What the h*** was this movie "about?!"

[Bullsear]

Okay, there is a thread on the boards about how 300 is a critique on the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. I think that's a pretty base level analysis, so I'm wondering, what do you think the movie was about?
The shear amount of imagery was so staggering that it's going to take me a couple more viewings to really sort things out.
Between the obvious religious overtones displayed by Xerxes (a god who is man and calls himself king of kings), the idea of Queen Gorgo allowing herself to be raped so that she could take power over someone, the conflicting messages about the honor of combat and its ultimate futility, and the spectacle of multiple decapitations, extreme nudity, and ridiculous violence left me extremely confused.
It felt like the movie was trying to say a lot of things, but I'm not sure which of them it was trying to say more loudly or if any one theme can encapsulate the movie.
So, having now written one of the longest sentences ever (graph 2), I'm asking for what you thought the movie was REALLY "about."

 

[crazy sock]

this movie was based on a comic book, which was based on a movie that the creator had seen when he was a lil kid, that was based on an actual event in history. that's all. if there were any "secret" or "hidden" messages in the movie it was by the director, and i doubt thats the case. i really think all this "hidden political agenda" is coincidental. some say history repeats, so maybe whats going on now in the world with Bush, is rele just something similar thats happened wayyyyyyyyyyy back then and prob other periods of time time in history. its like human nature or something, to want to seize control and power over others and its also human nature to want to defend yer nation or country or whatever. i dunno.

 

[Papa Burgundy]

its all about the spiderman 3 trailer.

 

[I_Hate_U_All]

yep

Thwip Thwip!

 

[Matt.S99]

its kinda based on a true story'300 vs 1 million'

 

[Bullsear]

Yes,

its kinda based on a true story'300 vs 1 million'

but that's what its BASED ON. I, for instance, could make a movie based on a bunch of kids going up into a mountain to look at porno mag, which would be based on a book by Stephen King, which would be based on some experience from his childhood. However, what the movie would be ABOUT is something completely different.
There was OBVIOUS metaphor throughout the movie, and more imagery than you can shake a stick at. To say that all that stuff, all that traffic that needs to be negotiated is just there as filler between fight scenes is incorrect and ignorant.
You and crazy sock are both completely missing the point of using a medium to convey a message. Frank Miller probably had a message when he wrote 300, and Snyder probably had a message when he directed this one.
I thought this thread would spur some sort of intellectual discussion, but those are pretty difficult to have when people begin actively lying to themselves about the way the world works, so I guess you've made the conversation moot.

 

[Bullsear]

btw, the myth was about 1,000 versus 1,000,000, not just 300.
not to mention the fact that the history of the movie is completely incorrect, if it's trying to be a history (which it's not).

 

[ultimatefan]

300 is about people fighting against all odds for freedom. It´s the most simple premise in the world.

 

[darknight7]

300 is about people fighting against all odds for freedom. It´s the most simple premise in the world.

Well put.^

I love this movie, and I think it was done great. In my opinion, people have to stop looking too much into things, and just enjoy movies for what they are. . .Entertainment. (Based on a comic book.)

--dk7

 

[crazy sock]

whatever, whats the point of Discussing things with ppl if youve already made yer mind up? did you think everyone was going to agree with yer views on the movie? if there was some message that was trying to be conveyed, i could care less cause i didnt see the movie for that. all im saying is what i heard, and that is 300 is based on a Comic book written by frank millar,that is based on a movie he saw when he was a kid b/c he rele liked the movie, and then that movie was based on the actual event. i really think yer looking into this too much, but yer free to do what ya want so go ahead.
i dont see how im "lying to myself" about how the world works. i think ppl that believe Bush is in charge of the U.S. all on his own, thinking up ideas and making decisions by himself are ridiculous. they want to see bush as this "evil" person doing horrible things, he rele isnt. is it so far-fetched to think that hes just a puppet? i dont want to sound like some kind of conspiracy theorist type of person, but cmon, do you rele think everyone in the govt. would rele have someone like Bush be president if there werent ppl controling what he does? i dunno, whatever. i hate discussing politics.

 

[Bullsear]

whatever, whats the point of Discussing things with ppl if youve already made yer mind up? did you think everyone was going to agree with yer views on the movie?

No. That's why I asked what people thought it was about.
I did not take into account that there were actually people in the world who could go to a movie packed with visual imagery and obvious metaphor and walk out of the theater without seeing either.

 

[crazy sock]

go write a letter or an email to Zack Snyder, and in it ask him if the movie had anything to do with whats going on these days. that or go pick up the comic 300 and read it.

heres the wikipedia page on the 300 comic.

300 (comic book)
"300 is a comic book, later collected as a graphic novel, written and illustrated by Frank Miller with painted colors by Lynn Varley. The comic loosely depicts the Battle of Thermopylae and the events leading up to it from the perspective of Leonidas I, king of Sparta. 300 was particularly inspired by the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, a movie that Miller watched as a young boy.[1]

Every page of the comic was illustrated as a double-page spread. When the series was gathered into hardcover form, the individual pages were twice as wide as a normal comic. Miller's art style for this project was similar to his Sin City work, although the addition of consistent color is an obvious difference.

