'300' Slays Box Office Records With $70M Opening

I've been tracking this movie for a while, long before their frist ( and most impressive) preview spot. ( the others fell off in intesity IMO) I am glad to see the masses taking to this film in a way that is reminiscent to the Matrix phenomena. Good for Frank Synder, cudo's to the production. It just proves you can make a blockbuster for under $100 Million without superstars, as long as the look and content are appealing

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While I am glad that 300 did so well and I think it's a fantastic movie, the idea that it could lead to him directing Watchmen frankly troubles the crap out of me. I remain of the opinion that the movie should not be made by anyone.

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Is digital background the future of cinema? It is- according to George Lucas. He also claims actors will one day be replaced with 0's and 1's (he created Jar Jar Binks to prove it) oh, wait...

Are YOU convinced? cause I'm not.
I guess we got lucky with 'Sky Captain'; happy with 'Sin City' and thrilled with '300'.
I like Sin City better cause it has a good story. It also has a great cast.
These films felt almost 2 1/2 dimentional and dreamy, as if something was missing.

300 felt like sushi, but my heart wanted a steak.
Am I being silly or will digital background only work for epic and fantazy-like movies?
I can't imagine 'Shildler's List' with a digital hiolocoust, or the Next Indiana Jones bringing back Dr. Marcus Brody (since we know Mr. Delholm Elliot died).It won't work for me. (does that put right there with phonograph, beta tapes, rotary-dial phone people?)

I don't mean to be bitching about the the next (unavoidable) cinematical revolution. Is digital background here to stay?. $70 million opening proves that it is.
Or is it only a fad, like cinemascope, sensesorround, perfume?
Or was George Lucas right all alone?

Let's just pray we won't see Doctor Jones fighting a pack of Nazi Jar Jar Binks.
I could just hear it now, "Casablanca: The Remake- "When Rick Met Ilsa" - All Digital!!

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Yeah, and this here site blogged about how the movie was booed by UK critics and would bomb. Hmmm, slightly off on that analysis.

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Toby,

A -- The movie hasn't opened in Berlin yet (the festival where it was booed).

B -- The NEXT DAY, there was an article about how the audience raved throughout the film and about the disconnect between critics and the public (which ended up being quite prescient, considering the past few #1's).

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Last comment didn't accept my hyperlink:

http://www.cinematical.com/2007/02/15/audience-raves-over-300-at-berlin/

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Saw it this weekend.. a few things...

1) On the Digital Background - Look at the difference between the painted sets in the early movie industry and the on location shoots of today, the difference is definately noticeable. I believe the same will be said about the digital backgrounds of today and about 10 years from now. Yes, they are sort of flat now, but i would argue that 10 years in the future, you won't be able to tell. I don't hear anybody crying that the Volcano Scene in LOTR seemed "flat".

2) When i eat sushi, my stomach doesn't feel like i ate a meat brick, like it does when i eat a steak. different foods for different likes.

3) The complaint about the movie lacking depth is what most critics are complaining about in this movie. This movie wasn't made for depth. It was made to be eye candy, it was made to be Loud and fun and exciting. They nailed it. If an hour into the movie i'm still watching the Greeks debate the lead up to the war, I'm watching Braveheart and not 300. Different movies with different motives.

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You guys need to try better cuts of meat. The digital backgrounds and use of cgi is everywhere now. I was surprised watching a feature on the making of the TV show House by how much cgi they used. To my eyes and senses it was integrated and transparent. I can remember old cowboy movies where the wild west was painted on sheets so beautiful cgi backgrounds are great and an improvement. I wouldn't worry about it all becoming digital, it's art and creativity and those have never been things that sit willingly in the cookie cutter format.

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If you're looking for other Frank Miller-related movies (that aren't RoboCop 3), you might want to take a look at a feature FanCinemaToday.com did on Sin City fan films: http://fancinematoday.com/2007/03/13/review-sin-city-fan-films/

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