Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 10 > Entry
Your oracle does his best to part mists of time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
I am 10 years old and am very interested in the motion picture “300.” I already own the Frank Miller graphic novel and “300: The Art of the Film,” so I already know a lot. I just have a couple of questions about the film itself. How historically accurate is “300”? It is under my assumption that it was 300 Spartans against a million Persians from the trailer and book, but I have my doubts. Also, did the character Theron really exist? If so, how about Stelios, Dilios and Astinos?
VINCENT BORELLO, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Dear Master Vinny,
I don’t know too many 10-year-olds who use words like “motion picture” and “under my assumption.”
The 10-year-olds I have known point to toys or basketball shoes and say things like, “But I really need it and it only costs $185.”
Your parents must be very proud. And, apparently, there are rules at your house because it doesn’t appear that you have seen the movie “300.” Why should you? It’s rated R.
Anyway, I’m not sure anyone anywhere knows precisely what happened at the Battle of Thermopylae. It is chronicled in the “Histories of Herodotus,” and one must realize that when the bloody skirmish occurred in 480 B.C., Herodotus was but a wee lad of about 4.
Not that kids can’t be bright. But since it was much later that Herodotus actually got to writing, one must suspect the facts could get a little mushy.
Historians have debated and theorized for years about the battle. Herodotus apparently believed there were more than 2.6 million in the Persian force at Thermopylae, which was about half of the total army used to invade Greece. Others scoff at that, saying the little availability of water would mean the Persian force would not top 250,000.
There were 300 Spartans, but also more than 5,000 to 7,000 other Greeks at the battle. Ultimately, most of the Greeks left when the Persians found the handy end-around route. That left your 300 Spartans, up to 900 Helot slaves and maybe about 800 or so Thespians and Thebans.
As the story goes, those who remained to face the Persians fought valiantly to their deaths.
Clearly, there was a King Leonidas. He led the Spartans.
The not-always-accurate Wikipedia claims that Dilios, played by Faramir (i.e. David Wenham), is based on the real-life Spartan he-man Aristodemus, who had an eye injury and was ordered to go home by Leonidas.
Aristodemus was a rather unlucky fellow. It seems another injured warrior also was sent back, but the second warrior, who was blinded, had his Helot slave lead him back to the battlefield, entered the fray and died. Aristodemus didn’t and was considered a coward.
I have found no reference for the other characters you mention.
But I did find reference to Pantites. One of the 300, he was dispatched by Leonidas to Thessaly. Pantites didn’t make it back in time to fight the Persians. He, too, was disgraced in Sparta. So, according to Wikipedia, he hanged himself.
ALAN
P.S. You get the only “300” T-shirt I have left and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
Why do people who talk during movies get defensive when asked to be quiet, and act offended that you would even suggest their behavior was inappropriate? I ran into this again this week during “Fracture,” when I asked people in front of me to “shhhhh” after about an hour of their jibber-jabber. I was told to “shhhh my [expletive] self.” Then, when I asked them to be quiet, I was yelled at and told to move. In order to stop it, I would have had to go get management, causing me to miss even more of the movie. What can we, as polite movie patrons, do about such an epidemic?
CARL CLAYMORE, Lawrenceville
Dear Clearly You Don’t Understand,
This is my personal space, see. And what I do in my personal space is my business. You do not touch me. You do not speak to me. Was I talking to you? I don’t think so. I’m trying to have a conversation here and now you are bothering me. …
Now understand this, Carl.
Most people today are whiny morons who lack decency, respect for others and even the slightest inkling of what courtesy means.
You have only two options (I will not condone violence).
Option one: Move.
Option two: Go find management and demand the offenders be removed. Or ask for your money back.
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Pan’s Labyrinth” T-shirt and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
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By Walter Davis
May 14, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
I remember the first time I went to see the “first” “Star Wars.” A couple of morons behind me kept saying “watch this..,” etc., since they had seen a previous viewing. Sort of (very much) ruined my experience. To follow up on your 5/10 column on noise during the movies: if enough people WOULD get up and ask for their money back every time someone talks/texts/calls/IM’s, etc., the theaters would finally start enforcing the quiet rule. If the theater owners do not get enough feedback, and get a little gnawing on their bottom lines, they might realize that we are serious. A letter to the home office can’t hurt, either. Just google the theater/chain for addresses. There. I feel a bit better. Thanks.