The Popular Arts Post: Film, Poetry, Roleplaying, Music and Literature

[tcpip]

Went to IMAX for the first time last week to see "300". As the thread on RPG.net suggestsit really isn't good at all (my summary is probably on the last page). Also recently saw The Notorious Bettie Page. Visually cute, it included some excellent thematic considerations and then utterly failed to elaborate on them.

Unitarian service last Sunday was poetry, readings and folk music. As is my norm, I selected Unitarian poets and authors, specifically, Horatio Alger, Ambrose Bierce, ee cummings, and Kurt Vonnegut Jnr.

Easter Sunday was spent, as per last year, playing GURPS Bunnies & Burrows. The Fellowship of Talor journeys in the eleventh scene for HeroQuest. Have managed to convince imajica_lj to run Call of Cthulhu in the near future.

Went a bit nuts on the weekend buying music: Johnny Cash, Velvet Underground, Hawkwind, Gang of Four, Devo, China Crisis, Eels, Elysium. No one can claim I don't have a variety of tastes. Have made a start on the small moutain of books sent to me by Ticonderoga; a seven-part space opera by Kevin J. Anderson. Also should mention that my review of Blackbeard: The real pirate of the Caribbean is available in the latest issue.

Cocktail party for Friday night is shaping up very nicely indeed.

Comments

[mundens.livejournal.com]

Someone else has heard of Hawkwind ? :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You, me and mr_figgy at least.

Epic space-rock who are masters of space and time, with a horde of hashish assasins on flying carpets.

[rodshark.livejournal.com]

Well, considering that 300 was based off a comic book, which was loosely based off of the real battle, I went in knowing it was going to be the "Sin City" version of the historical event.

I would have liked to have seen a little more historical accuracy and a little less Spartan torso, the real warriors wore bronze armor over their torso and their shields were individually decorated. And I did take issue with the whole "fighting for freedom" kinda thing and the whole Western idiology/Christian aspect they tacted on to it ("tonight we dine in Hell"? Um I am pretty sure that the ancient Spartans didn't believe in Hell, I think "Hades" is the word you were looking for *lol*)and Sparta at least wasn't a bastion of Democracy but a brutal totalitarian regime. But in this day and age it didn't surprise me a bit that they twisted it a little. Of course I have heard historians talk that the battle of Thermopyale was a turning point in Greek culture where it became "Greece" instead of individual city/states.

I totally agree, they really made Xerxes way too over the top, but I suppose they felt the need to have a "HUGE" imposing villian.

The action, Special effects, and acting were highly stylized and over the top, but being based off of a comic book they were intended to be.

I took it for what it was, a stylized action movie based off of a comic book that is loosely based upon a real battle in history. It wasn't the best movie I had ever seen by any means of the imagination, but I didn't think it was that bad either.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I really liked Sin City which I guess in part why I was quite displeased with 300; It certainly had its moments; but they were pretty few and far between.

Not sure on the shield thing; the design is, apparently, what the Spartans used during the Peloponnesian wars. Another aspect which was certainly overlooked in the film and, in my opinion, is quite important, is the fact that several hundred Thespians fought alongside the Spartans, as did almost a thousand Spartan slaves and the Spartans held a large number of Thebans hostage!

One of the things I really don't understand about contemporary recreations of historical events is that there's no need to contradict important historical; all that ends up happening is the history buffs get annoyed. Elaborate by all means; include minatours and dragons if it suits the setting - that adds to the story.

Especially in an event like the Battle of Thermopylae which, in reality, was damn interesting.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

You don't have varied musical tastes!

I'd be interested to know what Saga of Seven Suns is like. Having read some KJA in the past, I'm thinking The Wheel of Time-esque.

Having read one of his Dune stuff and the first of the Gamearth novels (which I need to track down to finish) I'd be wary.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You don't have varied musical tastes!

You mean all those can be classified into a genre? I submit to your taxonomy!

Hmmm... Musical taxonomy. Something to be said for that.

