{"id":3635,"date":"2007-03-09T11:49:00","date_gmt":"2007-03-09T11:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brianjnoggle.com\/blog\/?p=3635"},"modified":"2017-11-29T19:30:13","modified_gmt":"2017-11-30T01:30:13","slug":"300-movie-review-as-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brianjnoggle.com\/blog\/2007\/03\/09\/300-movie-review-as-expected\/","title":{"rendered":"300<\/em> Movie Review, As Expected"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joe Williams of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch<\/i> pans<\/a> 300<\/i>, but it would be a better panning if it wasn’t so steeped in ignorance and mandatory thoughtsophistication. Choice bits:<\/p>\n

Frank Miller is the biggest name in American comic books \u2014 or graphic novels, as his fans call them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Is he demeaning graphic novels, or does he truly not know the difference between comic books and graphic novels? When in doubt, suspect ignorance, I say.<\/p>\n

Armed only with shields and hoary slogans about freedom, the Spartans repel wave after wave of Persians. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hoary slogans about freedom. Williams is above falling for those<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Persia became modern-day Iran, and it is surely no accident that the “Asian hordes” are depicted as dark-skinned degenerates. Some of the Persian warriors resemble Japanese samurai, some seem to be wearing Afghan burqas and the ruthless King Xerxes is bejeweled and effeminate. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Student of history trying to obscure the truth, or ignorant? Ignorant, probably, of the extent of the Persian empire<\/a> that would feature many of those myriad peoples. Further, Williams seems to want to obscure the fact that throughout recorded history does actually feature occasions where the dark-skinned Other did invade the lands of lighter skinned folk. Much like lighter skinned folk have done to the Other. It’s more a matter of human nature than racial or ethnic differences, although cultures have differed in their warmaking sentiments and strategy.<\/p>\n

I’d like to see the movie, and Joe Williams has never really influenced me before. I think his columns are more about his delicate sensibilities than the actual movies, but sometimes, that’s all a critic has going for him.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/b><\/font> More reviews and reviews of reviews:<\/p>\n