'300' update

[trinityofone]

Well, you-know-what is coming out this weekend. I don't want to start a big thing again. But there are at least two things I feel the need to point out.

First, the movie has already sold out on Fandango. It's probably going to be big. Le sigh, you know? What can you do.

Second, however—second: this review has been posted on Slate. It backs up, almost point for point, everything I said in my review/rant/"delusional episode." I hope to see more reviews like this in the next few days.

And after that, it's up to the rest of the world to decide.

ETA: Poor Dana Stevens, who wrote the Slate review, is getting lots of hate in the comments too. *rolls eyes* You know, I like discussion, I don't mind disagreement, but I really fail to understand why people feel they have the right to be so damn rude.

(P.S. Thanks to everyone who offered congrats the other day on my decision to quit. I'm scared as hell right now and in danger of not being able to afford to eat anything but ramen for the foreseeable future, but I'm also really relieved, and all the support helps. Thanks, guys.)

Comments

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Well, Ramen is good, and if you put frozen peas in while boiling the water, it's almost a meal.

All the reviews I've seen and heard for this film have panned it. But ticket sales have been very, very strong. Maybe it'll be one of those films that does well its first weekend, then drops off hugely afterwards as word-of-mouth gets around.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I found a kind of ramen (Simply Asia) that for about 20 cents more is actually pretty good! [/Pollyanna]

Have you seen any other reviews like the Slate one, that bring up those issues? If they're out there, I'd like to make a collection...

[shoemaster.livejournal.com]

The New York Times review (http://movies2.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/movies/09thre.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fS%2fScott%2c%20A%2e%20O%2e) isn't particularly positive, either.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that touches on some of it too. *feels less crazy by the minute.* Yay!

[shoemaster.livejournal.com]

Yeah. One of my guy friends was counting down the hours until '300' and I made of him for it. He was all: You can't tell me you're not excited about it.

Me: I'm not. (Sadly, he looked flabbergasted)

[an-kayoh.livejournal.com]

Yay for mentioning that! I certainly forgot to. (I'm wondering how many idiots from the last post saw that and went "Huh")

[amireal.livejournal.com]

What I loved where the people who were using arguments that made NO SENSE to tell you how insane you were.

Just because it was a movie based on a comic based on another movie means that it couldn't have new subtext. At all.

Uh huh.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That was good, but my favorite was still all the people telling me I was crazy when they hadn't even seen the film. Good times.

Just because it was a movie based on a comic based on another movie means that it couldn't have new subtext. At all.

Clearly, these are people who did not see Children of Men. Which is too bad, because it rocked. Violence and action and drama with a purpose! Whodathunk?

[claire.livejournal.com]

Ramen and a third of a pack of frozen veges is a great meal ;) I lived on that through Uni.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

People keep mentioning this frozen veggie thing! I should look into that.

(What about protein, though? Does ramen have any?)

[mckays-girl.livejournal.com]

They have those Cup O Noodles "Souper Meals", which I think have actual meat in them

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Actual meat? Wow!

I shall look for those next time I go to Ralphs. Thanks! =)

[amireal.livejournal.com]

Hot dogs (beef franks, I stick with hebrew national) or ground turkey (or whatever is cheaper, turkey or chicken) can sautee up in like 5 minutes, add that to the ramen.

Or learn to handle beans and chickpeas.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I used to eat a lot of hot dogs in college. Not much has changed since then, actually, except I have way less free time. *sigh*

Maybe I'll start making huge batches of Roman Holiday (a family casserole) again and eating nothing else for a week.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

That's what I do! Well, I don't make Roman Holiday because, you know, not a member of your family ;) But I make large soups and casseroles that last almost a whole week. Veggies - especially if you're buying for just one specific recipe - are dirt (ha!) cheap so the most expensive part of a lot of my recipes is the protein, and turkey breast isn't too bad.

I can send recipes if you're interested, and if not, no harm no foul! I am just a big proponent of the 'throw it into a big pot, let it cook, eat it for five days' method of being single :D

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I'd love some recipes! I need to try to do more cooking and eat less processed stuff. And if you like, I can send you the Roman Holiday recipe. I'll warn you, though: it is a) not very healthy, and b) incredibly delicious. *g*

[diluvian.livejournal.com]

Psst!

http://diluvian.livejournal.com/295995.html

[frog4.livejournal.com]

Not that you know me from Adam, but:
My mom always made me stir an egg into the ramen, right at the end of the cooking time, to add protein. If you beat the egg first, and then stir it really well when you drop it in the pot, the efffect is kind of like egg drop soup. I think it's quite tasty, but I usually get a lot of funny looks for it.

