After titling my last post it occurred to me that maybe I really should have written it on my cell phone.
It certainly would have been a lot shorter if I had.
On the topic of short posts, though, in my desire to make a “clever” entry about 300 by limiting myself to three hundred words, I was forced to edit out one of my favorite bits from my original entry, so I’m including it here:
So I went to see 300 today, just like I said I would.
The prophecy has been fulfilled!
Sadly, though, sad “prophecy” did not involve a hot naked girl gyrating rhythmically while stoned out of her mid the way the visit to the oracle did in the movie, but then, very little in my life involves hot naked girls gyrating rhythmically while stoned out of their minds, so what else is new?
Also edited out of the final version was a reference to Frank Miller’s collaborator on 300, colorist Lynn Varley, who also worked on the backgrounds of the movie, and who was, last I knew, also Miller’s wife, though her Wikipedia entry says that she is his “former” wife.
I also left out a lot of my thoughts on the movie, but whatever.
On last night’s Colbert Report, Stephen, who in response to the news of Captain America’s death, had harsh words about Cap and his failure to back the government in the recent Civil War storyline, read a letter he’d received from Marvel Editor-in-Chief (and former Report guest) Joe Quesada, in which it was revealed that Cap had bequeathed his indestructible shield to Colbert.
Stepping away from the illusion, from what I read online the shield given to Stephen had apparently once hung in the office of the late Mark Gruenwald.
Colbert’s been getting a lot of love from Marvel lately; in one issue of Civil War, a bus bearing an ad for the Report featuring a photo of Stephen is clearly visible during a climactic battle scene, and Stephen himself appears in an issue of the Peter David-scripted Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Speaking of Spidey, the only worthwhile trailer at 300 was the new one for Spider-Man 3. Looks like we definitely get to see some Venom action. Definitely looking forward to that one, and I was glad to see the trailer.
One thing I wasn’t glad to see (apart from all of the guys walking around in leather Speedos in the movie – though considering that they weren’t even wearing that much in the comics, I was grateful they had them on) was an ad that aired before previews started for Dove (the soap, not the ice cream).
It featured images of various women in the nude (with strategic arm and leg placement) while the text proclaimed that each one was “too old to appear in an anti-aging commercial.”
Now normally I’m all for nude women on the big screen (and there were more than a few in the movie proper, including Lena Headey), but the fact of the matter was that the women pictured in the commercial were too old to appear in an anti-aging commercial. Way too old.
The text went on to explain that it actually wasn’t an anti-aging commercial, it was a pro-aging commercial. Then it said something like, “Beauty doesn’t have an age limit.”
I had to conclude that the people writing the text weren’t watching the same commercial I was because there very clearly is an age limit.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I’m not prize pig myself, and glass houses, and whatever, but the fact is that you don’t see me naked on the big screen with text proclaiming me beautiful, and that this is a good thing is something that we can all agree on.
Anyway, the good nudity in the movie largely made up for the bad that came before it, but even so, at the very least they could have slapped some leather Speedos on the biddies.
I understand that the point of the ad (and the entire campaign) is to change attitudes and opinions about beauty and aging, but guess what? It’s not going to happen.
Especially when you make people look at 20 foot high images of leathery, liver-spotted naked skin.
Showing posts with label 300. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 300. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Three Hundred (Counting These) Words About 300
So I went to see 300 today.
As I was certain I would, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But historical accuracy? Not so much.
The same was true of the comics, but accuracy was never the point. The point is to tell a a good story, and to make it an overwhelming assault on your senses that leaves you dizzy and breathless. It’s not as faithful to Miller’s style as Sin City, but it is darkly humorous, macho, and unflinchingly and stylishly violent and quintessentially Miller.
Some critics faulted it for its machismo, but it’s a movie about Spartans for Christ’s sake: of course it’s going to be macho! You were expecting maybe a chick flick?
While the movie doesn’t aspire to be much more than an action-packed chest thumping epic, it does have some great non-action scenes, mostly focusing on Queen Gorgo, played by actress Lena Headey, who manages to look very hot despite the fact that the grainy, washed-out colors that recreate the look of the books aren’t exactly flattering to the skin.
One of the queen’s best moments actually happened off-screen in the audience.
On-screen, after being betrayed by the corrupt Theron (Dominic West) in front of the assembled Spartan Council, she hauls off and slaps him hard across the face. So hard, in fact, that it elicited a loud and shocked “Ohhh!” from some guy in the audience.
Like many others in the audience, I found it hilarious that following on the heels of scenes of stunning violence that involved severed heads and limbs it was a relatively innocuous action that provoked a gasp.
I don’t want to provide any major spoilers (history does that), but I did want to use three hundred words to say that 300 kicked ass.
As I was certain I would, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But historical accuracy? Not so much.
