Cinepals - 300 (2006) Movie Reaction and Review! | Gerard Butler | Lena Headey | Zac Snyder

Episode Date: August 1, 2024

Achara & Kristen watch "300," an epic historical action film that dramatizes the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 warriors make a legendary stand against the massive Persian army led by Xerxes. This film is directed by Zack Snyder (Man of Steel & Watchmen) & it stars Gerard Butler (Olympus Has Fallen & The Phantom of the Opera), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones & The Brothers Grimm), Dominic West (The Wire & The Affair), David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings series & Van Helsing), Michael Fassbender (X-Men series & Shame), and Rodrigo Santoro (Westworld & Love Actually). You can watch the cut down reaction to this movie (and many others) on our YouTube channel https://www.YouTube.com/@Cinepals and the full length reaction is available on our Patreon page https://www.Patreon.com/JabyKoay   SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS ~CINEPALS~ YouTube: @CinePals Insta: https://instagram.com/TheCinePals Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCinePals ~KRISTEN STEPHENSONPINO~ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/Kris10Kesp ~ACHARA KIRK~ Twitter & Insta: @AcharaKirk

Senna. What's up, everyone? Welcome back. It's Achara Kirk, joined by Kristen Stevenson Bino. So full disclosure, I've seen this movie. I loved this movie when it came out. I've seen it quite a few times, but it's been a long, long time since I've seen it. I have not seen it in recent years.

This is Kristen's very first time watching 300. So watch her reaction. I'm just here for the giggles and the fun. So you guys know what to do. If you want to watch the whole thing with us, join us on Patreon. If not, just enjoy this cut down. Just there, the barbarians huddle.

Knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered, and the swords and spears at 300. Yet they stare now. Across the plane. And 10,000 Spartans. Holy shit. Wow. If we had that from the start, nobody, uh, yeah.

So set. Sometimes it takes the sacrifice of 300 men to. Yeah, which makes the name. Yeah. We rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny. And us are in the future brighter than anything we can imagine. Give thanks, man. To Leonidas and the brave 300.

The victory! y'all ifs with the wrong people yep i want more wow you like that i loved it yeah oh my gosh tell me i heard anthony told me before we started that a lot of people in military and stuff like that love this film yeah i can see why they love it so much because of the unity the you know the honor but also the brotherhood of the whole thing like it's this film is so freaking gnarly yeah and it's like

but it's but it's so damn cool to see I mean I've seen a lot of films that are from that time era whatever I've never seen a film like that though oh you mean like when you say from the time era like from that period period yeah so I've seen a lot of films from this period time

but I've never seen one like this that's so die hard on a whole other level of like the unity, the strength, like the strength that these men pulled from each other. But not only that as an individual and how they've had to make it to be a Sparta, you know, it's like it's a right. It's an honor to even be one. You can't just be one. You know, you're not just born into it. You get born into it. You got past the baby test. then from there you get thrown in and you have to fight off like others right

yeah then you have to and then it's against you and the world and then you make your way back and it's like no you have to earn your spot and they're really they're really going down and taking the strongest of the strong in a whole other way that I've never even like I'm just like wow

like that's pretty intense I think it's definitely glorifying Sparta and Spartans because yeah watching this you really feel like it amps you up you know it does like yeah you know and it's been a really long time since I've watched this and I was wondering if I would still

enjoy it and I still do because it still makes you feel all of those things you know and I think it's a testament as well to like the great acting I think that Gerard Butler was so perfect he is that king that you would go into battle yeah 100% 100% that guy and I think there's such it's like perfect casting he's you know this hardened Scotsman who I think I believe that Scottish guys

are you know I think they're gnarliest guys out there oh for sure yeah like I think they're some of the hottest guys too like personally like I love a good Scottish a Scottish man slide into her DMs anyway please please oh my scots come at me please prove your scott yes prove you prove your scottish send me a voice message but like there is something about him that is just I feel like that essence of like mailness manliness hardness hardness comes out and so as the king who has all of that plus he's got the honor and everything about him that is just so regal. He is perfect as Leonidas.

