It’s been so long and I feel rusted. But here I go again. The writings I mean.
Watch
300. It’s exciting and exhilarating. You don’t have to be a brainiac to feel
and appreciate its works. Cinematography and its effects are a cut above the
rest, blending in high-tech resolutions and mysticism artistically. Not at all
shy in portraying protruding bumps and silky smooth white surfaces, it
definitely is an eye candy. Haha.
More
on serious matters. At the end of the day, what I want from a movie is a sense
of closure, the twisted satisfaction that the baddies gets what they deserve
and the feeling that the movie carries some significant weight to it. And 300
did just that.
It
got my attention because the leading lady seemed to have a character to play. A
strong and sturdy woman who stands by her man, the one who persuade him and
gives him strength to be who he is, a woman of pride and dignity. Some what
reminding me of Mary St Jacques of the Bourne series (who was killed disdainfully
in its movie adaptation). She stood with pride by her husband’s side and showed
it through paramount humility. Not many can pull such a character.
The
story is simple, a battle fought over pride and sovergnity over the
Sparta
land
. An army of
300 going against almost millions. The Spartans had the upper hand
strategically, mowing down row after row after row of enemy soldiers through
the so called Red Gates, a narrow mountain pass to the
Sparta
lands. They fought brilliantly, not
taking any prisoners, and not caring that their blood are shed. As the battle
rages, the leading lady tried to coerce the council of cowardly politicians to
send in more men to help her husband’s troops, but were force to sacrifice her
body to Theron, the blood-sucking politician (hoho, how I use the word
politician) who is after all that of her husband’s. As she tried to persuade the
political men (literally men), she hoped that Theron will back her up, but
instead he manipulated her situation (that of submitting herself to lust-happy
Theron). She was almost defeated, and was thoroughly humiliated by the scheming
politician (opps here I go again), when she stuck a sword into the
backstabber’s torso, letting him bleed to death. As he fell to the ground, the
gold that was given to him by Xerxes fell and exposed his traitorousness. The
council agreed for more men to battle, but it was too late, as Leonidas was
already defeated. And dead.
Another
thing that struck me was how the king of
Sparta
ruled his people. Though his childhood was rough (taken away at a young age,
and daily beatings are a norm), he does show compassion and a high degree of
intelligence, which is lacking in our modern day leaders. He knows how to rally
his people, and have them stand by him though they know that it can lead to
their deaths. People now will change sides if the opportunity and related
offers are right. I cannot stop but admire such pride and loyalty in a human.
And seeing him trying his best to separate mysticism from politics and matters
of the state filled me with wonder, considering the age he’s in.
It’s
a fair watch, if you won’t mind the larger than life blood spatter and flying
spears and swords. Come with not an expectation but an open heart. Take it all
in, and be blown out of your mind. It’s a simple concoction of beautifully
choreographed battle scenes with bursts of real life politics and sprinkles of
virtues that makes a human, a man.
With that said, thank
you. Now I need my beauty sleep.
