politics in the shade

3000 was a bit disappointed, I think, but I rather enjoyed 300. It's one of the coolest looking movies, in terms of "visual effects" and like cinematography, I think I've ever seen. The script was a bit hokey, but what can you do. Plenty of blood and gore.

What struck me, though, that I wasn't expecting was the politics in the movie. Now, if you don't care, or don't want to have the movie ruined by politics (like when the hippies tried to ruin Episode III for me by insisting that Chimpy McHalliburton is a Sith lord [which, what a ridiculous thing to argue about, in retrospect; it still makes me bristle and harumph (I do these things now, as an old man) every time I see what should be a dramatic high point of the movie, and indeed, of the entire series; and I resent that]), you can just skip right on to the next solipsistic rant about cow farts or whatever it is I'm on about this week.

But feeling, as I do, that conservative and, particularly, pro-war sentiments are underrepresented in the mainstream media, it's worth pointing out that 300 provided exactly that. Indeed, provided to such an extent that those paragons of pacificsm, the Germans, suggested that the movie was funded by the Bushies! Although it seems there is some debate on whether Bush is Leonides or Xerxes, I think it's difficult to put aside the points that, basically, a man who is seen by much of the world as a macho warmonger is hell-bent on defending his land and his way of life against crusading Persian hordes while routinely using "Freedom!" as a rallying cry. Of course, those of a different political stripe will latch onto Xerxes as "God-King," believing, as they do, that contemporary America is in the malignant grips of a theocratic dictator who crushes all dissent and insists on absolute loyalty. More...

Moreover, the Spartans are portrayed as strong, upright and conservative - there's even an image of Leonidas in the pose of a Christian martyr - whereas the Persians are depicted as effete, weird and decadent, all kinky and body-pierced. No wonder, then, that the Persians were lousy soldiers, victorious only because of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and outright betrayal. Indeed, the most sinister figure in the film is a Spartan politico who specifically identifies himself as a "realist."

And so go the parallels today, where for many Americans "realist" is code for "cynical," "cowardly" or, worst of all, "French." These Americans believe the United States is destined to lead an epochal struggle against the forces of evil - led by Iranians, aka Persians - in the Middle East.

The "realist" senator is the other point I wanted to make. I liked the "Leonides started this war"/"No, Xerxes started this war" interchange. Also, I thought it was interesting that he was so blatantly bought off. While I certainly don't suggest that all current foes of the American foray into the Middle East are universally corrupt, I do think it's important to point out that some politicians are exactly that, and that the UN's Oil For Food program provided the gold coins.

Anyway. I'm gonna go do some sit-ups. Those Spartans were fucking ripped.