300

[ScottotD]

I'm sure they're glad to have your blessing.

[Variety of Cells]

I tried to look more into the exposed genitalia question, but I chose the wrong place.  I figured some one on the IMDB boards might know, and my mind was almost torn apart by hateful gaybashing and hateful gaysuporting.  But I was sucked into the never ending threads in hopes that some sort of conclusion on weather or not homosexuality was accepted by Greeks would be met.  But eventually I realized that no conclusions will ever be reached on IMDB, and it was just an eternal spiral of meaningless hate and superiority complexes. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's good to be home. 

There's a lot of work done on ancient conceptions of gender and sexuality.  The general consensus in the field that I'm aware of is that "homosexual" and "heterosexual" are modern concepts which don't really describe the situation of the ancient world.  Sexual "orientation" wasn't so much who you were doing as how; as long as you're the dominant partner in the relationship (and at the right time), there's usually no stigma.  Amy Richlin has done a fair amount of work on gender and sexual identity on the Roman side, and you can look at Jeffrey Henderson's The Maculate Muse as a starting-point on the Greek side; it's a few years old now, but it starts from Aristophanic "dirty" words and progresses into conceptions of what we'd call "gay-bashing" insults, and how they were construed (and from there, how sexual identity worked).

In short, I don't think that even if Spartans did fight with "genitals exposed" (and I must again express my disbelief of this), it probably would have almost nothing to do with any conception of "gay" or "straight."  If anything, it'd have way more to do with the conception of "heroic nudity" (yes, sounds funny)--which is what you see on statues of Greek gods and heroes.  It's an artistic choice, not a reflection of reality.

Now that I've bored you all...

These are pretty nice boards overall, I must say.  The general level of discourse is pretty high, and I like that humor infuses most of the posts. I guess the MST fan-base (and RiffTrax fanbase) is a bit more discerning than that of the general public at IMDB.

There are people on the IMDB boards that would castrate you for saying that.  Apparently your assumption is based on pseudo historians that have a gay agenda.  The actual historical texts don't support that theory.  It's hard to believe anything when there are people willing to kill you for choosing a side.  Or at least mock you into submission. 

[ScottotD]

Apparently your assumption is based on pseudo historians that have a gay agenda.

...oh jeebus, tell me you're joking.

[Kiiml]

Here's ANOTHER movie about thermyopolopolae by director Michael Mann (director of Collateral)

This is probably where the exposed you-know-whats came from, or at least where I first heard it mentioned. At first I thought I was confusing Gates of Fire with 300, but I think it will actually be a whole different movie.

"Greg" from yahoo movies mentions the exposed genitalia, and also that it appeared in Frank's comic book. Then again, I don't treat yahoo's "Greg" as an expert in ancient civilizations.

Note: This is an OLD article, so the movie Gates of Fire might not even be scheduled anymore.


http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808404115



Like Imrahil said, if Spartans didn't wear clothing over their batches during combat, it wasn't because of their sexual orientation. Spartans were very proud soldiers, and probably did it for "heroic nudity" or simply because it distracted the enemy during a fight.*

"I will fight for Persia...Oh gross! He's not wearing pants!"


*dude, probably not

[davo]

i'm surprised you haters don't like this because it will get people more interested in the real history.  i know the "rome" series on hbo has gotten me really interested in ancient roman history. i didn't care at all before seeing that series.

What's with the e.e. cummings capitalization?

And I answered this "it will get more people interested" idea in an earlier post.

"Rome" is an exception; by and large it's a very good series, one of the only things that Hollywood (or the Beeb, in this case) has done in recent years that's been a nice way to treat the ancient world.  It has flaws--the way Vorenus and Pullo seem to actually have been the driving force behind EVERY major plot point in Roman history, for one--but overall it's pretty well-done.

heheh...it's faster to type that way. I will capitalize from now on if it makes you happy. OK? 

Did you see/like Deadwood? I don't know anything about that specific town or it's history,but I found that very interesting as well.

[BathTub]

Loved Deadwood, Carnivale rocked so much,  huge twist at the end then cancellation! gah! Brother Justin was awesome, got a huge laugh when I worked out it was the reporter on Prisonbreak.

[Jamin]

Like Imrahil said, if Spartans didn't wear clothing over their batches during combat, it wasn't because of their sexual orientation. Spartans were very proud soldiers, and probably did it for "heroic nudity" or simply because it distracted the enemy during a fight.*

"I will fight for Persia...Oh gross! He's not wearing pants!"


