Am I gay? I ask that ponderous question because although I do posses a "Y" chromosome and all its component parts, I find myself unmoved by 300, a peon to manliness. At the same time, the movie's consistent depictions of toned, muscled men did nothing for me either, so I guess I must conclude that I am indeed heterosexual, although unfortunately not the type that enjoys movie's like this.
I acknowledge that Zack Synder has made the movie he wanted to, but I also acknowledge that I just didn't like it. An epic about a key battle in the Peloponnesian war does sound like the kind of movie that I would be interested in, but in the style of David Lean, not Frank Miller, who wrote the graphic novel on which the movie is based. Although I have not read the source material, those who have seen Sin City will be able to make out distinct parallels. Both are hyper-sensual and violent, and both rely on some very basic ideas.
To be charitable I wrote that last sentence in a neutral way, but there is something about both films that rub me the wrong way. They both deeply conservative in their message- their protagonist are threatened with violent annihilation by sexual deviants- pedophiles and rapists in Sin City, homosexuals in 300 (who I would not be surprised will take offense at being portrayed as such). In response, the heroes violently kill the bad guys, and have a great time doing it. I think that this kind of basic, almost primitive message is not helpful, and I certainly think that are could be more sophisticated ideas and themes to be found in these stories.
Yes, yes, I know the argument – "You're reading too much into it! It's not that kind of movie! It's just supposed to be fun!" Maybe I'm a prude, but I do not enjoy watching other people suffer. Watching a wretchedly deformed guy sell himself to highest bidder is not much fun to me, nor is watching someone get raped, or decapitated. I am not arguing against violence in movies- two of favorite movies all time, The Godfather and A Clockwork Orange, are very violent. But violence in those films has real ethical consequences, and both are intelligent enough to ask some real questions. I would not have minded seeing a movie about the violent upbringing or philosophy of these soldiers, but again, that is not this movie. I would not have minded seeing a war film about the conflict rarely discussed in film. I would not have minded seeing a simple portrait of three hundred guys trying desperately to survive.
This movie has none of it. It's pleasures are all carnal, and of the worst kind. It is well acted, I suppose, and technically proficient, though I disliked the orange color scheme of the film, and it's non stop editing, never allowing the story so slow down. Maybe I just didn't get the movie. Maybe it went over my head. Maybe it went under my soul.
300 (2007)