"The Many Sins Against History in 300: Rise of an Empire" Topic

Blood! Sweat! Shiny skin! Slow motion Sword Cuts! Six pack abdominals! It's a review of just how badly 300:Rise of an Empire trod upon history!

LINK: link

Thanks for your time and consideration,

Walt O'Hara

You expected history from a graphic novel by Frank Miller? I expected Hollywood entertainment and I got it in spades. Number 1 at the box office, which it never would have attained catering to History geeks.

The real surprise would be if anything were historically correct.

After seeing 300, and wanting the couple hours of my life back, I will not be seeing this.

I'm sorry, but, this is like complaining that The Three Stooges were unrealistic in their portrayal of the effects of hitting people on the head with hammers, frying pans, etc..

300 and 300 Rise of Empire are NOT nor are they intended to be historical portrayals of the wars between Greece and Persia.

I'm sure people will be complaining about lack of historical accuracy in the upcoming TV show Salem.

Tim

Wait a minute … The Three Stooges wasn't real?

Dear Walt,

Like "300" had not so much (;-)) to do with history, "47 Ronin" was (at least in my not so humble opinion) a disgrace to the legend and perhaps an insult to the Japanese, another box office success means (at least I hope !) space (money!!) for much better movies like "Lone Survivor" or Clint Eastwood's dual masterwork about Iwo Jima. I do hope that Peter Jackson (who succesfully invited the Perry Brothers to make figures for him personally for Gallipoli) will use this year for a historically acceptable movie about the things that happened one century ago.

Regards,

Luc.

I always thought that Moe's portrayal of Hitler was spot on.

"I always thought that Moe's portrayal of Hitler was spot on."

Lol, me too!

It's pure fantasy. It's like Lord of the Rings.

Themistocles wins Marathon? Kills Darius I? I can forgive rinoceros etc, but come on. What did Miltiades did to Snuder/Miller to deserve to be expunged from history?

WHAT!!????!!! The Three Stooges WASN'T REAL!?

I don't care so much about the non-historical aspects, for me it's the total disregard for physical Laws of Nature that is the problem with this movie. I haven't seen it but it seems so totally over-the-top that I'm really not sure if I will. The trailer is supposed to make you want to see the movie. Thre trailer for this movie has the opposite effect, at least with me.

Iran had a fit over 300. I wonder what they will thik of this.

Well, as was pointed out, this is the same Frank Miller who did Sin City

+1

Trailer left me w/ no desire to see the movie.

"When my putatively nonexistant feminist sensibilities are offended by a movie, that's usually a BAD sign…" link

You mean the Spartans didn't wear black leather panties?

The original 300 annoyed me and I never saw it through to the end. This one won't even get that much consideration. Enjoy, but count me out.

Wait, Lord of the Rings wasn't real.

I believe the 3 stooges are real, yes I do. Nyuk, nyuk.

Here's a good review:

The 300 sequel is Zack Snyder's greatest intellectual masterpiece

Actually, I knew exactly the kind of movie I was walking into, and what to expect. I still have a sneaking like of 300, the original. I know it's a comic book fantasy, and not designed to be a documentary. I'm willing to forgive that because I liked Gerard Butler's over the top acting and hammy delivery. With this movie, I thought I'd have a reprise of that earlier experience. No such luck. The closest we get is Eva Green's unintentionally hilarious depiction of Artemisia. I guess that's why I started noticing the mistakes so much.

300:RoaE has the same formula, but it had all been done before and the acting wasn't anywhere near the original. A pity they couldn't resurrect Leonidas. Come to think of it, why the hell not? They should have, considering the howlers that are all over this movie.

Wait a minute … The Three Stooges wasn't real?

WHAT!!????!!! The Three Stooges WASN'T REAL!?

I believe the 3 stooges are real, yes I do. Nyuk, nyuk.

I wish to formally apologize to all those whose illusions I have shattered. I feel like the guy who accidentally reveals that Santa Claus isn't real.

(Oops, there I go again!)

Iran had a fit over 300

I wonder how many western viewers know that Persians are the same folks as Iranians.

What??? Iranians are REAL?!?!!?

If it was never intended to be historical, why the historical name? I did not see the first movie and will not see the second simply because it looks like someone broke into the special effects room and went wild. Lots of booms, and squishes and little in the way of story.

Two of the biggest misses were Clash of the Titans and Beowulf. Based on ancient tails of high adventure. Hollywood couldn't even follow that story line. I didn't see either based on the trailers.