She also got me this book.

My mom, um, may have been a little concerned about the ramen habit I had in high school. (http://www.amazon.com/Book-Ramen-Lowcost-Gourmet-Instant/dp/1883385148/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_1_img/104-5215077-9895962)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That egg thing has always freaked me out, but I know a lot of people do it, and it's even "authentic," whatever that'd mean in this context. Maybe I'll give it a try.

That book looks hilarious—and helpful! I'll see if I can get it for free off BookMooch...

Thanks for the advice!

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

I add fake meat products to my frozen veges, but I understand that you probably don't want to be tainted by the fakeness of soy protein. :)

Also, is it wrong that the word Leonidas always makes me think of chocolate? I need chocolate now.

[lovelokest.livejournal.com]

(What about protein, though? Does ramen have any?)

Every morning for breakfast my Dad has ramen noodles with bok choy, jalepeno and tofu. I add an egg after putting in the noodles, when done it's kinda like egg drop soup.

(I wish I knew the damn recipe, I've always made this by taste) Some tahini, mirin, soy sauce and a tiny bit of that red chile sauce that comes in a bottle with a rooseter on the side, mixed up with Ramen is very tasty. An egg whisked with soy sauce and chile on top is good too, plus adds protein.

Also quite tasty is sauteeing some onions, mushrooms and garlic and then adding a whisked egg, served on toast. Really tasty with tabasco sauce and cheese on top too.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Hmm... well, there is the chicken flavour. Maybe that "flavour" part has protein? Nah.

Actually, pasta has protein, so the ramen should have some.

Hmm...

You may need to buy the occasional can of tuna.

[anatsuno.livejournal.com]

I so, so love your icon.

(I trusted your analysis and description of the 300 then, so this is only icing on the cake! Good icing.)

[chele74.livejournal.com]

Congrats on knowing that your time there will be over very soon. :) God knows that no one should work as many late nights as you did for that paltry salary.

So...want to get drinks one of these nights? (Poor Ray is being held hostage at the office all weekend long.)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I am probably nutso for having quit without having something else lined up. But I just COULDN'T TAKE IT anymore. Yeep.

I'd love to see you for drinks! I may have a panic attack on you, but not if you get me drunk first. *g*

[chele74.livejournal.com]

Okay, emailed you, but then it occurred to me that you were having email issues a while ago...so if you don't get it, call me. (I'm just puttering around, running errands, etc.)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Can you try my new address? (I'm at work, so phone calls are kind of a no right now.) It's trinityofone at gmail.

[khyrra.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I am going to see it. It's not my idea, a group of friends are going and this is an opportunity to let my husband take me to the movies. He also cannot understand why I am not dying to see it. I just hope the popcorn is good.

[wychwood]

Go you, for being smart. We knew the complainers were almost entirely a bunch of moronic idiots, but it's always nice to see people agreeing.

[lallybroch.livejournal.com]

Late congrats on the job decision, but congrats all the same! It's totally scary to leave a job before getting a new one--I know, I've been there--but in the end, you'll be SO GLAD you did. And hey, if all else fails, I've got a spare bedroom. Er. In Minneapolis. BUT IT'S A BED ALL THE SAME! *g*

[sweetvalleyslut.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned how awesome you are for how you dealt with that? I probably would have snapped--it's outrageous how het up some people will get at the slightest suggestion that something might have political implications.

[amireal.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for an interview with the director where he admits to letting the current political climate influence him or something.

[trailer-spot.livejournal.com]

I read your original review some time ago when I saw it crosslinked somewhere which was a first sign that something's wrong with this movie. Then it got screened here in Germany at the Berlinale where almost all reviews I saw confirmed what you wrote. By then it was clear that I would cross it off the list of movies I want to see.

I also had a look at some other discussions, and as you mentioned (and experienced yourself), it's remarkable how rude some people are when it comes to defending this movie. I can understand if someone doesn't see (or chooses to ignore to see) that the movie transports a lot of questionable messages, but that doesn't mean he has to attack everybody else as stupid. (Personally, I only had a brief argument with one person who tried to convince me that it's just pure entertainment that stayed very civil. But then again, I just said that I don't want to see the movie anymore.)

You mention above that you want to collect other reviews that are also negative. When I have a look at your recent posts then I get the impression that at the moment you have other priorities, but if you're interested, just look at this collection of reviews (http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/300). Most of them are in one way or another negative. Just their arguments differ, ranging from just a repetitive, badly acted movie to US propaganda and racist/misogynist to using Nazi/commercials aestetics, etc.