Apparently, it is possible to O.D. on testosterone.

Rating: 2/10 (11 March 2007)

First, let me say that I did have a relatively enjoyable time viewing this film. However, that doesn't mean this film was actually any good outside from visually appealing. In fact, I was more than disappointed since I was very much looking forward to this film.
The biggest thing that bothered me about 300 was the blatant racism and homophobia. On one side, we have the Spartans, who were men's men, the picture of masculinity and classical beauty. They were upstanding, honourable, disciplined and righteous. On the other side, we have the Persians, who represented practically every other culture and ethnicity from the rest of the world. They were cruel, decadent, androgynous, sexually and morally deviant, misshapen, inter-sexed, and everything considered outside of mainstream western culture. Can we paint a more obviously racist image?
The second thing that bothered me was the glorification of Sparta's war-like society and enjoyment of violence. In ancient Sparta, young boys who did not "live up to" the society's standards were left to die, only allowing those with certain physical conditions to survive and propagate. This was a form of phenotypic control on the population, basically eugenics, which in modern times is seen as a violation of basic human rights and indefinitely cruel. In this film, violence and gore is shown in a very romantic light. The 300 Spartans cut down countless dehumanised foes in a shower of blood and slow motion choreography. Yes, it was visually stunning, but it was also morally and intellectually sickening.
And last, but not least, throughout the movie, the Spartans repeatedly referred to themselves as "free men" who were protecting themselves from slavery. I found this rather ironic considering the Greeks, including Spartans, owned slaves of their own. I guess they were saving every Spartan, sans the already enslaved, from slavery.
I really wanted to like this movie, but these pesky things called "morals" keep preventing me from doing so. Perhaps it's "just a movie", but most white, Chistrian, straight people I've encountered don't seem to understand how minorities, of Europe and North America, feel when we've often been portrayed in negative ways in the media. This is another example. Sure, it's all fun and games, but it's still a product of our times and it sure as hell doesn't make things better. Maybe they weren't trying to be racist. No one tries to be a product of their time. It's just easy to be a tool when you don't try to think harder about your actions.