Yes its been a while but "300" has brought me back to the "blogging fold".
Yes my Digital Denizens its been a while since I've tickled the keys of the old wireless keyboard but for good reason. I've just been so damned busy!
Whether work or a couple of personal projects (that book isn't going to write itself) I just haven't found the time to sit down and update the blog nor put out a new podcast for that matter. Oh but that has changed. I had the chance to see what the advances if technology can give us and man was I blown away. Yes, I was one of the people that added my money into the $70 million pot that was "300" this weekend. Oh and I didn't just see it in a normal theater my friends I was lucky enough to take in all the movie's glory in IMAX.
So the reason for my post? One, it is truly technical marvel to see what can be done with digital video and green screen. The other is to tell all those people that critique the movie for all the green screen work to shut up!
For those of you that aren't Classical history geeks and need a refresher lesson, "300" is based on Frank Miller's (of Sin City fame) series of graphic novels that retells the story of how the Spartan King Leonidas led a force that might have totaled 3,000 to defend Greece at Battle of Thermopylae. The basis of the force was 300 war-hardened Spartans and the rest came from other contributing Greek city states. Leonidas formulates a plan that utilized his force to face a Xerxes' (google him) Persian Army whose numbers are estimated to have been anywhere from 200,000 to two million soldiers strong. Why has this story lasted through time? Because it is the quintessential tale of how a few men stand up to a tyrant leading many. Are there comparisons to the U.S. today? Sure. With lines like "freedom is never free", "freed people rule themselves" and "if we don't defeat the tyrant now he will become unstoppable" its easy to draw parallels. Was that the goal of Miller's retelling? I can't say but it is poignant nonetheless.
History has called the Battle of Thermopylae one of the greatest of all time. The tactics of the Spartans are impressive and are attributed to the honed skills of the soldiers. The soldiers could've survived had they taken Xerxes offer to surrender with honor. History shows that Leonidas sets the tone of the days to come when his response to a Persian Officer's request to drop their weapons was "Molôn labé!" or "Come and take them!". It is estimated that about 1,400 Spartans and allies died. Before the battle was over Leonidas and his man had killed upwards of 20,000. Yeah that ain't no typo folks, 20,000. Leonidas battles slowed the on coming Persina Army long enough that the other Greek city-states saw what was coming and united in their defense. But what strikes an even deeper chord than the history was a king's determination, while knowing he was going to lose, to make a stand for his City, and his freedom while making his foes pay for any win. His loyalty to his country and to freedom is the stuff of legend.
The unrivaled cinematography allows the story to be told in all its glory. Yes extensive CGI is used (it took two years in post production to get all the CGI scenes rendered) but the days of huge classic history battles told on film died with Ben-Hur. Zack Snyder and Frank Miller use the CGI to amplify the story while not detracting from it. IT is a perfect mixture. Let's not forget that we all thought the Matrix was a fantastic movie and story and it was the cutting edge in CGI at the time.
I honestly can't say enough about the film. I got excited when I first heard that Miller's graphic novels got "picked up". Its been two long years for the finished movie to come out but it was more than worth the wait. I will stand in line to see the movie in the theater at least a few more (you're welcome Mr. Miller) and would gladly stand in line to buy the DVD if need be.
Whether work or a couple of personal projects (that book isn't going to write itself) I just haven't found the time to sit down and update the blog nor put out a new podcast for that matter. Oh but that has changed. I had the chance to see what the advances if technology can give us and man was I blown away. Yes, I was one of the people that added my money into the $70 million pot that was "300" this weekend. Oh and I didn't just see it in a normal theater my friends I was lucky enough to take in all the movie's glory in IMAX.
So the reason for my post? One, it is truly technical marvel to see what can be done with digital video and green screen. The other is to tell all those people that critique the movie for all the green screen work to shut up!
For those of you that aren't Classical history geeks and need a refresher lesson, "300" is based on Frank Miller's (of Sin City fame) series of graphic novels that retells the story of how the Spartan King Leonidas led a force that might have totaled 3,000 to defend Greece at Battle of Thermopylae. The basis of the force was 300 war-hardened Spartans and the rest came from other contributing Greek city states. Leonidas formulates a plan that utilized his force to face a Xerxes' (google him) Persian Army whose numbers are estimated to have been anywhere from 200,000 to two million soldiers strong. Why has this story lasted through time? Because it is the quintessential tale of how a few men stand up to a tyrant leading many. Are there comparisons to the U.S. today? Sure. With lines like "freedom is never free", "freed people rule themselves" and "if we don't defeat the tyrant now he will become unstoppable" its easy to draw parallels. Was that the goal of Miller's retelling? I can't say but it is poignant nonetheless.
History has called the Battle of Thermopylae one of the greatest of all time. The tactics of the Spartans are impressive and are attributed to the honed skills of the soldiers. The soldiers could've survived had they taken Xerxes offer to surrender with honor. History shows that Leonidas sets the tone of the days to come when his response to a Persian Officer's request to drop their weapons was "Molôn labé!" or "Come and take them!". It is estimated that about 1,400 Spartans and allies died. Before the battle was over Leonidas and his man had killed upwards of 20,000. Yeah that ain't no typo folks, 20,000. Leonidas battles slowed the on coming Persina Army long enough that the other Greek city-states saw what was coming and united in their defense. But what strikes an even deeper chord than the history was a king's determination, while knowing he was going to lose, to make a stand for his City, and his freedom while making his foes pay for any win. His loyalty to his country and to freedom is the stuff of legend.
The unrivaled cinematography allows the story to be told in all its glory. Yes extensive CGI is used (it took two years in post production to get all the CGI scenes rendered) but the days of huge classic history battles told on film died with Ben-Hur. Zack Snyder and Frank Miller use the CGI to amplify the story while not detracting from it. IT is a perfect mixture. Let's not forget that we all thought the Matrix was a fantastic movie and story and it was the cutting edge in CGI at the time.
Gerard Butler plays King Leonidas as the thoughtful yet loud and charismatic leader we'd hope and Lena Headey plays a regal wife that's just as brave, stoic and passionate about Sparta as her husband. Vincent Regan and David Wenham are fantastic as the fierce and dutiful Captain and Lieutenant under Leonidas' command and Andrew Tiernan, who is hidden by mountain of prosthetics, plays the cast off Spartan showing desperation in how a man wants to be considered a true Spartan. Rodrigo Santoro (of Lost fame) has been transformed by make up and computer to what can only be described as "god-like" rounds out the cast as Xerxes.
I honestly can't say enough about the film. I got excited when I first heard that Miller's graphic novels got "picked up". Its been two long years for the finished movie to come out but it was more than worth the wait. I will stand in line to see the movie in the theater at least a few more (you're welcome Mr. Miller) and would gladly stand in line to buy the DVD if need be.
Forget Spider Man 3, this is the movie to see this year.
posted by Dutch DeGay at 6:08 PM
2 Comments:
Welcome Back Dutch!! I am actually watching 300 right now. Like you I have been waiting for this one to come out since I found out it was being made. My lil theater set up at home is nothing compared to an IMAX, so like you I will be heading to see it there once I have some free time. Im still excited about Spiderman 3, but I have to agree with you that 300 could possibly be the best movie of the year. Spiderman 3 will be good, but the shitty acting and kid friendly tone wont even put it in 300's league. Hope the book is going well.
Thank goodness you are back! I've missed you! Hehe. I am actually going to see 300 tonight with my boyfriend. I wasn't very interested in it from the previews but nothing bad has been said about the movie, so I have no choice but to go check it out. =)
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