I'd be interested to know what Saga of Seven Suns is like.

So far? 100% pure space opera.

[v3nu5.livejournal.com]

I r in Melbins from Thurs night til painfully early monday morning.

Xx

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Come to our cocktail party on Friday night!!!!

1/74 Brighton Rd, Ripponlea - about 2mins from the train sation; about 15 mins from the city by train...

[discordia13.livejournal.com]

I'm with rodshark. I saw 300 last night, and it certainly wasn't a bad movie - it was what it was - a comic book adaption that faithfully reproduced the art using actors. Something that i'm finding increasingly cool these days.

It was fun to watch for the same reason The Matrix was fun to watch. The acting was just as wooden. The SFX were as good (albeit not groundbreaking). The plot was just as thin.

Certainly if you try to treat it as a historically accurate epic, it's going to fall short. Even the director admits that.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The director is way off the mark; 90% of the events are accurate? No way. If one was to do an event-by-event study of the film (and even weighted according to screentime) it would be well below the 90% claim - probably below 50%.

As for the Matrix the acting was better (marginally), there was slightly more plot and character development and, perhaps most importantly, the theme was well executed.

This said, neither were particularly great films.

NB: Snyder is apparently going to do a film of Watchment. *fingers crossed*

[lokicarbis.livejournal.com]

Easter Sunday was spent, as per last year, playing GURPS Bunnies & Burrows.

Now that's an Easter tradition I may have to adopt for myself :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Come play with us! We could always do with another bunny!

Speaking of which (ahem) consider this a formal invite to our cocktail party... I've been meaning to send you one in person, but I seem to have misplaced your email address. Whoops.

[filarete.livejournal.com]

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1874951.htm
Margaret and David:
...Gerard Butler, is one tough dude; he’s got more muscles than a seafood casserole...
...Xerxes looks as if he's going clubbing...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I think David's 2/5 is about right. Margaret's 3.5/5 seems to based on the claim that it's "robustly funny" - which is OK except that's not what they intended. Maybe it'll make a comeback in the future as a B grade classic.

Another thing which that review reminded me; despite the claims of Leonidas during the film of disinterest in adolscents his wife Gorgo was married to him in her early teens and - by the time of "300" - would have been probably 17-18 if that!

Although to the director's credit she is given a much more significant role than apparently she received in the comic book. However, her acumen of judging character in the film, which apparently was exceptional, seems absent.

[dandelionclock.livejournal.com]

I have the comic and thought it was shit (not because it messes with an historical event, no, because hell, Herodotus did enough of that, no, it's because it was badly written and cliched) and I am avoiding 300 like the plague.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well Herodotus could be a little, ahh, "fluid" with numbers.

Advice taken however. I'll avoid the comic is bad and know that the film ain't for me either.

But damn. I mean this is the guy who did The Dark Knight Returns.

[kits-the-dm.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at this film interpretation of the 300 much in the same light that I looked upon the 13th Warrior. Sure, its based of a graphic novel which is loosely based on history. :) But it was a fun romp none-the-less.

Its a pity we didn't get the line of "Go marry a good man and sire good children" from Leonidas though ;)

Now I wonder if I need to learn ancient greek to properly apreciate it all. After all, why would I want to read Plutarch in the latin or english versions, when I can obtain copies of the original greek?

Made me want to run a D&D game set in 500BC Greece though :)

Mind you, those greek historians did bump the numbers somewhat (at least according to the line of thought which I kinda agree with - logistics and all) still, even with the smallest numbers of persians (according to modern estimates) the odds were 10:1 which is staggering (and no less intimidating than the 7000:1 depicted by the graphic novel)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Its a pity we didn't get the line of "Go marry a good man and sire good children" from Leonidas though ;)

Yeah, that would have been a good one-liner - which would have been appropriate to the film. I cannot work out why they didn't use it, unless they were totally unaware of it.

Made me want to run a D&D game set in 500BC Greece though :)

Mongoose's OGL Ancients isn't too bad at all for that period and in the D&D3.x style as well.

