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

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.