*dude, probably not

I just wanted to double check what you all mean by heroic nudity.  Ive heard from a lecture series i downloaded about ancient cultures that some societies sent their fighters into war partially or completely naked as a kind of statement about their fighting prowess, or the lack of ability of their enemies e.g. "I dont even need armour, our opponents cant hurt me!"

Also, generally speaking i think movies of comics/graphic novels tend to be so dumbed down that they let down their source material and make at best instantly forgetable movies.  I think the x-men movies got worse as they went on as they tended to move further away from keeping established characters and just simply took names of characters and bent them almost completely out of all recognition.  Also the choice of some of the actors was bad.  The beast was really well performed by the guy from Frasier, but why in the name of all thats holy did they get Vinnie Jones to play Juggernaut, at first i thought it was because they were going to play on the family connection to Charles Xavier and so needed someone English, but nope, not so, they just wanted a loud mouth buffoon.
The last film based on a graphic novel i liked was V for vendetta, there were some changes, and the graphic novel was better overall.  But for the first time in a long time i wasn't ashamed to say that i owned the graphic novel after watching it.
Its a shame Alan Moore has had such a rough ride with all his stuff thats been made into films.

Ive got to tell you all this!!!!
Type x-men into a post and spell check it, it wants to change the spelling to semen.
I think thats as good a review of the movie as your gonna find 

[PsypherPunk]

I actually am a fan of Gerard Butler, and of the style that this film is trying to portray.

A friend of my girlfriend's is utterly obsessed with Mr. Butler. To the point she's contacted his London agency trying to arrange to run his official, U.K. website and all sorts.

Personally, I just enjoy singing the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack in a thick Scottish accent 

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

Ive heard from a lecture series i downloaded about ancient cultures that some societies sent their fighters into war partially or completely naked as a kind of statement about their fighting prowess, or the lack of ability of their enemies e.g. "I dont even need armour, our opponents cant hurt me!"

ill give you a second to ponder the "why" of how come you learned about those civilaztions in a history class and not say a modern anthropology class and also further not on the 10 oclock news

personally i liked vinnie as juggie, just didnt like the lines he was fed, besides juggie is a loud mouth bafoon, thats why he wanted the powers of cytrorak in the first place, so he could be a loud mouth baffoon without consequence

As to the movie 300, personally im worried, ive never read any of frank millers work, but if this movie is gonna be as horribly mindless and hedonistic and cruel as sin city you can count me out, which sucks because ill admit they did damn good camera work.  

[J-Proof]

For anyone interested in viewing the History Channel's documentary of the battle:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

[Variety of Cells]

People give movies like 300 shit for obviously being historically inaccurate and giving the public a false view of history.  But really, historians should thank movies like this, because it allows them to get funding to make their own accurate tie-in documentaries. 

[mrbasehart]

Loved Deadwood, Carnivale rocked so much,  huge twist at the end then cancellation! gah! Brother Justin was awesome, got a huge laugh when I worked out it was the reporter on Prisonbreak.

Carnivale was brilliant.  And had the best music for a TV show I've heard ever.

[BathTub]

Loved Deadwood, Carnivale rocked so much,  huge twist at the end then cancellation! gah! Brother Justin was awesome, got a huge laugh when I worked out it was the reporter on Prisonbreak.

Carnivale was brilliant.  And had the best music for a TV show I've heard ever.

Did you see where, I think it was a composer, posted some music on the web for download?

[mrbasehart]

Loved Deadwood, Carnivale rocked so much,  huge twist at the end then cancellation! gah! Brother Justin was awesome, got a huge laugh when I worked out it was the reporter on Prisonbreak.

Carnivale was brilliant.  And had the best music for a TV show I've heard ever.

Did you see where, I think it was a composer, posted some music on the web for download?

I bought the album.   

[RandyMistie]

Look, I love women.  Women are the best thing ever; beautiful, graceful, good tasting... the most amazing work of art ever created by Nature.  And I'm in touch with my Feminine side, hell, it's part of my religion and it's how I stay married for 22 years.

But, every once in a while a real MAN's movie comes out that makes me feel good about being a MAN!  Sure there are tons of men's flicks, but not that many quality ones...  "Fight Club", "SIN CITY", "Hunt for Red October", "Gladiator", "Spartacus", "Braveheart", any James Bond movie, (please), are just a few examples of good, quality MAN's movies that make me want to fight a war in a Roman Phalanx, roaring like a crazed BERSERKER!!!

Dudes!  "300" is a movie that one reviewer said, "makes other action pics look like little girls playing with dolls..." Celebrate being a MAN with "300"!!!!

THIS... IS... SPARRRTAAAAAH!!!!!!!  I can't wait to see it again!