hey, thanks for memorializing our conversation! i also really want to see children of men now. and i have to talk to you about talladega nights- i thought it was awesome, and i was expecting it to be stupid.

NOOOOO Talladega was BAD they showed all the best parts in the previews!!!! grrrrr We are going to have to have a chat about this

Pfft... Talladega nights was actually a decent movie. I was expecting it to totally suck, and I freakin hate NASCAR. A friend of mine actually forced me to watch it, I refused thinking it was going to be totally stupid. But what can I say, Will Ferrell is hilarious. You should see The Producers.

Gordon-

I totally agree. I was forced to watch it alongside Snakes on a Plane at the drivein, and didn't think it was all too bad. The funny parts were really pretty funny, not just "I guess I'll chuckle at that" funny. And yeah, the producers is awesome.

While you guys did a good job covering the general consensus on the movie, I knew I just HAD to put my two cents in once I gathered my thoughts-- being a history major and an anciest history/greek junkie.

While the movie itself looks pretty fun and gory, I think it's sort of important to go into it aware that it may not be historically correct... or even fair, for that matter. I get particularly annoyed when it's referenced as a battle of 300 vs. millions (as seen in the title, as referenced in The Last Samurai, various other movies, Halo videogames & books, etc.). Historians have argued for ages about the exact number of Persians on the offense-- hell, they've argued even about an approximate number. The theories range from 800,000-3,000,000, and while the "Spartans" were largly outnumbered regardless of the exact number, it should probably be considered if this movie is going to be as epic as it's expected to be.

Furthermore, there were more than 300 fighting at the last stand during the battle. Yes, there were 300 "Spartans", but there were also 400 slaves bound to fight by the Spartans, and 700 Thespians who agreed to stay and fight when the rest of the army (4700 or so) bailed out/retreated. It's pretty incorrect to depict the battle so out of context to make it seem even more significant, when it's already significant enough. As for "the 300 fighting to the death"? More like fighting for a while, then willingly surrendering to the Persian army who surrounded them on higher ground and arrowed them all to death.

Concerning the movie, though, I guess the biggest controversy lies not in the numbers that have essentially been skewed for ages, but in racial portrayals of the opposing forces. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think many Persians or people of Persian decent are angry because they're depicted much darker skinned than they actually are, and feel as if the movie is shaping up to be a good ol' fashioned Whites Vs. Blacks showdown. Of course, that could just be Frank Millers comic book style animation thrown in there, adding much shadow and keeping it very comic book like. Who knows? I just know people are talking.

All in all, I'm pretty excited to see this movie. It may be a little off, but I can't really confirm nor deny until I see it, and I can only base my opinions off of books I've read about the battle, which may be opinionated or incorrect. The movie also boasts Gerard Butler (who was apparently up for the new Bond role before Daniel Craig snagged it) as the King of Sparta, and David Wenham (Mmmm...). Throw some Frank Miller in there with Zach Snyders decent graphic novel/novel adaptations (Dawn of the Dead, and upcoming Watchmen & Rainbow Six), and it can't be all that bad. It's too bad they had to go and make the cover exactly the same as Sin City, but with a different dude in front. Seriously, guys, creativity ftw.

@Sally Now snakes on a plane is one I will never ever watch. I would have to be stoned out of my skull and locked in a room with that movie and a dvd player. Oh yes, and somebody holding a gun to my head. Everyone I know that watched it, said it was the worst movie they have ever seen.

I just watched Blood Diamond and was expecting crap, but it was actually pretty good. El Cortez is another one that's actually decent considering it's low budget.

Gordon-

Yep, Snakes on a Plane was a complete waste of time. Take everyones advice and don't see it. Blood diamond, however, I actually did hear good things about despite it looking pretty unimpressive (and I hate dicaprio, too). I'll have to check it out.