Rate 300

[Mallus]

Also, as pointed out before, the Spartans tease their Athenian rivals for being PEDERASTS and do not tease them for being GAY. Very big difference.

And yet even more ironic...

While in historically it may be true that both Athenians and Spartans condoned homosexuality and pederasty, the movie doesn't go there.

The movie doesn't 'go there' with regards to our heroes, the hot-wife-banging Spartans (there's a epithet Homer missed). But it does for their boy-loving allies and Xerxes Stardust...

And the movie doesn't go there simply because American audiences, as a whole, are not ready for that level of candor.

The filmmakers obviously felt that American audiences where ready for protagonists that practiced infanticide. But homosexual practices, or God-help us, body-piercing and androgyny, that's the mark of villainy.

See why this sticks in my craw just a bit? And I'm a happily-married straight man...

When people see anti-gay or homophobic themes in this movie, I just think they are looking for something to be offended about that really isn't even there.

Normally, I'd agree with that, but not in this case.

...but most of them are going simply to see all the half-naked ripped Spartans!!!

That's part of what makes the movie so baffling... it's got a streak of homoeroticism as wide as the Mississippi if it were gay, yet also contains these small yet unmistakable homophobic gestures.

 

[Mallus]

It is actually not debatable.

The wikipedia articles, including the one you linked to, suggest otherwise. Note that one reads 'most' ancient sources and another 'some'.

And if you don't think wikipedia is accurate enough, I'd suggest not citing it yourself...

Most (not all) accounts of the era do depict it as a chaste sort. How most historians today seek to interpret it is another issue.

You'll have to lend me your time machine someday. I bet it'd clear this disagreement up in a flash...

Most (not all) accounts of the era do agree there was an erotic or emotional element

And how do you think that would play with modern American audiences?

I'll say it again: the film didn't need to make any reference to the sexual proclivities of any of the ancient civilizations peoples... but it did, just not the protagonists. Wait, except for the banging their hots wives part...

 

[Rystil Arden]

Dang...I took that class back in 1995, so I'm just glad I remembered all I did. Professor Holt was a blast though....he was the kind of teacher that you wanted to sit in on even when you weren't in his classes.

It was in his class that I came to admire Alcibiades. I wish I had Alcibiades' diplomacy knack.

Sounds like we took a very similar class then--I came out of mine with much admiration for Alcibiades and is crazy diplomacy skills as well!

 

[The Human Target]

4 out of 10.

I got antsy 45 minutes in and keep looking at my watch.

Comic books are not movie scripts, and shouldn't be treated a such.

 

[Rystil Arden]

It is actually not debatable. Most (not all) accounts of the era do depict it as a chaste sort. How most historians today seek to interpret it is another issue.

Most (not all) accounts of the era do agree there was an erotic or emotional element, as to whether there was commonly encouraged sexual contact most (not all) accounts of the era assert that it was strongly looked down on and discouraged... unlike the rest of Greece. Which puts some context to the derisive comment by Leonidas on the pederasty of Athens.

I think you'll find that when it comes to ancient cultures for which we have few primary sources, the beliefs of most modern historians have a one-to-one correlation with the primary sources and direct evidence from archaeology, since that's the only way that we have of understanding those cultures. Having read the primary sources myself and spoken with historians who have done so in the original Greek, I find your opinion that it is 'not debatable' perplexing. It is quite debatable, as you've proved by debating it!

 

[Brogarn]

I think some people are WAY overanalyzing this movie. I guess it passes the time, but I just don't see the point. I took it at face value and enjoyed the hell out of it.

 

[John Crichton]

I think some people are WAY overanalyzing this movie. I guess it passes the time, but I just don't see the point. I took it at face value and enjoyed the hell out of it.

Spot on, man.

Saw it again last night in IMAX. Still rocked.

 

[Mistwell]

4 out of 10.

I got antsy 45 minutes in and keep looking at my watch.

Comic books are not movie scripts, and shouldn't be treated a such.

Yeah because it sure fell flat with the public...oh wait!

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

Someone (Eric?) was claiming that the Spartans were depicted as being anti-pederast, not anti-gay. I merely brought up the fact that this is slightly ironical.

Meh. I personally don't believe the film were saying anything about pederasty, homosexuality, or ancient Greek culture.

I think it was saying, "Hi, I'm a film with lots of shield-bashing. Enjoy me!"

 

[Sir Brennen]

Just a movie? JUST a movie?!?

All of you obviously don't realize that beneath the surface, 300 is really a model entreprenurial business strategy.