100%. I thought he was so great. And then, like, Lena Hedy as the queen as well, she was... Beautifully casted. Amazing. She's so powerful and strong. I actually was not expecting her to be the one to off him. Oh, yeah.

I was expecting the troops to come in and, like, you know, we would have backup, whatever. And then when he came back, there was, like, more politics of war. I wanted it I wanted more honestly I still want more and the fact that they just were like nah she's gonna be the end of you she's gonna repeat the exact same words you had spoken to her

like when you violated her like I'm just like god damn you guys I love her because she is fierce as well she's scary yeah she's definitely scary and it's I love that you can see the loving nature

of them as well as their harshness and like they're the strength that they have yeah like it's it's a they they balance that very well and they're respectable yeah i think the reason why like you you kind of hook into the story so much is you know we get to spend a long time with these characters we understand where they're coming from and then there's also that additional layer of the actual loving relationship between the king and the queen and so like you really feel it also his disciples, like, you know, like his people. Yeah.

Like, you feel the love. You feel like the brotherhood. And I didn't, you don't feel like he's like just a king. You feel like this is my brother. Yeah. This is my family. Like, with all of them, you know. And I loved the part where we were under our shields.

And then that, you know, the sun starts laughing. And he's like, and they're like, why are you laughing? This sucks. And he's like, hey, we're fighting in the shade. Remember? Ha, you know, but lap. And, like, the joy that it brought to them to be like, yeah, we're good, we're good. That's right.

We are fighting in the shade. It was almost like this hype, this boost. Yeah. Damn, we're so invincible. Like, I don't know. Like, there's some, there's so much power in who they are. And, like, I feel like they've come such a long way that it's like, no, you earn your spot in this world.

Like, not only did you just earn your spot. Like, you fought through everything and you're still those bad. battles were so intense and how they just were like they just kept going and going and going and building these walls it was almost like it's it's like almost comical because it's almost like ha is that all you got come at me come out we want more we want more and that spirit the spirit of it was just you can't help but love it you can't help but go oh my gosh like i you yeah the situation sucks but you guys your spirit and your comical like the way you're seeing things

and the way they're you know like it's comical it's it has that comical relief about it but you're also like fuck we might die let's you know what we're going to die we're going to die together oh yeah let's how many did you get you know and you're and you're just kind of like it is what it is but and then when you get there it's almost like you're drawing strength through the comic the comical relief between each other

well yeah like that bond and then you're like like, it's like a re-boost. Yeah. Because it is, it's their, it's their job. Like, I love that part when, when they come up against the other Greeks and they're all like, what, you only brought 300 men? Oh my gosh. And then, and then they're like, okay, yeah, but what are you? What do you do? What do you do? Yeah, we're Sparta. We brought more than you. Like, we're warriors. So one of us is worth like a hundred of you, basically. I love that when he said that. He was like, I brought more warriors than, like, I brought more than you. I have way more. That, this film is badass, man.

This is a strong, I, I'm obsessed. I think this is my favorite Zach Snyder movie, and I've seen a lot. But I think the reason why I like this one is because it has all of those things that Zach Snyder is really good at. It's like visually, he's so good at showing this kind of stylized picture. And I know that this is based off a comic, right? Like it's based off a graphic novel by Frank Miller. And so you get that sense of like it feeling like a page of a comic book coming to life.

Like especially with the high contrast look and like this movie as well, I think they used a slow-mo really well. And I feel like because this is fairly early on in Zach Snyder's career, he hasn't gone too crazy with the slow-mo yet. Like if you watch any of his recent stuff, which I'm not sure if you have. But it's like, slow-mo up the wazoo. Like, guy, you need to calm down with the slow-mo. But for whatever reason in this movie, it works. Like, when you watch those guys, like, with all their muscles and everything, and they're coming at it, and they're just, like, fighting all of the enemy and stuff like that.

