Something about 300 (no big spoilers, dont worry)?

Question

Warning: No huge spoilers, but I do talk about some of the fight scenes. Theres like 70 minutes of battle, but I feel I should still warn people.

Normally, I doubt many people would find such manslaughter to be funny. In fact, when Leonidas kicks the messanger in the well, a part of me said "That guy just got owned," and another said "...dude was only a messanger! chill out! damn!"

What makes scenes where a guys leg is chopped off hilarious in a movie? Like the part where Leonidas was just muchin on his apple like it was all good, but they were stabbing guys in the background? I chuckled. In fact, that just might be my favorite scene because of its irony.

Now, same situation in real life, and I would probably throw up in my mouth a little, walk aimlessly for a minute or two, and pass out.

So, is it because people know that it is just fake images that they are able to laugh at it, or at least shrug it off? Or is there something else?

Answer 1

I seen this movie last weekend and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I Knew it was a battle between Greek(Spartans)and Persia. I also knew its producer was a "B" flick king.I didn't know this was based on some kind of animation ?

Anyway, the gore was just beyond belief, I remember whispering that it was laughable it was soooo gory in the usual "B" flick fashion.
The storyline was confusing save that there was to be some great battle to come shortly.The movie DID depict the Spartans as warriors of the highest order, and one felt a sense of admiration for their character & loyalty to Country & one-another.
I couldn't help but notice all the similarities to many other movies in 300.
Like:
1- The comparison of the hunchback willing to help Leonidas to smeegle in Lord of the Rings.
2- The likeness to the movie "Alexander the great" and the wardrobe of the persians in that movie.(maybe they stole that wardrobe?)
3- The likeness to the movie "Troy" when the King makes love to his queen before battle,much like Achilles did with the sun-godess.
4- And of course the bravado of the King much like Russell Crowe's Character in gladiator.

I'm not taking anything away from the acting performance of any of the actors/actresses.On the contrary,I thought they were stellar,This movie relied wayyyy too much on the gore and battle, than any kind of plot.

I can only think that it would've been different had I read the book (comic?) this was adapted from ?

Answer 2

For a live action film, '300' was really stylized - they made a conscious effort to make it like the graphic novel, with all the conventions a graphic novel uses. I think that created enough distance between the events on screen and the viewer that they were able to revel in it.

Remember, we're the same species that dug on gladiatorial combat; there's at least an ember of a love of violence in us.

If you're an ordinary suburban American, the only violence you see is as a part of entertainment - sports, movies, TV. So that's probably more of the disconnect there.

Answer 3

Well you have to realize that when we go to see the movie we know its untrue. Also even if its a real life documentary its still a video, so we percieve it as entertainment more so than real life. If you were actually there watching them slaughter like mad men you would definitely throw up a little walk around a bit and pass out.

Answer 4

it's a cartoon dont you get it ?