300 (That movie about warrior Spartans!)

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie 300. Yes, it was very bloody, and yes it looks rather like a comic book come to life, but I was warned about these possible short-comings, and took them in stride.

I loved the fearless spirit and incredible discipline of the 300 Spartan warriors who staunchly held their ground against all manner of attack by the massive invading Persian army, numbering in the tens of thousands. I didn't necessarily love the numerous decapatations and impalations, but it is a film about war, and I appreciated the artistry of the scenes ("a ballet of death" according to producer Deborah Snyder).

My only problem related to this film is the way it has been unjustly criticized by people reading too much into it. To me, it's just a film about fierce and noble warriors standing up to tyranny to defend their homes and families, but I have heard viewers and reviewers describe it as an allegory to the Iraq war, and as being rife with homoerotic themes--none of which even remotely occurred to me the entire time I was watching the film.

I could maybe understand the Iraq war allegory if the invading Persian army was identified with the Americans, but the people I have talked to, and the reviews I have read see the Spartan warriors as analagous to the Americans.

I am truly surprised that anyone would think this. In 300, the invaders are the Persians. They are tyrannical, they want to take over the world, and they are confident in their ability to do so. In the Iraq war, the invaders are the Americans. They want to control the world's economics (including oil), and they are confident that their way of life ("freedom", democracy) is the best. In 300, the Spartans are defending their homeland. In the Iraq war, it is the Iraqis who are trying to survive and protect their community from the tyranny of American control.

As far as homoeroticism, the primary source of this perception is the powerful Persian king's repeated attempts to have the Spartan king kneel before him. I understand how kneeling in front of someone can have sexual connatations, but anyone who's ever been an adolescent (or hung around with some of my college friends) knows that anything can have sexual connatations. In this film, kneeling is about submitting one's country; ("Earth and Water", as the Persian king's messenger says near the beginning of the film.)

Faulty interpretations aside, I have great respect for 300 as a film; as a dazzling piece of art about great people.