300
If it’s from Hollyweird, it’s just fantasy and fiction. Period.
Just think of it as a Cecil B. De Mille “slasher” movie…
Molon Labe!
Leonidas’ words to Xerxes.
Translate roughly to “Come and take them”,referring to their arms.
This NRA member loves that saying so much that i have a bumper sticker that says just that,
Molon Labe!
Thermopylae was a real battle, not fiction.
So who cares that they had to jazz it up for the box office.
I can’t wait to see this movie!Extra Bonus Points to the producers for offending Moslem Arian Fascists with the truth!!!
Victor Davis Hansen gives a good analysis of the movie over at National Review Online.
Many of my students have seen the movie and come to class pumped up about History. When the movie is available on DVD, I’ll use portions of it in class. I’ll do a “History vs Hollywood” exercise placing the movie in historical context by comparing historical truth to Hollywood “truth”.
As a history teacher, I use movies as a vehicle to teach history because most of my students have seen them prior to entering the classroom. However, Hollywood most always gets it wrong. So my responsibility is to help my students examine the movies and show how the truth compares to Hollywood entertainment.
When you enter a movie theater, don’t expect history, expect entertainment. Be an informed viewer so you my seperate fact from fiction.
Posted by MAJ Mike
03/23/2007 at 07:59 AM
I don’t think they spoke English, either.
According to one source I read, there was no word for “individual” in the ancient Persian language. The Greek victories in the Persian Wars had an immense impact upon the future.
The statements about “...fighting in the shade...” and the response to the Persian demand to surrender their weapons (”...come and get them...") are based on historical fact and are typical of Spartan “gallows humor”. They would have responded in such a manner to horrible odds.
Spartan society was brutal and vicious. They enslaved an entire city-state and murdered them at will. Their society was based upon a sort of democratic oligarchy wherein citizens determined the course of governmental action. Their actions at the “Hot Gates” and later at Platea earn our admiration.
Watch the movie for its deeper message of resistance to tyranny and the triumph of individual freedom. Remember, the Persians are still out there and only desire our submission.
Posted by MAJ Mike
03/24/2007 at 09:21 AM
BRAVO to Stan and MAJ Mike!
Stan: I use Molon Labe as my sig in email, WHERE did you find it on a bumper sticker???
MAJ Mike: I am an ardent student of history, and you are correct in your assessment. The one thing stands out that DIDN’T happen was the political in-fighting about whether to send troops to Thermopylae.
To everyone else, 300 ROCKS! The movie is awesome on so many levels. The themes about freedom, and standing up for what is right. About not taking lordship over your fellows at the cost of their freedom, and your sovreignty.
Piss on those “persians” offended by the movie. For I know THEY certainly go out of THEIR way not to produce material that makes America out to be something its not.
Agamemnon:
Here’s a link to the ΜΩΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Sticker,
http://ragingdave.blogspot.com/2004/06/molon-labe.html
Raging Dave seems to be down,
but you get the idea.Others are available on http://www.cafepress.com
