Future releases [2]

Not for me.

Another Robin Hood film?

{{That looks terrible! Where's it meant to be set- that does not look like Nottingham! lol And my god am I only the one sick to death of slo-mo fight scenes? }}}

It you told me this was Assassins Creed Id believe you. I might really like this film IF it wasnt meant to be the tale of Robin Hood. Films are catering for a different audience, kids turning into adults, that played consoles morning, noon & night. Id watch this as I like these sort of films but, I wish it wasn't meant to be a story of an elusive hero that was a real man who was vulnerable to an arrow wound himself.

This pisses me off sort of the same way 300 did: if you have a great story, it's better if it feels real.

300 pissed you off? That movie was pure entertainment! And looked really, really cool too.

I liked 300. Great fight scenes.

it feels like years since I saw a film that made me go wow! the last one that really stunned me was Gravity., watching that on a big screen was amazeballs.

My problem with 300: This was one of the most amazing events in world history - 300 men volunteered to stand and fight, knowing they were fighting to the death, so that a loose confederation of other nation-states (all of whom historically squabbled and fought with each other) would have time to get their shit together and a chance of defeating the Persians. And the plan worked.

There is nothing else like this in history, and what makes it so amazing is it's true, it really happened. Destroying this sense of reality robs half the awe of it.

300 was fantasy, not reality. If you really wanted people's chins to drop, never let them doubt for a second it really happened. I think at least half the audience never realized it was true - how can you when you've got fantasy beasts attacking and a king of Persia that looks like a conservative nightmare of decadent gender bending?

Make it all feel real, exactly as it happened, no need to bend any truth at all. Put in context Leonidas' affable reply when told that Persian arrows flew so thick they blotted out the sun: "then my friends, we shall fight in the shade!". THAT will instil more awe than any special effects.

I heartily disagree that 300 would be better if it were made to feel real. The special effects sold that film. It was obviously machismo-drenched fantasy-history, but Gerard Butler and Co. are so charismatic and the tone of the movie is so confident that it works excellently as cinema.

I'm all for realistic-feeling historical movies, but applying realism and nuance to the film adaptation of the 300 graphic novel sounds like a squandering of visual and story-telling potential.

Well, we're going in different directions.  As a visual machismo drenched feast, 300 brought all the goods.  But that was a graphic novel.  Where's the real 300?  That story hasn't been told.

There was a film in the works based on the wonderful Gates of Fire, which would have been 100% authentic.  I don't know why that project fell apart, but if it was because they saw 300 coming and decided there was no point in competing, well, it's a loss to humanity.   That's a story that should NOT be left to a graphic novel as the only source of popular knowledge.

halfwise wrote:Where's the real 300?  That story hasn't been told.

300 only exists because the author of the original comic book, Frank Miller, saw the 1962 film about Thermopylae.

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/movies/26ito.html

Ah I see. Is Gates of Fire a good read?

Eldo: Wow, I didn't know that existed.  It looks to have the affectations of the 60's epic movies, but I'll try to see it to see if it's up to snuff.

Forest: Gates of Fire is a magnificient read.  Very deeply researched and avidly written, there is not need at all for dramatic embelishment.  The author did write it in first person novel form (a random soldier of the 300 from childhood training through the battle), but took absolutely no liberties with the story because none were needed.


If I like 300 Spartans then I'll relinquish my grudge against 300. But I'd still like to see a more modern approach based on Gates of Fire.

Ah yes, 300 seems to have helped kill Gates of Fire.  In fact Zack Snyder had tried to buy the rights to Gates of Fire, but since they were already held by George Clooney he went after the much easier to acquire graphic novel.

http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/gates-of-fire-michael-mann-george-clooney.html

Gates of Fire has been referred to as one of the greatest movies that never got made.

https://oneroomwithaview.com/2014/02/23/best-films-never-made-11-michael-manns-gates-of-fire/

I agree with both Halfy and Forest, I agree with Halfy that the story behind 300 is awesome enough without all the bells and whistles, but I agree with Forest that stylistically it was pretty awesome on its own merits.

Not only is the story good enough to stand on its own without all the bells and whistles, I think it would have more impact if done right without all the bells and whistles. Can't say that about most stories.

{{ Normally I'd be with you on this one Halfy but not in the case of 300- if it were a film about the historic event then yes, but its not. Its an adaptation of a stylistic graphic novel that has more fantastical elements in it, its not an adaptation of history save as several paces removed. The look, feel and tone of it therefore is suitable for what it is adapting.

But I'd love to see a purely historical interpretation of it too. }}

But my beef is that for far too many people 300 IS the story!

And therefore in these people's minds, it couldn't have happened.

The Drone Wars!

"Man" cant be told what to do, again. Rebellious fight saying " IL do what I dam well want" It looks watchable & I probably will.

So I saw 300 Spartans. Ham-handed writing, some scripted hand motions to go with the writing, anemic fighting. But it still can't sink a great story, and it seems to have stayed close to history. I'd love to see it redone with better writing, acting, battle scenes.

You feel strongly don't you Halfy, about this

Indeed. Perhaps... too strongly...

Secretly a time-traveling Spartan? Only time will tell...