Let's try this:
These movies aren't retellings of history, they're retellings of comic books.
And if you think the comic books marred the history, then complain about the comics, not the movies.

Actually these "movies" are two-hour long action scene / music videos. My comic geek friends say they don't even pay close attention to the comi…err..graphic novels. Sort of like when they say "inspired by true events", which usually means they take place on a planet vaguely similar to the one we inhabit.

Rise of an Empire is a sequel to a film based on a comic based on a film based on a historical event …

It's a miracle it didn't have giant robots !

OT, but what's the deal with that b&w gif on your page with buddy blowing a gum bubble full of smoke? I keep meaning to ask and finally did!

Tim:

That is none other than HARPO MARX, my favorite Marx Brother, in a bit from the Cocoanuts (1929), if I recall correctly.

Walt

It doesn't? Now I know it's not historical.

"47 Ronin" was (at least in my not so humble opinion) a disgrace to the legend and perhaps an insult to the Japanese, another box office success means

Luc, the REAL story behind 47 Ronin had me pretty excited to see that movie, even with Keanu "the block of wood" Reeves in it. I was very fortunate that the trailers were as descriptive as they were, because it was quickly evident that whatever that movie was, it wasn't going to be retelling of the story I knew, so I didn't even bother with it. Late night cable fare at best.

Walt

Rise of an Empire is a sequel to a film based on a comic based on a film based on a historical event …

Pretty close to my conclusion, too.

I enjoyed 300, and I'll rent the sequel when it hits Netflix.

Regarding relaity in Hollywood films, I love the Three Stooges short So Long Mr. Chumps, where at the end they're in prison, and breaking rocks over Curly's head. They pick up an obviously heavy rock and Curly breaks character: "Hey, wait a minute! That's a REAL one! I'm no fool." Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

I liked 300, and contrary to what Mr. Twiningham's geek friends say it is a panel by panel adaptation of the graphic novel. As that, and as an action movie it was a great success and hence very enjoyable for me. I never expected History.

The second one I never planned to see-- not because of "inaccuracies" but simply because it looked BAD. 8)=

Santa, too? NOOOoooooooo

And I was stunned, yes stunned, to discover that Spongebob Squarepants is not an accurate depiction of marine life!

I wonder if they'll be able to top "Meet the Spartans" which I actually enjoyed more than "300."

Poor Richard Egan, what would he think of all this?

I wonder if they'll be able to top "Meet the Spartans" which I actually enjoyed more than "300."

I forgot about that one! I'll have to put that in queue.

Wow! I am crushed! 3 Stooges not real, 47 Ronin and 300 not real and now dear sweet Santa! Too much, just too much. How much can one man handle before his spirit is crushed? It is time to end it all! Good bye cruel world!

79thPa, don't believe him. If it were true Santa wouldn't be present at all 47,000 US shopping malls every year.

Good Lord …. all this and with Easter coming up … next you'll be telling us the Easter Bunny ain't real!!! Least the chocolate will taste good.

Re the 'good' review.

I like the comment 'using historically accurate details'. I haven't laughed so much since I saw 300.

I can only think that these details came from an alternative reality (as so loved by sci-fi writers)

Here's the thing, trying to put 300 and the sequel in perspective. It's a comic book adaptation. It bears about as much historical accuracy to its source as does Captain America to WWII, or Hulk to modern US Special Ops. Or Batman to contemporary police work.

If it's your thing, enjoy it for the eye candy it is. If it's not up your alley, give it a pass. There is no one right answer here.

Does Greece get a mention in either travesty? If not, there's absolutely nothing to connect them to history in the minds of those who constitute the target audience, who will have assumed that Persians and Spartans are fictional fantasy races.

I think the next sequel is 300 Spartans vs 47 Ronin.

Does Greece get a mention in either travesty?

The trailer has some buff Johnnie exhorting men to fight for the freedom of Greece.
Dows that answer your question?

I still can't workout which Empire was on the Rise.

Athens?

Or alter-Athenia from Alpha Centauri?

I haven't seen so many people defending a movie in a while. The first movie was just terrible to be honest. I didn't care if the hero lived or died. Just cant get into a movie where I don't care. To be honest I was hoping the zombies and the big bald guy would hurry up and just kill the poorly dressed guys so I could get home and watch the "The 300 Spartans. A movie that did make me feel for King Leonidas and his men.