It's like, it's really rousing to watch them do that, and it works so well for this. The special effects were insanely amazing. What I also love about this is, The glorious death of them, if you're going to go down, right, if I was fighting the way they were fighting, and I went down by like a thousand arrows versus one like, sa! Right? That's glorious. I think they gave them some solid deaths. They, they like fought hard. They fought hard to where it's, I love that they made it to where it was like they defeated the impossible over. and over again, if you're going to give a death for these men, it better be something where it's like almost impossible to survive. Right. And even though what I loved about it is that we have already done the impossible that it still gave us hope even though we were going down.

And I kind of love that idea of like, okay, there's two of us, three of us, we can still do this. Right. You know, like, and I felt like that's me feeling that way. and thinking that way, I feel like that is what a Spartan thinks and feels, like authentically believes it. And with that belief, that pushes you to do the impossible. You know what I mean? Yeah. Does that make sense?

Yeah. I think it, like, probably really speaks to a lot of American values as well, like the values of freedom and liberty and all of that, because that's what they're fighting for. Justice for all. Exactly. And it's like it's really inspiring and also like to hear that story like how it ends, you know, where it's like he leaves the guy who's the best storyteller to immortalize and turn them into legends so that in turn they can inspire a whole new group of people to save Greece, to protect Greece and like that's their sacrifice. but it's immensely inspiring to hear that story

and be like, I could be like them. It was such a smooth move to be like, you have other gifts among us and you need to use it. Like, what a wise. So wise. I could go on and on about this film and how glorious it is and how, like, I'm like, I want to be a Sparta woman.

I want to be a Spartan woman. I could totally see you as a Spartan woman. Oh, I would totally be a Spartan woman. I would be like, like like I don't know like I'm like it's so inspiring and so freaking cool and there was parts where I'm like I want to throw up you know but at the same time I'm like I don't want to disregard our hunchback of Notre Dame how was it the strength he held in and that glare he gave him and from there he says I hope you live a long life and I almost feel like you know

You know, when the hunchback heard that, he could feel the shame. Yeah. He could feel the, oh, my gosh. Yeah, live a long life with a shame. Live, I hope you live the longest life. And he's going to sit there. And it's going to be with the biggest regret and shame and dishonor to his father and his mother who saved him. And it's like, I almost feel like that goes back to, okay, yeah, they flee to keep this child.

Right. It's almost like, see, you were not meant to. Like, there's so much meaning. behind that and but it's also in a weird way almost merciful to be like and I say that and I say that because if he wanted to he could have just been like you traitor so all right let's go and he could have ended them yeah they left him be yeah you know what I mean they didn't even touch him and I feel like so in a weird way it is like the ultimate like damn that sucks like that hurts but it's also like if it was me I'd be like damn they could have off me and then

And they're showing this mercy, but also cursing me with the worst curse ever. But I did it to myself. It's like it really, I feel like it was very clever because it makes you think so many different things. And if I was him, I would be so in my head more ways than one. Right. That I, even after receiving all this stuff that has been given to me, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Yeah. And it ruins everything.

Yeah. You know, where before he was living among them. Well, he wasn't really, he wasn't really living among them. No, not really, but I'm just saying like among them from the distance. Right. Let's just say among them from the distance. Keeping an eye on things, whatever. He wasn't with them?