300 was initially published as a monthly five-issue comic book series by Dark Horse Comics, the first issue published in May 1998. The issues were titled Honor, Duty, Glory, Combat and Victory. The series won three Eisner Awards in 1999: "Best Limited Series", "Best Writer/Artist" for Frank Miller and "Best Colorist" for Lynn Varley. The work was collected as a hardcover graphic novel in 1999.

The film 300, released on March 9, 2007, is based on 300, and is effectively a shot-for-shot adaptation of the graphic novel."

notice that last part about the film 300. how it says " and is effectively a shot-for-shot adaption of the graphic novel." DERRRRRRRRR

 

[Nivek]

btw, the myth was about 1,000 versus 1,000,000, not just 300.
not to mention the fact that the history of the movie is completely incorrect, if it's trying to be a history (which it's not).

Braveheart won what, 7 oscars and had huge critical acclaim, and it's about as accurate in it's History as 300 is. But it's a damn good movie, regardless, and inspired alot of people.

This is depicted as a classic epic story, a legend being told. Not a collage class discussion, about dates and who's and whats. This is really not that valid of a critism since the film is based on Frank millers Graphic Novel, not historical detail. They have been stated again and again straight forward in countless interviews with the cast and crew. Now, if you didn't like the Graphic novel, you wont like the movie, because it's the same story.

 

[tzarinna]

*waits for it*

 

[crazy sock]

Braveheart won what, 7 oscars and had huge critical acclaim, and it's about as accurate in it's History as 300 is. But it's a damn good movie, regardless, and inspired alot of people.

This is depicted as a classic epic story, a legend being told. Not a collage class discussion, about dates and who's and whats. This is really not that valid of a critism since the film is based on Frank millers Graphic Novel, not historical detail. They have been stated again and again straight forward in countless interviews with the cast and crew. Now, if you didn't like the Graphic novel, you wont like the movie, because it's the same sory.

Exxxxxxxxactly.

 

[weezerspider]

what, does every freakin movie now days have to have some stupid political meaning? There is no political meaning in the movie. Its just one awesome movie.

 

[Bullsear]

Braveheart won what, 7 oscars and had huge critical acclaim, and it's about as accurate in it's History as 300 is. But it's a damn good movie, regardless, and inspired alot of people.

I never said that it isn't a good movie. In fact, I said that I loved it.
I'm not saying there is political meaning. I'm saying there is deeper meaning.
If you've read my other posts on the boards, you know that I don't think it's about Bush at all. It's not an allegory, but that doesn't mean it isn't saying something.
There is metaphor throughout the movie. There is symbolism throughout the movie. I was wondering what people thought those symbols might mean, but thus far no one has even tried to attack my suggestions; they've just said either there is or there isn't symbolism.
Since I'm fairly convinced that there is symbolism (being as nearly all interactions in the worl are symbolic), those who don't find any should go to a different thread.
The action sequences (aka the movie) were very cool, but if you want to do nothing but talk about how cool a decapitation graphic looked, find a thread that talks about that or, better still, start one.
You wanna talk symbolism? Metaphor? Deeper meaning? This is the place. Others go elsewhere.

 

[SuperFerret]

I never said that it isn't a good movie. In fact, I said that I loved it.
I'm not saying there is political meaning. I'm saying there is deeper meaning.
If you've read my other posts on the boards, you know that I don't think it's about Bush at all. It's not an allegory, but that doesn't mean it isn't saying something.
There is metaphor throughout the movie. There is symbolism throughout the movie. I was wondering what people thought those symbols might mean, but thus far no one has even tried to attack my suggestions; they've just said either there is or there isn't symbolism.
Since I'm fairly convinced that there is symbolism (being as nearly all interactions in the worl are symbolic), those who don't find any should go to a different thread.
The action sequences (aka the movie) were very cool, but if you want to do nothing but talk about how cool a decapitation graphic looked, find a thread that talks about that or, better still, start one.
You wanna talk symbolism? Metaphor? Deeper meaning? This is the place. Others go elsewhere.

How do you figure that?

Either way, a story only has symbolic meaning if you look for one. Sometimes, a story was just meant to be a story.

 

[Bullsear]

go write a letter or an email to Zack Snyder, and in it ask him if the movie had anything to do with whats going on these days. that or go pick up the comic 300 and read it.

heres the wikipedia page on the 300 comic.

300 (comic book)
"300 is a comic book, later collected as a graphic novel, written and illustrated by Frank Miller with painted colors by Lynn Varley. The comic loosely depicts the Battle of Thermopylae and the events leading up to it from the perspective of Leonidas I, king of Sparta. 300 was particularly inspired by the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, a movie that Miller watched as a young boy.[1]

Every page of the comic was illustrated as a double-page spread. When the series was gathered into hardcover form, the individual pages were twice as wide as a normal comic. Miller's art style for this project was similar to his Sin City work, although the addition of consistent color is an obvious difference.