But for an earlier time Rolemaster/Fantasy Hero's "Mythic Greece" seriously rocks.

We need more CoC victi^H ... players.

[imajica-lj.livejournal.com]

The game will be set late 1920's San Francisco, specifically September 2nd 1929 up to and including (should you survive) October 24th 1929.

I run story driven games that include massive detail & lots of action ... you will be limping and insane at the end of each session but like tonguing that cut on the roof of your mouth, you will enjoy it ... at least you won't be able to stop.

Dates announced soon.

Come.

Re: We need more CoC victi^H ... players.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

How about a post on aus_gamers or even luv-talk? ;-)

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

Read this. Not sure how to respond. <3

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Is there supposed to be a link I meant to be reading?

300

[kerrykitty.livejournal.com]

Personally I didn't go to see 300 for it's accuracy on historical events or to see how much or the comic book it followed (should mention I have never read the comic). I went to see the movie for it's so called film making wonderments.

to be sure it look VERY pretty... but in my opinion, every movie needs and engaging story line. I felt there wasn't a strong enough one with 300, it lacked so much, it was too drawn out in parts. For me the only thing it has going for it was the very pretty filming and fight scenes. But I felt nothing for the characters and the "story".

Re: 300

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I wasn't overly enamoured by the visual effects - they were OK, but didn't really 'wow' me. Many of the fight scenes were cringe-worthy (a twirl is the surest action to get oneself stabbed in the back by any half competent opponent).

But I felt nothing for the characters and the "story".

But yes, exactly. The story is of one of the most important and incredible battles in human history. To neglect that is inexcusable.

[crowroadaw.livejournal.com]

(also posted on rpg.net)

Personally, the anachronisms, historical inaccuracies, and other such details of 300 don't particularly bother me. I do get annoyed by this in some movies (Gladiator, I'm looking at you), but only if the material is being presented as 'real'. At no time in watching 300 did I ever think this was supposed to be an accurate portrayal of a historical event: it was clearly meant as myth. Thus, nearly naked Spartans, lack of phalanx tactics, and so on, didn't concern me.

What did bother me about 300 is that it wasn't very entertaining. It creaked along its pedestrian course without ever really engaging me on any level beyond "ooh! pretty pictures!", on the apparent assumption that spectacle trumps substance (which, given the high ratings it is getting from many people, seems to be a valid assumption).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, I like myth, because it is supposed to give "structural connection" with the thinking of the people at the time (which 300 almost did well with the demands of "the Gods").

But yes, a lot of my dislike is due to the lack of entertainment. Minimal plot, minimal characterisation, terrible dialogue and unconvincing scenery.

[amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com]

Haha, the 300. That looks like one of those movies I'd walk out of all disoriented, with my eyes dropping out of my face and scratching my neck like I'm in crack withdrawal or something. I can't imagine it on an IMAX.

it included some excellent thematic considerations and then utterly failed to elaborate on them.

How do you mean?

In something slightly related, my zoology prof was talking about dopamine yesterday and mentioned Mark Vonnegut as though LSD had caused his schizophrenia by itself - out of the blue after I had asked if Ritalin could cause some of the symptoms of schizophrenia in high doses ('cause it's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor). Just wanted to mention my mild outrage to someone, I guess.

Have fun at your party! It'll surely be badass.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

300 on IMAX was BIG and LOUD.

WRT to Betty Page, perhaps the strongest theme was her as a proponent of naturalism and how she tied this into her Christian background and belief ("We were all naked in the garden of Eden". Less strong are the influences from the suggestions she was abused by her father, and from when she was gang-raped by a group of strangers. The Senate committee debate on pornography lurks in the background, and the debate troubles Page - but it's left hanging.

Overall however, I quite enjoyed it. There's a slightly upbeat review here:

http://www.alternatetakes.co.uk/?2006,8,91/

LSD had caused his schizophrenia by itself

That's ... interesting. *cackles*