“300” is a close-to-history account of the battle of Thermopylae during the period when the Persian Empire was the largest and strongest in the world. It is a portrait of a society that based its culture around the glory of battle and the building up of strong children who would grow to be undeniably fearless warriors.
This warrior culture of Sparta was set in its ways. They valued their families and their reputation above the poisonous ideals of power and prestige-they just wanted to keep their land and way of life, never bowing down to another power or empire. Even the Spartan women seem to have authority; they know their place, and it is certainly not the kitchen.
The film itself is absolutely gorgeous. The cinematography is both beautiful and expansive. The filters that they use give the scenes this kind of eerie sepia tone, where the colors are at once vibrant and muted at the same time. The use of slow motion action also adds to the intense mood of the film-a mood which sucks you into the story and raises your adrenaline levels.
As far as their style of warfare was concerned, the Spartans had some of the most advanced techniques of their day. While the Persian Empire relied mostly on their technology to win battles, the Spartans relied on savvy military strategy and streamlined organization. “300” shows us that they were formidable against their enemies because they were skilled at keeping it simple while staying smart.
The audience really gets a clear idea of what Sparta was all about; the things they valued and they way they felt a community should be organized and run. After the show I heard several people remark that they have a renewed desire to read the actual history about this culture and the period that this film is set. That is something that is very difficult to accomplish in popular film, and it seems that this one has done just that.
Throughout the story, one can clearly see what kind of decadence the Persian Empire symbolized-a decadence that would ultimately be rejected by the Spartans and their king, Leonidas. Their people had no interest in overt materialism, deviant sexuality, and orgy-like excess. To the Spartans, the Persians lacked class and dignity as they seemed to be mired in a pungent lifestyle that focused only on pleasure and power, not family and country.
Even today we can see the effects of decadence living in Los Angeles, where we all find ourselves tempted to be part of the permeating culture of gluttony and vanity. All around us we see visions that mirror the scenes within the inner chambers of the Persian King, Xerxes. We see the same writhing sexual imagery in our MTV music videos and caught frozen on our city’s billboards. And I think the biggest thing to think about here is, is this kind of culture good for us?
Leonidas was the clear hero in this film-everyone in the audience fell in love with him and his ideals. So if he is the one we admire in the film, why do we turn our backs on that ideal once we leave the theatre and go back to our lives? Why will most of us continue to have aspirations that are alligned with the mighty Xerxes, who is only interested in pleasure and power? I think the message we need to take from this film is the old standby: “Not all that glitters is gold.” Leonidas and his 300 Spartans did not value such things. They looked to their families and their sense of reason to stand for things of value. And if we as a modern society feel it natural to make one like Leonidas a hero, we should not condemn ourselves as traitors against his cause.
This warrior culture of Sparta was set in its ways. They valued their families and their reputation above the poisonous ideals of power and prestige-they just wanted to keep their land and way of life, never bowing down to another power or empire. Even the Spartan women seem to have authority; they know their place, and it is certainly not the kitchen.
The film itself is absolutely gorgeous. The cinematography is both beautiful and expansive. The filters that they use give the scenes this kind of eerie sepia tone, where the colors are at once vibrant and muted at the same time. The use of slow motion action also adds to the intense mood of the film-a mood which sucks you into the story and raises your adrenaline levels.
As far as their style of warfare was concerned, the Spartans had some of the most advanced techniques of their day. While the Persian Empire relied mostly on their technology to win battles, the Spartans relied on savvy military strategy and streamlined organization. “300” shows us that they were formidable against their enemies because they were skilled at keeping it simple while staying smart.
The audience really gets a clear idea of what Sparta was all about; the things they valued and they way they felt a community should be organized and run. After the show I heard several people remark that they have a renewed desire to read the actual history about this culture and the period that this film is set. That is something that is very difficult to accomplish in popular film, and it seems that this one has done just that.
Throughout the story, one can clearly see what kind of decadence the Persian Empire symbolized-a decadence that would ultimately be rejected by the Spartans and their king, Leonidas. Their people had no interest in overt materialism, deviant sexuality, and orgy-like excess. To the Spartans, the Persians lacked class and dignity as they seemed to be mired in a pungent lifestyle that focused only on pleasure and power, not family and country.
Even today we can see the effects of decadence living in Los Angeles, where we all find ourselves tempted to be part of the permeating culture of gluttony and vanity. All around us we see visions that mirror the scenes within the inner chambers of the Persian King, Xerxes. We see the same writhing sexual imagery in our MTV music videos and caught frozen on our city’s billboards. And I think the biggest thing to think about here is, is this kind of culture good for us?
Leonidas was the clear hero in this film-everyone in the audience fell in love with him and his ideals. So if he is the one we admire in the film, why do we turn our backs on that ideal once we leave the theatre and go back to our lives? Why will most of us continue to have aspirations that are alligned with the mighty Xerxes, who is only interested in pleasure and power? I think the message we need to take from this film is the old standby: “Not all that glitters is gold.” Leonidas and his 300 Spartans did not value such things. They looked to their families and their sense of reason to stand for things of value. And if we as a modern society feel it natural to make one like Leonidas a hero, we should not condemn ourselves as traitors against his cause.
