http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Persian_Wars
The Greco-Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between several Greek city-states and the Persian Empire that started in 499 BC and lasted until 448 BC. The expression "Persian Wars" usually refers to both of the two Persian invasions of the Greek mainland in 490 BC and in 480-479 BC; in both cases, the allied Greeks successfully repelled the invasions. Not all Greeks fought against the Persians; some were neutral and others allied with Persia, especially as its massive armies approached.
What is known today is derived primarily from Greek sources (mainly Herodotus), and to a lesser extent some Roman writings. The Persians enter Greek history after they conquered the Lydians and the Greek city-states of Ionia that were previously controlled by the Lydians.[1] When in 499 BC an attempt to help restore the aristocrats in Naxos failed, the Ionians rebelled against the Persians.[2] Token aid was sent from the Greek mainland, especially Athens, but this failed to prevent a Persian victory. Persian General Mardonius campaigned in 492 BC in Thrace to consolidate Persian power but was stopped by a storm.[3] An amphibious force under Datis and Artaphernes razed Eretria but was defeated in Marathon a few days later by General Miltiades of Athens.[4]
Ten years later, in 480 BC, after massive preparation King Xerxes led a huge force to subjugate Greece. A small force of about 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians led by King Leonidas of Sparta held off a Persian army of more than 200,000.
Thespians? What, a bunch of pussy actors! No wonder no one remembers them!
Ah Sparta. Those poor militaristic bastards. When faced with a rising democratic if imperialistic Athens they fought the
Peloponnesian war
and thus ended the great age of Greece.
For more on the Peloponnesian war-
here
Happily, the Peloponnesia War also gave us the first great history in
Thucydide's The History of the Peloponnesian War. (No the Bible is not history).
Honestly, I am kind of looking forward to this movie. But then I liked the original
300 Spartans when I was a kid.
Ok, so that film of Manly men with swords and loin cloths had homoerotic issues too... never mind that.
There are better movies of Greeks and Romans doing battle, of course. But most of them seem to be forgotton.
But I suspect the criticism is right. The problem is that too many dipshits are willing to use movies to learn history and won't get it or take the time to learn. Like most movies, it could be better. I mean, Sin City might have been fun to watch, but the violence become just a joke after awhile. It works as comedy, but as serious film noir it's ridiculous. I image the same is true here.
I don't mind movies making money and I realize that history can be retold according to those telling it. But do we need to really need to dumb down a society in the process?
It's not just that some assholes are going to see a movie like this (or
Zulu ) and just miss this history and think, "Oh cool, that's what I want to do- be part of a small group of soldiers in a battle to the death!"
It's bad enough that people join the military because they can't think of a better way to make something of their lives. It's also pretty sad that war attracts people for the sake of adventure and to be part of a spectacle. But I worry that by selling war in a glossy film one also encourages people to chasing delusions of stardom by being part of a "real movie."
And if you think that's bullshit-
A lot of kids joined the army going into Vietnam because they wanted to be John Wayne in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Rambo has been used as a recruiting device in countries all over the world. How many guys joined the army to kick ass on Islamic terrorists and ended up in Iraq? How many movies does it take to sell an image?
Dumb down the audience and what do you get? You get the same group of idiots who failed to realize that
Starship Troopers is a satire of war movies, patriotism, and is, in fact, just propoganda that sells to the same bunch of dumb asses who don't get it.
But yeah, I am going to go see it. It looks like fantasy to me. And yes, people can reinterpret history as fantasy, just like the owner's of a license can turn FO into a FPS and sell it to a whole new crowd of idiots who don't know better.
