03-19-2007, 09:04 PM
Quote:I was also blown away by very obvious gaps. Things like the characters making such a big deal about how Spartans fight together and how the man on either side of them was extremely important (as it would be in a true phalanx) and then they all go running off to independantly engage all comers. That sort of thing certainly made for more LotR or superhero movie style fight scenes, but it just didn't work for me.
First off, I agree with your post. Unless you want a tall tale, 300 isn't going to satisfy. This point in particular reminded me of something I found rather humorous about the production of the movie. First off, you knew battle was going to be skewed as soon as you saw the Spartans with no armor :lol:
I agree it felt more like LoTR when they started hacking and slashing independently and not within a phallanx - anyone else feel that the rivalry between the general's son and the other man was a little too close to a rivalry between a certain elf and a certain dwarf in LoTR? The breaking of the phallanx was absurd, especially after Leonidas made such a big deal about the made-up-character Ephialtes' inability to hold a shield up.
But what I found most interesting was the portrayl of the basic Persian Soldier. If you watch the film, they carry wicker weaved shields into battle against the Spartans. And in true wicker fashion, they are quickly broken into pieces. What's funny is that's a true fact about the Persian infantry of the time. I can't help but chuckle at that - they forgo the Spartan Heavy Armor AND the Phallanx fighting style, but yet include the minor details about the Persian shields?
:whistling:
Cheers,
Munk