As the 2000s turned into the 2010s, pop culture suddenly got very greek. Zack Snyder’s 300 was a breakout success and suddenly everyone in Hollywood from the jock-bros to the history book nerds (us!) just wanted more.
NOTE: It is important to emphasize that I do not count this as a historical film. While the 300 Spartans and the hot gates is a historical battle, the movie itself was based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. Also, because it’s narrated by the Spartan Dilios – meaning likely he embellished everything (just like all good stories).
Regardless of its accuracy, 300 became an overnight pop culture phenomenon and propelled many people (including myself) into Greek/Roman history.
It could only be so long before the Hollywood Studios smelled money and started deriving something most foul: The Formula
The Formula
- Cheap but stylized CGI sets
- Slow-motion “Snyder-style” action
- Stylized Sex (and lots of it)
- The guy on poster yelling “RAWR!”
- Eclectic electric guitars doing weird things throughout.
Offender #1: Battles BC
Without a doubt, 300 reignited the public’s interest in actually learning some Greek history. As expected, History Channel saw this as an opportunity to capitalize this formula with its documentary series Battles BC. Focusing on a series of famous generals of antiquity including Hannibal, Caesar, and even figures from the Old Testament like King David and even Moses. Its emulation of 300 becomes obvious with the cheap backgrounds, over-the-top slow-mo shouting, most notably whenever a soldier dies they rotoscope cartoon images no doubt emulating Frank Miller’s graphic novel.
Battles BC however is a little self-indulgent in its violence at times. Most notable was when the episodes focus on the biblical characters. I’m surprised they were so focused on characters from the bible since it’s heavily debated as to whether or not these people existed. However, what really bothers this show seems to be more focused on making them into bloodthirsty savages than people living in a hard world and making hard ethical choices. That image above is Josuha reveling in the burning of Jericho. Yes, the bible is filled with bloody violence, but that’s what all these episodes are, almost relishing that Joshua massacred an entire city. Still, it did give a cool finale with the Battle of Marathon. It actually gave some background with the whole pit of death scenes.
Clash/Wrath of the Titans
Fresh off 300′s wake we got both Clash of the Titans (2010) AND Wrath of the Titans (2012) – and they both sucked!
Mostly it suffered from bland characters and subpar writing. Wrath of the titans certainly tries to make a grander scale and even the father of the gods Kronos appears as a giant magma monster. Unfortunately, Sam Worthington has always been a bland actor.
Honestly, the best part is seeing Zeus and Hades cause Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes in an epic bromance.
Spartacus
The only property that successfully replicates the 300 formula was the Starz original series, Spartacus. First premiering in 2009 Spartacus is a fictionalized reimagining of the famous rebel slave with the same style and tone, and its glory-gories. The CGI sets did look cheap especially in the first season given it’s a TV series, but the gladiator battles themselves are still bloody to watch.
This series is known tragically for the death of its lead actor Andrew Whitfield, so he was recast upon its second season which may throw off some viewers. Indeed the new Spartacus actor Liam Macintyre has more of the Leonidas feel, than the captive every man feels Andy Whitfield carried. It’s like they are completely different characters. Nevertheless, Spartacus is essentially a Roman continuation of 300 we never thought we deserved but needed.
300’s “ehhhhhhh” Return
In 2014 300 returned to the big screen again in a parallel film Rise of an Empire that focuses on the Athenians. It’s interesting to see pre-gunpowder ship-to-ship engagement as the only real weapon the ship has was a battering ram. Unfortunately, Zach Snyder wasn’t in the director’s chair this round so we get 100% that Snyder looks like an imitation. Another problem is the colors are so desaturated that sometimes I can’t tell what’s happening. Also, the actor they got to play Athenian admiral Themistocles is no Gerard Butler. Furthermore, you can tell some of the returning actors have clearly gotten older since 2007. Eva Green at least is hamming it up as the villain.
Legend of Hercules
“Hey kids! Do you want to see a PG-13 version of 300?
No? Well, I’m here to put this cringe back into your consciousness.
2014 saw not just one but two Hercules movies. You may know the average-rated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson movie of that summer, but in the dumping ground of January, there was another film released just 5 months earlier which is easily the worst adaptation of the Hercules myth put to the big screen. Enter, The Legend of Hercules.
Not only are the effects terrible, but they also are not stylized in a way that makes it visually unique like 300. You know what’s worse than bad visual effects, bad effects in 3D. all the acting is just wrong. The only actor that was entertaining was Scott Adkins as the villain who looks almost like an evil Leonidas. As said before this was but this was PG13. This film is honestly trending the line towards Asylum levels of bad. So bad it’s hilarious to watch how inept this movie is. It actually is fascinating how someone tries a PG-13 adaptation of something supposed to be rated R.
Sum-up
Unfortunately(?) this has died off like any other fad. The green screen over-the-top slow-mo thing isn’t really in vogue for movies these days, where it’s almost become a parody of themselves. Nevertheless, 300 has made its mark on cinema history and is what got young people like myself into ancient history.