300 was initially published as a monthly five-issue comic book series by Dark Horse Comics, the first issue published in May 1998. The issues were titled Honor, Duty, Glory, Combat and Victory. The series won three Eisner Awards in 1999: "Best Limited Series", "Best Writer/Artist" for Frank Miller and "Best Colorist" for Lynn Varley. The work was collected as a hardcover graphic novel in 1999.

The film 300, released on March 9, 2007, is based on 300, and is effectively a shot-for-shot adaptation of the graphic novel."

notice that last part about the film 300. how it says " and is effectively a shot-for-shot adaption of the graphic novel." DERRRRRRRRR

Wow, you can go to wikipedia too? I thought that was only on my internet!
Do you recall me ever saying anything about 300 being analogous or allegorical (look it up on dictionary.com) to present events? No? Could that be because I never claimed it was?
Guess what, I can also copy and paste online reference material!

metaphor (met·a·phor): something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
symbolic (sym·bol·ic): serving as a symbol of something (often fol. by of).

In this case, they are not about tangible events or people, but abstract concepts.
300 was full of symbolism and metaphor, not allegory. I'm looking for deeper meaning; you think I'm looking for something in the real world that is the same as the movie.
I'm looking for abstract principles; you think I'm looking for current events.
I'm sure Frank Miller was trying to send some message when he wrote 300, I'm just wondering what others think that message is. If you don't think he was trying to send any message at all, then that is your answer. Nuff said.

 

[Bullsear]

How do you figure that?

Either way, a story only has symbolic meaning if you look for one. Sometimes, a story was just meant to be a story.

Do you see the letters you are using to write? They are symbols. So are words, gestures, and actions. Each conveys meaning. When you make a movie, you are conveying meaning. When you show an action, much like doing it, you are (presumably) doing it for a reason.
Those reasons tell us what things are about. The name of this thread is What the h*** was this movie "about?!". That is what I'm asking. What message is being sent, what symbols are being used, and how do they lead to greater understanding of a great film.
To simply say, "It's about action." is like saying, "The Bible/Torah is about God" or saying "The Lord of the Rings is about people bringing a ring to a place to stop something bad from happening."
All of those statements are true, but they don't get at the heart of what's being said. Those statements are base level observations. I would like to go deeper if I could ever stop teaching English 101.

 

[SuperFerret]

I'm sure Frank Miller was trying to send some message when he wrote 300, I'm just wondering what others think that message is. If you don't think he was trying to send any message at all, then that is your answer. Nuff said.

That is why, as a writer, I always hated English class.

The only person who knows for sure what the intended message of 300 is (if indeed there was an intended message) is Frank Miller himself. Anyone else just can't be 100% sure. Yeah, maybe he intended it to show that, even faced with impossible odds, you shouldn't back down. Or maybe he wanted to just tell a kickass story about a bunch of shirtless warriors in a massive battle.

 

[Mr. Socko]

This movie has no current political agenda! There are no parallels to George Bush or Iraq in the movie! As UF said, the only premise of the film is "a group fighting against all odds and what they stood for."

What the h*** was this movie "about?!"

The novel that Frank Miller wrote............possibly?

 

[vader519]

I never said that it isn't a good movie. In fact, I said that I loved it.
I'm not saying there is political meaning. I'm saying there is deeper meaning.
If you've read my other posts on the boards, you know that I don't think it's about Bush at all. It's not an allegory, but that doesn't mean it isn't saying something.
There is metaphor throughout the movie. There is symbolism throughout the movie. I was wondering what people thought those symbols might mean, but thus far no one has even tried to attack my suggestions; they've just said either there is or there isn't symbolism.
Since I'm fairly convinced that there is symbolism (being as nearly all interactions in the worl are symbolic), those who don't find any should go to a different thread.
The action sequences (aka the movie) were very cool, but if you want to do nothing but talk about how cool a decapitation graphic looked, find a thread that talks about that or, better still, start one.
You wanna talk symbolism? Metaphor? Deeper meaning? This is the place. Others go elsewhere.

If your looking for symbolism and all that, all you have to do is look at the titles of each of the comic books for 300. Honor, Duty, Glory, Combat and Victory. There is your message and symbolism.

 

[El Bastardo]

That is why, as a writer, I always hated English class.

Yeah, no kidding. I'm in a Fiction Workshop, and just because one of my characters was introduced drinking, several members of the class realized that this must be important and the character is, clearly, an alcoholic, and nothing's going right in his life.

Yep. Sometimes symoblism and allegory and analogy and metaphor and whatever else is only there when the reader wants it to be and is actively looking for it... which doesn't mean it's actually there, just that they're biased and want something to mean this or that.

 

[darknight7]

what, does every freakin movie now days have to have some stupid political meaning? There is no political meaning in the movie. Its just one awesome movie.

AROO! AROO! AROO! (Spartan cheering) lol

--dk7t: