fasting, day sixteen
Ok. First of all, I hope you had a happy St. Patrick's Day. Or, whatever. Hope you're wearing green today. I'm not, but I haven't been pinched. That's always good.
Second of all, Steve took me to go see "300" tonight. I loved it. I LOVED it! Gratuitous nipples aside, it was an amazingly rendered and filmed movie. I loved the visual effects, the moods created by simple lighting and camera tricks, the way the whole film seemed just like the graphic novel on which it is based. There were so many scenes that looked EXACTLY like a frame from the comic book. That was so cool. The acting was good, the battle scenes were awesome, and the themes covered were pretty cool too. As for all the controversy and the whole buzz about Persians being portrayed as barbarians, all I can say is that I thought the caricature of Xerxes was hilarious. Of course, I am sure we are all aware that there is no way he looked anything like that. Nor talked anything like that. And I'm sure there are plenty of women watching the film who wondered where he gets his eyebrows done so they can go there too. The long fingernails were also a nice touch. But again, it's a movie. And it wasn't meant to portray the Persians ACCURATELY - it was a dramatization and exaggeration, emphasis on the drama. Fantasy. Imagination. And all that.
Still, I contend that a dynasty covering most of western Asia and eastern Europe had to have used violence in "conquering" the people of those lands. But I'm no history buff, so this will have to be researched further. Or not.
Anyway. I really liked the film. And I liked even more that Steve planned a very special night out for the two of us. It was really enjoyable! And any time we have together these days is precious to me.
Only one more week. Wow. COOL!!
Comments
totally, andrew. i hadn't realized he was that guy from lost either until i read about that in an article. ha! and yeah... if you go to the film's website (i think it's http://300themovie.warnerbros.com) and click on the "making of 300" link at the bottom (once you enter the site), and then click on video journal, they have several video clips you can watch that shows the blue screen filming. it's very cool.
Posted by: delara | March 19, 2007 12:18 PM
Nice! I'd absolutely love to see the originally filmed footage, sans computer backgrounds and filtering, to get a better sense of how the film was made, you know?
I can't wait to see what this type of technology brings to movie-making in the future!
And yes, Xerxes? Wow. Hilarious. It was even more hilarious once I recognized him as an actor from LOST.
Posted by: Andrew | March 19, 2007 07:58 AM
Hardee-har, Steve. Keep your pinchers to yourself for another 6 days or so, will ya?
I agree about the violence, it was so stylized that it didn't really seem like violence. Also, the enemy was constantly dressed in ridiculous costumes.
It was a very sterotypical portrayal of good vs. bad, dark vs. light, handsome vs. ugly, justice vs. injustice. But that's comic books for ya.
Posted by: lacey | March 19, 2007 07:17 AM
Yeah, the movie was pretty awesome. Very much a comic book rendering, even in the way the Spartans held their mouths when they talked - very cool.
And I pinched D for St. Patty's day, even if it was a day late. Just had to. :)
Posted by: Steve | March 18, 2007 10:43 PM
man oh man! yeah, it was really beautiful to watch, cinematically. like walking through a painting or something. that was cool. and it was stylized enough that the violence seemed more surreal than real. made it tolerable.
Posted by: delara | March 18, 2007 01:06 PM
I am so glad you liked 300, I had a feeling you would. I felt the exact same way about the movie. And yes, Xerxes was hilarious. And really, I know way too many gorgeous Persian people to actually believe that they were descended from the uh, many many thousands of grotesque-looking warriors in the movie (they looked more like Orcs to me anyways). Oh man. I'm cracking up just thinking about Xerxes now.
Posted by: lacey | March 18, 2007 11:57 AM