The same was true of the comics, but accuracy was never the point. The point is to tell a a good story, and to make it an overwhelming assault on your senses that leaves you dizzy and breathless. It’s not as faithful to Miller’s style as Sin City, but it is darkly humorous, macho, and unflinchingly and stylishly violent and quintessentially Miller.
Some critics faulted it for its machismo, but it’s a movie about Spartans for Christ’s sake: of course it’s going to be macho! You were expecting maybe a chick flick?
While the movie doesn’t aspire to be much more than an action-packed chest thumping epic, it does have some great non-action scenes, mostly focusing on Queen Gorgo, played by actress Lena Headey, who manages to look very hot despite the fact that the grainy, washed-out colors that recreate the look of the books aren’t exactly flattering to the skin.
One of the queen’s best moments actually happened off-screen in the audience.
On-screen, after being betrayed by the corrupt Theron (Dominic West) in front of the assembled Spartan Council, she hauls off and slaps him hard across the face. So hard, in fact, that it elicited a loud and shocked “Ohhh!” from some guy in the audience.
Like many others in the audience, I found it hilarious that following on the heels of scenes of stunning violence that involved severed heads and limbs it was a relatively innocuous action that provoked a gasp.
I don’t want to provide any major spoilers (history does that), but I did want to use three hundred words to say that 300 kicked ass.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
That Kicks Ass
The movie 300, which is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller (which is in turn based on historical events) opens in theaters on Friday.
On Monday I'll be seeing it.
I will no doubt be seeing it alone, as I can't imagine Brian wanting to see it (among other reasons, it is, after all, based on a comic book), and Scott's principles don't allow him to see rated R movies, so he can't see it (Even though he wants to. See what having principles gets you?), so that leaves me.
Anyway, here's a very cool (and violent - it is based on Frank Miller's work after all):
I like the approach they've taken. They haven't gone quite the Sin City route in attempting to bring Frank's vision to life, but they have definitely given it a Frank Miller feel. Love the way the blood looks - that is definitely like something straight out of Frank's comics.
In his recent works, Frank has kind of gone over the top (even for him), and seems almost to be parodying himself. The Dark Knight Strikes Again was almost like him taking a whiz on the masterpiece that it served as a sequel to - the classic The Dark Knight Returns.
And of course the less said about All-Star Batman and Robin the better (Though to say something about it, in one scene, Batman says to a traumatized young Dick Grayson, whose parents just died in front of his eyes, and whom Batman has actually kidnapped and is taking back to the Cave - a process that takes like three entire issues, which, thanks to its shipping schedule, amounts to about six months, "What are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman.")
Still, Frank remains a comics master and was well on his way to single-handedly changing the face of American comics forever even before the British Invasion came along and helped him do it.
I recently had the distinct pleasure of reading (and in many cases re-reading) some of Frank's early work on Daredevil. Bear in mind that this was material from nearly 30 years ago, and that in most cases going back and trying to read comics from that period is a daunting prospect given how bad the dialogue will often be and just how simplistic the storylines are, especially in contrast to today's more "mature" comics. Reading old comics can cause so much pain as to send you spiralling into a coma.
Not so the work of Frank "The Tank" Miller - as Dave of Dave's Longbox is trying to get people to refer to him. Make some minor tweaks to the slang used, and update some of the fashions, and you could very easily put those books on the rack alongside the best work of guys like Ed Brubaker (and in front of the works of guys like Brian Michael Bendis).
Timeless, would probably be the best word, though, visionary works just as well, which is why it's only fitting that the collection of those Daredevil stories was in a book called Visionaries. When it comes to Frank, they weren't kidding.
So yeah, I can forgive him some of his recent foibles, and I will happily stand in line to see his vision on the big screen in 300.
I'll also wait impatiently for the next Sin City movie.
The movie was initially delayed by the pregnancy of Angelina Jolie who was going to play the titular (in more ways than one) role of Ava Lord in the segment A Dame To Kill For.
She was a good choice, and would have been worth the wait, but as it stands now, Angelina will not be filling that role, so they have to find a new Ava.
I've seen speculation that the part will be played by Rachel Weisz. I like her, but I don't think she's right for the part.
So now I will go on record and say that there is only one actress who can do the role justice: Scarlett Johansson.
I don't even have to go into the reasons why she's perfect for the role because they are self-evident.
So if you're reading this Robert Rodriguez (as if), get to work on casting her .
And Scarlett, if you're reading this (I think my chances of winning the lottery are better than the chances that she reads this blog, and I don't even play the lottery), go to Rodriguez and demand the part. You've said on the record that you're ready and willing to do a nude scene, so here's your chance to deliver on that promise.
