This week, we had the sitting governor of Maryland on the showcast, Gov. Wes Moore, to talk about a movie of his choosing. Initially, his team sent over three options: Shawshank Redemption and A Few Good Men (which would be incredible episodes, but felt a little dry and expected from a politician)…and then 300. I’d never seen it, but Styles and I talked in the studio one day about it, and he felt like, “That dude talking about 300 would make me want to click on it. As a viewer, I’d just want to know why.”
300 is a modern take on a Greek epic, where a rogue group of 300 Spartan warriors take on a massive Persian army. They absolutely wreck shit, oftentimes in slow motion. While they lose the battle, their spirit inspires millions to fight on!!! LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOO. And now there is no Persian Empire, 2500 years later. (Not like Greece is killing it right now, tbh.)
We sat down and I really really really REALLY didn’t want to argue about this movie with a possible future presidential candidate. Best case scenario: maybe he didn’t like it either! Maybe he wanted to shit on it just like me. (UPDATE: He loved it.)
There were a bunch of questions I didn’t get to, but would’ve liked if we had time. I think there’s an interesting conversation we can have about a movie, even if I don’t necessarily like the product:
Young boys in Sparta fight wolves. They are raised in a society where to be a real man, you need to be a warrior. And to be a warrior, you can’t fear. Can fear be masculine?
What does strength look like to you?
Leonidas defies the powers that be because he believes he knows better. Tell me why that’s right or wrong.
Gov. Moore was in the army, and — just like The LOX — has understood the power of collectivism vs. individualism, and balanced both of those things. What’s the difference between a soldier and a leader?
What’s the best Greek export: olive oil, feta cheese or Zach Galifianakis?
As many of you saw, I gave the movie a 2.
Styles said it’s because I’d never been punched in the face. Maybe! But then again Fight Club works for me; so does the original Oldboy. So I don’t think it’s a thing of me being wimpy or not understanding how it feels to pummel, as A Man.
The action is repetitive, to me. It doesn’t elevate as the movie wears on.
The slo-mo doesn’t move me anymore. It did with The Matrix, for what it’s worth.
I think the worldview of the movie is very right wing; I’m (shockingly) not. But it’s not just conservative — I think it’s making an argument for fascism? There’s no nuance in this film: you have good, muscular white men and you have bad, morally weak and sexually indiscriminate brown men with nothing in between. Zack Snyder (the director) shows democracy is corrupt and that the only response is for a small military-led force to fight back behind one man, the right man. This is historically fascist storytelling and propaganda.
Some of you may say that it’s not that deep. But then it’s like, if it’s just aesthetic choices, why were those choices made? So, again, it’s just a movie but IMO it’s a bad movie with a worse worldview. The end!! BING BONG. 2 thumbs!!
Also, I looked up some other write-ups, so at least I’m not alone in my thinking. Here’s Tom Breihan for AV Club agreeing with me and here’s an entirely-wayyyy-too-long piece that says while 300 presents as fascist propaganda, it’s really not. So, I guess it’s just, like, my opinion, man © The Dude.
Alright! I have some good news. The I Love The Stack Hoodie is also available in tee shirt form — in colors ranging from red and light green to sea foam and crunchberry.
We are fixing the website, we are fixing the website, we are fixing the website. Bear with us! For now, check 2j3bd.myshopify.com for all our merch.
Here’s our updated calendar!
300 and Five Heartbeats are on Amazon for rental. Napoleon Dynamite is on Prime streaming. And Ex Machina is on Disney+ if you have it or Roku for free!
I chose Ex Machina (which — shockingly — no one has written into the Stack with???) because I think, while it isn’t a horror movie, the ending is one that sticks with you forever. It’s gonna make for an incredible convo, I think.
And that’s it! That’s all I got for you this week © Don Don aka Sheek Louch.
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And as always, here’s the form to suggest movies.
This past week, a bunch of you hit the Stack with movies:
I have good news for the guy from Brooklyn, who writes in every week asking for those four movies: we’re doing Five Heartbeats in two weeks! Recorded it last night!
And I’m trying to lock in some of the Wu guys. Ghostface and Method Man have both said they want to be on, so I need to get some more movement on those.
Also, LOL I need to see the full Eve episode. Kiss and Wood being in this is incredible. Also didn’t know Sofia Vergara was anywhere before Modern Family.
You love The Stack, The Stack loves you back. Have a good weekend!
Yo can we please have district 9
Love the Stack. Hate Jeff's review of 300.