreward to the next two movies he's scheduled to make.

Saw 'Host'. The film made in Korea. Creepy and funny at the same time. Never seen anything like it before. The spookiest part of the movie was' it looked real. No cut aways or bits and pieces for your imagination to hage to figure out. Reminded me very much like the second Jurassic Park. There's a few scene that will make you throw your popcorn into the air. Very good monster movie. Good story and some very funny scenes. Not for children though. It might give them problems.

I watched 300 yesterday and it really had a somewhat lasting impression on me.
Let me first point out, that I am NOT one of those guys looking for the deeper sense in every movie and critizises and analyzes a movie too much. In fact I really enjoy what I like to call popcorn movies, that are not "difficult" as much as movies that get you thinking.

This said, I have to ask if I was the only one, noticing the "subtle" undertone of the Dialogues and Monologues that scream "ARMY recruiting Video"?!?
I mean I really enjoy the greek mythology and of course Sparta was a Military state but damn, wasnt this a little bit tooooo much?!? I mean I really dont want to get into the opponent and the way the Persians were depicted, just because it was a movie made from a comic with no real claim to historical validity.
This overly dominant ARMY recruiting content really made me miserable about the otherwise not badly made movie. I mean other than that it was nice a "Popcorn movie"!!! ;-)

Any opinions on this?!?

Dodger I totally left with the same feeling after watching 300. I have to admit when I saw Gerard Butler in his cape and with abs bulging I knew it was a cann't miss but the message of the movie to me was a total join the army defeat the terroritst who want to take away Democracy and you freedom.

Interesting how 300 has brought up some personal feelings on it's content in the story. I've read about the persians who according to historical stories were in fact making they're way into what is now the beginnings of Easter Europe. This was just one of hundreds of stories and battles that took place.

I would agree that there is sort of a undertone of relationship between the invaders then and what is going on in the middle east now. I would also agree, as with all brainwashing tactics put out by even our own government (Wag The Dog) that there is this sort of recruitment mentality going on. I see in these video games these kids play with nowadays. The one's were your going to war and shooting what is suppose to be the bad guy. I would agree that it was made during an obvious time, but we must also remember that other films were also made during certain periods, next to certain situations happening in society. 'An Inconveniet Truth' is one example, now that the case is being pushed even harder than before about our climate change and how about another good example 'The Passion Of The Christ'? Couldn't of come out at a more awkward time, an election year and sort a notion out there that it was Christ against Michael Moore who came out with his film 'Ferienhight 911'. Of course we know who won, right? Christ and Bush! The point being, sometimes, films are put out there for a reason, other than entertainment.

Saw 'For Your Consideration'. Don't waste your time. I had to watch it twice to figure out that it was supposed to be funny. It was actually sad, when you read into it.

Saw 'Happy Feet'. It was pretty good, for children, but it had it's moments. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, unless you have children. I'm still trying to figure out how tap dancing is supposed to stop global warming. It's entertaining though. It was a little strange watching Penguins sing cover songs. Maybe that's why I wouldn't buy it.