I've been trying to take it light.
Elizabeth Wright has some unkind words, namely 'sanctimonious', for people whose philosophy she barely grasps, especially mine. But I've been trying to be chilled out about that. I have a forthcoming essay on pansy pundits which should handle some of her outrage and perhaps put her in a box. But I think she's trying to moderate a fight whose purposes she finds strange and thus is being moderate for the sake of moderation. Fortunately she only hurls her ponderous punditry every six weeks or so. You might wade through it but I doubt you'll learn much. Me, I just got annoyed.
I'm much more comfortable saying what I'm for than what I'm against. Unfortunately what I'm for is very complex so you're only likely to get it in bits and pieces. One nice chunk of it I found much to my surprise in the subtext of the movie that's going to kill at the box office this weekend; 300. Because of this, I find it much easier to chill. The more people that get the import of this film, the happier I will be, and the less I have to pontificate.
There are going to be frat boys and girls all around this country from Michigan State to San Jose State to Sudbury, Ontario who are going to be hooting it up as diehard cultists for this film. You see when all is said and done, this is going to be celebrated as one of the best sword battle flicks of all time, but beyond that it is a story of warriors who would dare defy and defend their home against attack. The defense of liberty is so deeply woven into this tale you'd think it was scripted in order to remind the Nancy Pelosis of the world what free men are made of. I expected to see a combination of Gladiator and Sin City, but that was just the look, instead I got all that and the feel of a classic for those who understand that the price for freedom is courage.
What's even astounding about this flick as you watch the backgrounding and mythologizing of the Spartan code is that as brutal as these warriors are, you still cannot but marvel at their courage and bravery. One must know that a fearless man cannot be courageous, and yet you realize that indeed they remain men and that they must contemplate at all times the meaning, value and weight of their lives. What a stern reminder. I haven't been able to find a quote given by the Queen of Sparta in her appeal to the better judgement of the complacent Spartan Senate, but that's one for the books.
If I haven't mentioned it, my sojourn in Philly has given me a new taste for military history and the History Channel, which at least these days isn't totally dominated by the same archive footage of things going boom in the mid 40s Pacific Theatre. Of course my renewed appreciation of Washington helped and so too 300 has given me a swift kick in that direction. This is a worthy film that will raise a critical ruckus in the 'sphere, millions of eyebrows around the country and dozens of millions of dollars in its lifetime. I'll gladly buy this one when it comes around.
Now I'm going to relish asking my liberal brother if he prefers this one to Sin City.
After Amazing Grace this makes two great movies this year so far. I'm thrilled. I very may well go see it again. Best sword fight scenes since... Die Another Day. More gritty battle than Gladiator and Braveheart. No overwrought acting, although the narration gets a little airy. Way, way better than 'Troy' which I actually found enjoyable if long, and really excellent martial arts choreography here - on the level of top notch Chinese action.
This film is just luxuriously lurid with images that are soaked in color. There are nearly as many spectacular warriors, monsters and beasts as in LOTR. It is flat gorgeous filmmaking, and the audience cheers. There's not more you can ask for from a movie. It makes me feel good, it will make my ideological foes squirm and babble, it will make the nation talk.
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