Yes. When I say that, I mean, like just in general, like he was living among them from a bar. Yep. And during that moment, all he did was have that pride and like, I want to be this. I want to be this, you know, and he had dreams and hopes and like all that's gone. Yeah. Everything, all, any hopes of. any redemption, anything he, and it's interesting because he gave him that choice to have that

by helping the injured and, like, he gave him that opportunity to have that, even though it wasn't what he want, how he wanted to achieve it. Yeah. He still gave him that option and he, he fumbled it. Yeah. I mean, that's why I think as well, that was like a really great character moment for Leonidas, too, because he showed his wisdom and his mercy in a way. Yes.

because, you know, the captain was all, like, get rid of him. Get rid of him. And he's like, no, let me listen. And he did treat him with a lot of respect and kindness because he's just like, bro, like, you can't lift your shield. Yeah. Like, I can't have you on my team in that way because you can't lift your shield. Do you understand how that's a problem?

Yes. Yeah, you're right. Like, his pride got in the way. Mm-hmm. But I also kind of love that aspect of the story, too, because, like, there's two things about the story that kind of turn it into this like whole fully blown Greek tragedy to me, which is the first off, the thing where they go to the oracle. He goes to the Oracle.

He goes against it. And yeah, and she's like, don't go to war. And he's like, okay, well. We're going to die anyways and we're going to lose. Yeah, so I'm going to go to war. So he goes against the words of the Oracle, which is like strike one. And then the second one is in a way he kind of had a hubris of his own. which was believing that they were undefeatable

because like no one was going to find out about this goat path but he in a way led that guy to Circuses but it was like he did it in the nicest possible way you know and so like there was just a whole confluence of things that were that were kind of going against him

and even at the beginning of the movie it's like you know you know that they're all going to die because it's being narrated from the point of view of that one-eyed soldier. The strength of the movie is that even though you know that all of these guys are going to die, and if you know like the story, the original story from history or whatever, you know that they all die. However, you keep rooting for the characters. You want them to win so badly.

Even though you know it's a lose-lose, you still, you're still. Isn't that interesting? Even, okay, if I was to go into battle right now. Yeah. Okay. this film makes you go okay even if we know the outcome yeah like we already see it we've seen it and say we get placed in it i honestly i would still continue to be on their team i would go to war for it because i feel like what they believe in what they stand for is so powerful right that it's like

honestly no that's like the best decision ever because now look look you know yeah it takes a little bit of time but if somebody doesn't start it who's going to be able to finish it right you know at the end of the day. And I think that in itself is also powerful. If you can have something where you're like, I know I'm doomed and I see it or seeing it or whatever and I'm still like, like you said, you know, you're rooting for them. That just shows we, you and I would still show up at that battlefield.

Sure. And be like, you know what? I get it. But it's so honorable and so freaking like powerful. It's like you want to be a part of that. You want to be in that history. You want to be that person that paved that way. You know what I mean?

I might be more like an Arcadian. Oh, okay. Well, I'm, I'm, I'm, you actually, you know what, knowing it char as she would be. Yeah. But I know myself. Okay, I know myself. I'm definitely a Spartan.

Like that, I think everybody who knows me actually knows me, they know. Yeah. I'm definitely like. You will, you will fight. Oh, I will fight till I have no. Yeah. Man, why am I like this?

Ah! I'll be like, I'll fight if the, you know, the reason's right. But I'm, I'm definitely. not full on Spartan like that but I can appreciate it for sure I'm that person I'm like that die hard like oh we're going it's a go done all right let's hold my earrings let's go all right let's go no I have like the funniest story because I got in this by a long time ago at Walmart of all places and I remember this girl she was like huge man and she was like tapping her foot and she's like and I'm like what is that and I look over this is a big hoaimo girl

And I just remember my sister and her friend who would not hurt a fly. Like, they're like the biggest, like, sweetest people. And I'm like, oh, I was like, Kelly, Julie, you know, watch out. Like, move aside. So they move to the side. And the girl walks by, she gives attitude. She's like, yeah. And I've already had it up to here with the rudeness.