(And for the record, there's always a lot of talk about nude scenes being "integral" to the story. That's very seldom the case - though I very seldom complain about it - but in this case, it really, really is integral. You need to have that scene of Ava standing there naked, exposed in her magnificence and revealing why she really is a woman that men would, have, and do, kill for.)
Beyond that, Ava is a complex and interesting character, and I suspect she would be a lot of fun to play.
So now, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Johansson, go forth and do my bidding!
(Oh, and on the topic of Daredevil and Ed Brubaker, I want to say thanks to Ed for, first of all, being Ed and just generally doing great work, and second for swooping in and cleaning up the mess that Bendis made during his Daredevil run, and for writing one of the best single issues of a comic that I've read in a long time.)
Anyway, the point of this whole thing was mostly just to show off the 300 clip, but I kind of got carried away. Oh well.
On Monday I'll be seeing it.
I will no doubt be seeing it alone, as I can't imagine Brian wanting to see it (among other reasons, it is, after all, based on a comic book), and Scott's principles don't allow him to see rated R movies, so he can't see it (Even though he wants to. See what having principles gets you?), so that leaves me.
Anyway, here's a very cool (and violent - it is based on Frank Miller's work after all):
I like the approach they've taken. They haven't gone quite the Sin City route in attempting to bring Frank's vision to life, but they have definitely given it a Frank Miller feel. Love the way the blood looks - that is definitely like something straight out of Frank's comics.
In his recent works, Frank has kind of gone over the top (even for him), and seems almost to be parodying himself. The Dark Knight Strikes Again was almost like him taking a whiz on the masterpiece that it served as a sequel to - the classic The Dark Knight Returns.
And of course the less said about All-Star Batman and Robin the better (Though to say something about it, in one scene, Batman says to a traumatized young Dick Grayson, whose parents just died in front of his eyes, and whom Batman has actually kidnapped and is taking back to the Cave - a process that takes like three entire issues, which, thanks to its shipping schedule, amounts to about six months, "What are you dense? Are you retarded or something? Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman.")
Still, Frank remains a comics master and was well on his way to single-handedly changing the face of American comics forever even before the British Invasion came along and helped him do it.
I recently had the distinct pleasure of reading (and in many cases re-reading) some of Frank's early work on Daredevil. Bear in mind that this was material from nearly 30 years ago, and that in most cases going back and trying to read comics from that period is a daunting prospect given how bad the dialogue will often be and just how simplistic the storylines are, especially in contrast to today's more "mature" comics. Reading old comics can cause so much pain as to send you spiralling into a coma.
Not so the work of Frank "The Tank" Miller - as Dave of Dave's Longbox is trying to get people to refer to him. Make some minor tweaks to the slang used, and update some of the fashions, and you could very easily put those books on the rack alongside the best work of guys like Ed Brubaker (and in front of the works of guys like Brian Michael Bendis).
Timeless, would probably be the best word, though, visionary works just as well, which is why it's only fitting that the collection of those Daredevil stories was in a book called Visionaries. When it comes to Frank, they weren't kidding.
So yeah, I can forgive him some of his recent foibles, and I will happily stand in line to see his vision on the big screen in 300.
I'll also wait impatiently for the next Sin City movie.
The movie was initially delayed by the pregnancy of Angelina Jolie who was going to play the titular (in more ways than one) role of Ava Lord in the segment A Dame To Kill For.
She was a good choice, and would have been worth the wait, but as it stands now, Angelina will not be filling that role, so they have to find a new Ava.
I've seen speculation that the part will be played by Rachel Weisz. I like her, but I don't think she's right for the part.
So now I will go on record and say that there is only one actress who can do the role justice: Scarlett Johansson.
I don't even have to go into the reasons why she's perfect for the role because they are self-evident.
So if you're reading this Robert Rodriguez (as if), get to work on casting her .
And Scarlett, if you're reading this (I think my chances of winning the lottery are better than the chances that she reads this blog, and I don't even play the lottery), go to Rodriguez and demand the part. You've said on the record that you're ready and willing to do a nude scene, so here's your chance to deliver on that promise.
(And for the record, there's always a lot of talk about nude scenes being "integral" to the story. That's very seldom the case - though I very seldom complain about it - but in this case, it really, really is integral. You need to have that scene of Ava standing there naked, exposed in her magnificence and revealing why she really is a woman that men would, have, and do, kill for.)
Beyond that, Ava is a complex and interesting character, and I suspect she would be a lot of fun to play.
So now, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Johansson, go forth and do my bidding!
(Oh, and on the topic of Daredevil and Ed Brubaker, I want to say thanks to Ed for, first of all, being Ed and just generally doing great work, and second for swooping in and cleaning up the mess that Bendis made during his Daredevil run, and for writing one of the best single issues of a comic that I've read in a long time.)
Anyway, the point of this whole thing was mostly just to show off the 300 clip, but I kind of got carried away. Oh well.
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