Thoughts on 300

I saw 300 a couple of days ago with my dad and brother, and...

I really liked it.

I have to admit, I never turn down an epic film, and usually enjoyed watching most of them - and this recent one has just made it to the top of my list, alongside with Gladiator (Oh, and of course, the LOR trilogy).

Historical epic for me is a blast - even with all the gory violence - I take it pretty well (with girly gasps and the view blocking with the aid of a pillow), I think.. But when it comes to war movies set in modern times, I'm always mortified by the shooting/fighting scenes, because it's just too close to the present reality. 

But... getting back to the point.... 300! 

What an awesome movie. 

(Another thing worth mentioning is that it was shot in a studio in Montreal..! Yes, I'm a proud Montrealer and changing my residency to B.C. doesn't change a darn thing)

 

One of the most memorable scenes for me was when Xerxes was persuading the deformed 'Hunchback' soldier from Sparta to join the Persian ''dark'' force, luring him in with status and sexual lust, things out of the reach for him as an outcast.

''Unlike the cruel Leonidas, who demanded that you stand, I require only that you kneel.''

This line jumped out at me and I just had to make a personal interpretation out of this, a bit biblically.

My take on this is that Xerxes kind of represents the World and all its power, desire and material goods that it has to offer. It 'only' requires us to kneel - to yield, to give in and eventually crumble to pieces at Its feet as we find ourselves incapable of perceiving anything beyond that, spiritually blinded. But if we choose to 'struggle' and 'stand' (in spite of our 'hunchbacks', caused by burdens that we have to carry), in spite of the pain and suffering we must go through to get to that glorious posture, we will please our King and win the battle in His name. 

Well, I guess movies are like this. The second it's out, projected unto the screen to millions and millions of spectators, it is bound to produce just as many different interpretations. And this is just what I got out of the movie.

Of course, it's just part of the reason why I enjoyed this movie so much... 

My vocabulary is too poor to describe all the spectacular fighting scenes that goes on in 300.

...The next movies I'll be looking forward to are 'Battle at Red Cliff' and 'Tekken'.