fashizzlemanizzle

300


I watched this movie twice. So can I lay claim to have watched 600? Anyways, first time I watched, i missed the first 15mins. And so I went to watch it all over again, at the same theatre (The Cathay: The bigass hall, complete wif 'pyrotechnic' lights and all). Very rarely do I watch a movie twice. But this movie, deserved it lah to be watched multiple times. If you have not been suckered by all the hype, then you must have been hidden by the Thai military junta or sumtin. Ever since I saw the trailers early this year, one word. Make it two. Friggin Awesome. Managed to get hold of the, ahem, graphic novel (not comic book hor) before the movie was released and its wat u'd expect of frank miller's work.

The recreation of the movie, execution, it was exciting to note how Zack Snyder managed to create a whole new genre of trying to replicate the, ahem, graphic novel. His usage of dull colors, coupled wif grainy effects, and, ahem, mise-en-scene (tak sia2 blajar 3 tahun in FSV oh-kay). After Sin City, which itself is a landmark considering how it was made to mimic the comic (rhymes yo), Zack had a tough task of bringing another of Frank's work to life. But he passed lah this guy wif flying (and dull) colors. Tink when he held auditions, requirements for men was to have 60 packs (six-packs tak main ok) and females to have nips that protrude. The army had bodies that looked like Picasso's work of art.

Gerard Butler as King Leonidas, in the words of the great Mike Meyers, he's a sexy beast. Aint he not. Wif his thick bushy beard, and the anakin skywalker ponytail, makes women quiver in the knees. I personally believe the Captain could have been played by someone else. Vincent Regan as the centre parting captain, just doesnt cut it. Looks more like a madman, whom no one listens to. Needs someone as macho as Gerard Butler. And that Brazilian dude as Xerxes, tink tat was ok lah. A giant of a man. Tried to play Xerxes as an androgynous metrosexual. Eye-liner n all. Maybe he's just being emo. But I was hoping for someone more buffed coz I tink Rodrigo Santoro a bit too lean. Maybe someone like the GREAT KALI below.








So a big chunk of the movie revolves around the theme of Male Ego. Leonidas would rather his men die in battle, hence people speak of them long after their time, stories retold to their children and great grandchildren. But i dont understand these greekies. Juz like Troy, even tho the omens werent looking too good, they'd rather go do battle even tho they'll lose, and quite confident that people will remember their name. Thats all to it. Its not as if, when u die in battle, u can actually hear people speaking your name from the grave yo. Person A says, "Hey, King Leonidas died fighting the Persians. He was a strong king" and voila, Leonidas appear beside that guy, ala Casper. That wont happen im sure. So wat is it abt wanting people remembering thy name? I'd rather live, rather than what people put it as, go and die.

And I cant help but think these greeks are actually Americans in disguise. This is the problem when u have a story abt non-English people speaking in Engrish. Why do that? Wouldnt it be better if they'd speak in their native tongue. Just like Troy. And Alexander. Suddenly Greeks speakth English with Yankee twang. I dont blame the Iran cultual and environmental ministers thinking its a propaganda movie, West against Le Arabs. But prolly for commercial purposes.

But you really cant deny the cool factor of the movie. The scene whereby King Leonidas charges ahead of his men, in slo-mo killing and walloping each approaching Persian, one by one (why do they always attack one-by-one ala Tamil movies). The usage of slow & fast motion worked well. A tad overused throughout the film, but nonetheless impressive enuff. Rare aint it whereby your leader lead the men in battle. Unlike modern battles, whereby Generals give command from the comfort of their leather couch, pizza on one hand, coke in the other. Just command thousands of troops to battlefield, and he gets to go back to his wife at night and bonk her. Anyways, I do find the scene of the beheaded son of el Kapitan too cheesy lah. Slow motion until like that. I tink that scene was juz unnecesary lah. He was a good warrior. Didnt deserve to die so stupidly. And if only there were more men walking around naked wif their dongs hung out to dry, ala the book, wont it be nice. And every sound is magnified to thousands decibels. Xerxes' booming voice as if he some phat albert. And spear drop, sound like tong jatuh. And shield drop, sound like a tanker had dropped to the ground.

Even tho I wax lyrical over this movie, I'd say it's a great movie, but wont go to the extent of stating it the best movie. Coz there's no such thing as the best movie ever. Great movies, yes. Best? Nope. So yea, it has my 4.8 / 5 charkueys. Believe the hype. And prepare for glory.

4.8 / 5 char kueys. This is Sparta mofo.

Damn you o'shea. last min.goal again. i hate to admit it but this would be the redwankers from manchester's year for the title.