And so, like, if you're from Hawaii, you know this. Like, you know, you got the whole holly thing. You get fed up, right? All right. You know. If you know, you know. And so I was so fed up and I just got done being sick. and I just remember I looked over and I was so pissed

and I was like yeah I was like no I think the word you're looking for is excuse me not yeah she I heard her cart skit like it went I'm not even over exaggerating and she turns around and she's like she's got you know busted teeth like you could tell like she throws out okay and she turns around and I'm like ah shit and she's like the eff you say to me you and I was like I'm turning my back straight I'm like, all right, we're going to war. And I'm like, lift it up.

I'm like, like a peacock, like, like a little parakeek or something, like one like this, like maybe it'll make me look bigger. And I was like, you heard me. I didn't stutter. And she's like, say it again. Say it again. So she's like walking and like, man, I'm going to die today. This girl is going to kick my ass.

And I had this umbrella because it was raining outside and you push a button, you know, the one that goes, yeah. So I'm like, all right, I can throw down to a certain extent, but there's no way this woman. Like, there's no way I'm going to. win this fight. I know when I'm going to lose. And she's like, I'm counting your steps. I'm like one more step. Bang, hit her in the face, go for the legs, get a jab, and then you die. I'm okay with that. As long as I can say, I got some hits in there, we're good. I'm going to tell you guys something right now. There is a God and he loves me because her mother showed up. It was 10 times

that she has grabbed her by her neck like this, pulled her back. And I'm like this, like getting ready, you know? And my mom's on the side like, ah! And my sister's like, because I'm right. And I'm like, you know, like I'm not moving. Her mom, like, wax her in the head and goes, hey, stay away from her. She turns around. They're walking away. My dumb ass big mouth goes, yeah. Keep walking.

And I'm like, oh, Kristen, shut up. Like, this is word vomit. Like, this is why you're going to die and you're going to deserve it. Like, you don't know how to shut up. And so she turns around. And then her mom turns around. And I'm like, not budging. And her mom looks at me, looks me up and down, looks at my mom.

mom, my mom's grinning from your ear like, ah, ha ha, ha, ha, you know, and, and the lady looks at her, she looks at me, goes like this, she starts laughing, starts laughing at me, because she knows, she looks at her daughter, she looks at me again, she starts laughing, because she, she knew, we all knew I was going to die, and she goes, ah, she goes, respect, and I'm like this, she, they leave, they leave, and my step-tag is over, he's like, good job, Kristen, you showed and you weren't scared? I'm like, you don't? I think I was scared? Like, oh, no, if I didn't go to the bathroom before we came to Walmart, I would have peed my pants right there and then. And so then my sister's friends like, Kristen, why didn't you run? And my younger sister's

like, because she's stupid. Kristen doesn't run from anything. She holds her ground because she's an idiot. She has a death wish. She wants to die. Anyways, long story's right, I know I was like, I get to school next day. Everybody hears about it because it's a small town. And the guy behind me or in front of my desk. And I'm sitting there like, oh, Kristen's a tina, because I've thrown down in the school, whatever. And the guy in front of me turns around like this. And he goes, hey, he goes, you know the girl? You were almost going to fight, yeah?

I was like, yeah, he goes, that's my cousin. I was like, shit. And he's like, yeah, she just got out of jail because she got in jail for fighting. She does M.MA. Okay? Oh, my God. I was going to die. And she's from Wainai, which is like the gnarliest place on the island.

And he goes, and I was like, oh, he goes, don't worry, Kristen. I like you. He's like, I won't tell you. you go to the school. And then he goes, but you know you was going to die, yeah? And I'm like, yeah, I know I was going to die. Like, and that's my story, my Sparta story.

Anyway, anyways. If you guys stayed this long, you got to hear the story. This was fun. This was really fun. I still really like this movie. Yeah. I love it. This is this one.

I'll lick it. I'll be like two thumbs up. Anyway, let us know your thoughts in the comments. Do you have a Spartan story that you want to share? I love to hear that. Throw it down. Throw it down in the comments. And we will see you next time.

I'm a charicirk. This is... Kristen Steve. It's a pinot. Ciao!