I recently saw the movie, 300, and was a bit disappointed. Many of my students had showered this movie with high praise; some even declaring that it was now their "favorite movie." While I found the special effects to be amazing, the battle scenes uniquely done (I don't think I have ever seen a battle scene decapitation slowed down), and the movie to be truly "beautiful" in imagery; it was lacking. It took awhile to come to a full realization of what that missing element was but eventually epiphany hit. On its surface, it was missing something quite simple, yet so necessary to any movie, a sympathetic hero. While the movie made it clear who it wanted the hero (Spartans) and the villain (King Xerxes and the Persians) to be, I was left unconvinced. While the Persians were made into something to be despised, I can't say I looked fondly toward the Spartans.
What really is to be admired about a civilization that killed its weakest members, taught its young to steal, and was built entirely on war and violence? Furthermore, I find it interesting that the Spartans fought for "freedom" yet were all too willing to enslave anyone who was not "Spartan." Yet, it is their thirst for war and combat that I find the most distasteful. In one scene, a Spartan warrior, looking upon the massing Persian horde is seen smiling. He goes on to explain that it is his wish that someone within that massive enemy force will give him what he has dreamt of, a proper warrior's death. Well to put it simply: his dream comes true as he and is companions are cut down by those evil Persians.
Finally, it is hard to look past the accidental or purposeful political analogies located throughout the movie. The formula is basic: west : good :: east : evil. The Spartans and the broader Greek forces of the movie are the west (US) battling for everything good in the world: freedom and liberty. Meanwhile the Persians (Muslims, Iran, etc.) are fighting for conquest and to destroy the Greek (western) world. King Xerxes is portrayed almost as the devil offering temptations to the Spartan King if he will but join the Persian crusade. Yet, the movie could also be read as a warning if one were to switch the analogy. The Persians because of the arrogance of their leader underestimate their enemy. They are the greatest military force ever assembled and no small nation can defeat them in open battle. But an enemy (as the Spartans show), no matter how small, is greatly strengthened when fighting for their own freedom and against a force seen as a conqueror and occupier. Perhaps the hidden lesson in this movie is not to fight the "east" with all cost, but rather to avoid the arrogant belief that through military force you can change the world into what you believe it should be.
4 comments:
OK, I don't know if I can respond to this or not but I'm going to anyway. I also agree that something was missing in that movie. It was a good movie, great battle scenes and everything, but the idea of being raised to kill people just boggles my imagination. I agree that this movie was in need of a hero. I thought there was no good side or bad side, although I know the Spartans were supposed to be the good guys. I didn't agree with all the rage and fighting in the movie because it all seemed pointless to me. Although I do say that it was probably one of the better movies out recently.
~*Julz*~
I think that the movie was great. It was not missing anything. Ok the spartans were hardcore and did things a little different thats whats make the movie so great and crazy. I think you are reading way to much into this with the east and west. Because the movie is based off a book and a older movie also if you are looking for something you will find something. so some one else could say some thing different. I do not read into movies that much cause it takes away from them.
Caleb has a point. you, Mr. McFarland like to read into things so much that you take the fun and the basic point away from a movie. You look so much into the things that could be and you lose track of the things that are.
I think that for a civilization so small as what Sparta was in the eyes of Persians, that Sparta had to be built upon war in order to maintain thier civilization. I think that it was a little wrong to deny the crippled man a role in the spartan force. Over 80% or so of the Persian Army were all slaves so they didn't have the extra "umph" to fight because they were not fighting to save thier homelands. I think that King Leonidis is a true hero in the movie.
THIS IS SPARTA!!!
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