If only I could tell you the emails that have been zinging back and forth between Omri and me, but then, it’s so much more fun to just have an all-out blogwar.
Okay, bub. Here’s the thing. I never saw Saving Private Ryan. I have yet to see a single mob movie since the Godfather films. I took a pass on Wheels of Death, or whatever the name of the drunk-driving film was they tried to make us watch in high school. I turn off nature shows just before the orca is about to grab the penguin/sea lion/surfer dude who got in the way.
If you tell me a film is really, brutally, violent, I will tell you “Pass.” I don’t care if my going to the film is going to be the sole reason that Western Civilization survives—before I go, you are going to have to prove that to me beyond the shadow of a doubt, plus, swear that it’s okay for me to close my eyes and plug my ears and sing “I can’t HEAR you” during the really disgusting parts, plus you have to be sitting there with me and telling me when the really disgusting parts come up. Oh, and you buy the popcorn.
The fact that I can appreciate Dr. Ruth more because she was a sniper in the Israeli War of Independence has absolutely no bearing on my dislike of filmed violence. (Of course, this would have been a much funnier incident had you not remembered that I posted on her last summer, because then I would have sent you the link and yet another email zing).
And I should point out to you that I have absolutely no objection whatsoever to real, actual violence being used in self-defense, and have done violence to people who tried to do violence to me. And that included boys who picked on me (or my brothers) when I was a kid, six-three, 200-lb. guys who went after my brother when we were both in college (okay, I didn’t have to hit him, but I was across the room the second he poked my brother in the shoulder, and if our friend Ken hadn’t stopped him, I would have helped Dave beat him up), and, well, anyone who comes after me and mine. I am irrational that way. Before the thought “But gee, he’s six-three and weighs more than two of you” hits my head, I’m already in his face telling him to leave my brother alone.
So unless you or Frank Miller personally pick a fight with my brother to get me to watch this movie, I’m probably not going to see 300.
I think Western Civilization will survive.
De gustibus non disputandum est.
Or, if your taste in films doesn’t run that way, no need for you to see it. Personally, I can’t stand either chick flicks or the gratuitous violence/police vs drug dealers type of films. But, speaking of films with violence in them, Gettysburg was great. When the Irish regiment behind the stone wall rises up and pours a volley into Pickett’s men I want to cheer (I’m an unreconstructed Unionist). Martin Sheean got a plenary indulgence for his leftist stupidity from me for his superb portrayal of Marse Robert.
I liked Battle of Britain too. It had some excellent performances by Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Bf109s. Oh yes, and some of the actors had a few good lines too.
You aren’t missing out on a lot, except a lot of yelling, men fighting bare chested in capes (really bad idea) against forces of the persian empire, by way of buffy and star wars
that is the villains seem to come from buffy and star wars and maybe lord of the rings
What seems interesting is that the necessity for the suicide mission was that the rest of the Greek city states couldn’t get their act together beforehand.
Consider Cox & Forkum editorial cartoon on the matter.
People have not changed that much.
I think Omri got you.
I notice you never even bother to deny this Meryl Yourish hates …cute puppies, and rainbows
When did you start hating cute puppies and rainbows?
But she loves kittens and riding topless (the car top).
I thought 300 was awesome, but it is extremely violent. If that’s going to make you unhappy, you probably shouldn’t bother with it. You know the story, and more importantly, I suspect you understand why they died. That’s the important thing.
I have not seen 300, but from what I’ve read about it one thing annoys me tremendously. It leaves out the Thespians. This is unacceptable. The Hoplites from Thespiae made up 700 of the men who remained while the main body retreated. They fought and died with the Spartans. There was also a contingent from Thebes.
The Spartans were picked men of a military elite. All their lives were a preparation fro just such a battle. It was their apotheosis. The Thebans were probably the sum total of the anti-Persian party in Thebes (which went over to the Persians right after Thermopylae). There was no going home for them, they would just be handed over to the Persians.
The Thespians were the ordinary hoplite levy of an ordinary Greek polis. Not picked men, not outcasts from their city, they were citizen soldiers in the true sense of the term. And these men fought to the last alongside the most elite soldiers of Greece. They fought to the end for the freedom of their city and the freedom of Hellas. That’s true herosim.
When you think of Thermopylae remember Leonidas and his 300, but also remember Demophilus, Dithyrhambus, and the other Thespians.