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300 is an action movie based on the same-titled graphic novel by Frank Miller. It took three months to film the action, and over a year to produce the animated features and sepia feel of the film. While based on the Battle of Thermopylae, Miller makes no bones that this is not history--it's his own magical blend of history and fantasy. Gerard Butler plays Leonidas, King of Sparta, who defies the approaching Persian army under the direction of their god-king, Xerxes.
This is perhaps the most testosteroney film I've ever seen, in a really good way. The look and feel of the film is beautiful, the action is non-stop, and there's a heroine who more than holds her own with her king in a fairly romantic love story.
What's to love? Butler's performance, and to back that up, Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes. Nonstop action, blood and guts. If you're squeamish, this might not be the one to see, but for me, it was not as violent as, say, the opening to Saving Private Ryan. It's not realistic, although it is graphic. And finally, there are extremely hot men in leather underpants. Need I say more?
What's not to love? If you can't take off the historical accuracy glasses OR if you can't stand the typical comic book 'relevancy' lines--stuff that makes the story applicable to today's society--don't see it. Otherwise...enjoy!
Things just don't last as long as they used to. This past week, my transmission failed. The car is only 5 years old (and, naturally, just out from under warranty). Setting aside the asanine service manager who didn't actually believe me when I said my transmission was slipping UNTIL I asked him if he'd let his wife and kids drive around in my car for a couple days...
Aren't these things supposed to last longer? In general, don't you remember your parents having a car for 8-10 years? Now, we live in such a disposable society, that you just go get a new one when something goes wrong with the old one. Things aren't as well made as they used to be, or so it seems. I can't decide whether it's because the consumer no longer demands it, or if the quality has just gone downhill. Maybe both.
So that was my week, and will be my week looking down the pike. I did find a reputable mechanic, highly recommended, to rebuild the transmission rather than replacing it for a butt-load of money. I guess I should have done that before anything ever went wrong.
This time of year, my muse tends to want to...watch men's college basketball. I fell asleep during the NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket show, mostly because I'm just back from EPICon. And that damn daylight savings time trauma. Two conference highlights: meeting one of my long-time critique partners (below), Pam, who was also an Eppie finalist this year, and Sherrilyn Kenyon's keynote address.
I also found time to do some reading. I finished Octavia Butler's Fledgling, her final book, and a new twist on vampires. While it's not a romance, if you're a fan of fangs, you must. Let me toss in a reminder that Lifetime will air a new series, Blood Ties at 9 p.m. EST Sundays, starting tonight, March 11. Let me know what you think.
Then at the conference, I hijacked Pam's copy of Phoenix, by new author Richard Satterlie. We met Richard at the conference, and I finally pinned down that he looks like my friend's brother in law (Roland, he does look like Blair, doesn't he?). Anyway...he has an interesting academic background, and Phoenix, while it also is not a romance, has long stretches as a convincing western, and will give you a glimpse into something women don't see often--the complexities of the father/son relationship. His next book, Something Bad, will be out in July.
On tap for me this week? I received my edits for Bootlegger's Bride (which you can actually read a little more about here). I've been naughty and not yet done my taxes. Anyone else not done their taxes yet? And who's seen 300? I hope to get there this week!