Comments on: 300: Ich bin NEIN Berliner — UPDATED http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:07:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Bulent http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-62291 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:48:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-62291 Apologies Heidi, didn't mean to sound snarky. As other posters have pointed out, the reactions displayed at that screening had little to do with the film. It was kinda irksome how the blogger from Cinematical tried to spin it into a denounciation of Harry Knowles and the assembled armies of nerd-dom. Apologies Heidi, didn’t mean to sound snarky. As other posters have pointed out, the reactions displayed at that screening had little to do with the film. It was kinda irksome how the blogger from Cinematical tried to spin it into a denounciation of Harry Knowles and the assembled armies of nerd-dom.

]]> by: Mauricio http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61924 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:46:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61924 Well, yesterday I have the opportunity to see 300 in a special screening for journalist in Mexico City. To my eyes, Miller's 300 it's a simple but strong anecdote transformed in a great spectacle: widescreen images (two pages for each panel) as vehicle of great artesans (Miller and Varley). And the Snyder's 300 works very well in that way, but at moments it looks like more action could be of help for the transition. The colors and the form itself of the Miller story, like everyone could see on the trailers, are respected on the film, but there are more dialogue than the in original and I believe that that was a mistake. Even there are more gross and incredible characters in the movie than in the comic. In my personal view, I believe that it´s a good adaptation of a minor Miller ouvre. But the you will look... Well, yesterday I have the opportunity to see 300 in a special screening for journalist in Mexico City. To my eyes, Miller’s 300 it’s a simple but strong anecdote transformed in a great spectacle: widescreen images (two pages for each panel) as vehicle of great artesans (Miller and Varley).
And the Snyder’s 300 works very well in that way, but at moments it looks like more action could be of help for the transition. The colors and the form itself of the Miller story, like everyone could see on the trailers, are respected on the film, but there are more dialogue than the in original and I believe that that was a mistake. Even there are more gross and incredible characters in the movie than in the comic.
In my personal view, I believe that it´s a good adaptation of a minor Miller ouvre.
But the you will look…

]]> by: The Beat http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61892 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:29:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61892 Considering that the Persians (the original Aryans) are portrayed by Miller and Snyder as Abyssinians, I can see where they got a little confused. Thanks for the info! Considering that the Persians (the original Aryans) are portrayed by Miller and Snyder as Abyssinians, I can see where they got a little confused. Thanks for the info!

]]> by: Thomas Gerhardt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61886 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:15:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61886 Okay, I watched most of the press conference, and here's what becomes blatantly obvious. The utter rejection of the film comes ONLY from journos of the, well, let's call it Persian cultural background (there is an Iranian, a Turkish and – if I remember correctly – a Syrian journo). The questions make it clear that they are projecting a very real, yet also very dangerous political agenda into a film that is basically, well, let's face it, Frank Miller's 300 is trash. It is beautifully executed trash, with a wafer-thin story and showing in every panel his love for hardboiled cliched characters. The reaction displayed here has little to do with the film itself, it seems Okay, I watched most of the press conference, and here’s what becomes blatantly obvious. The utter rejection of the film comes ONLY from journos of the, well, let’s call it Persian cultural background (there is an Iranian, a Turkish and – if I remember correctly – a Syrian journo).

The questions make it clear that they are projecting a very real, yet also very dangerous political agenda into a film that is basically, well, let’s face it, Frank Miller’s 300 is trash. It is beautifully executed trash, with a wafer-thin story and showing in every panel his love for hardboiled cliched characters.

The reaction displayed here has little to do with the film itself, it seems

]]> by: Thomas Gerhardt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61869 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:55:29 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61869 It is not uncommon for the press, or parts of the press to walk out of a movie during a press screening at a film festival. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the press is not at a film festival to do reviews on films, but to cover the festival itself, the parties, setting up interviews with A-, B- and C-stars and whatever else strikes their fancy. What usually strikes their fancy is the free booze in the lobbies and the chance to boff people in the same industry. From somebody who has had to cover a few film festivals in his life, albeit a few years back, you usually do not have the time to watch all that many movies, so the ones who stayed here were pretty much the reviewers. Also, one must understand some of the peculiar bits of the German culture (yes, we call it culture and not Arts or Books or movies... or we use the French word feulliton, which I am sure I have spelled badly as always) journos. Like, the absolutely horrid film THE GOOD GERMAN got rave reviews during the film festival, simply because, well, it played in Berlin and Cate Blanchett was there and it would be bad form to boo her. THE GOOD SHEPHERD got rave reviews, because a) DeNiro was there and everbody wanted to talk to him and be nice and b) it shows the CIA in a particularly bad light, which resonates with a lot of the German intellectual journos. So, despite it being again a true abomination in terms of actual film-making (Matt Damon never aging, Angelina Jolie as the "good" mousy wife, time lines that kept on shifting, no clear narrative), it was lauded. The real test of any film will come when they put the reviews in the dailies, not something that is going to happen during a film festival. (that doesn't mean necessarily that 300 is a good film per se, I am just saying to not always rush out faulty info without knowing what context it was in. But then, today everything becomes a headline, doesn't it?) It is not uncommon for the press, or parts of the press to walk out of a movie during a press screening at a film festival. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the press is not at a film festival to do reviews on films, but to cover the festival itself, the parties, setting up interviews with A-, B- and C-stars and whatever else strikes their fancy.

What usually strikes their fancy is the free booze in the lobbies and the chance to boff people in the same industry.

From somebody who has had to cover a few film festivals in his life, albeit a few years back, you usually do not have the time to watch all that many movies, so the ones who stayed here were pretty much the reviewers.

Also, one must understand some of the peculiar bits of the German culture (yes, we call it culture and not Arts or Books or movies… or we use the French word feulliton, which I am sure I have spelled badly as always) journos.

Like, the absolutely horrid film THE GOOD GERMAN got rave reviews during the film festival, simply because, well, it played in Berlin and Cate Blanchett was there and it would be bad form to boo her.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD got rave reviews, because a) DeNiro was there and everbody wanted to talk to him and be nice and b) it shows the CIA in a particularly bad light, which resonates with a lot of the German intellectual journos. So, despite it being again a true abomination in terms of actual film-making (Matt Damon never aging, Angelina Jolie as the “good” mousy wife, time lines that kept on shifting, no clear narrative), it was lauded.

The real test of any film will come when they put the reviews in the dailies, not something that is going to happen during a film festival.

(that doesn’t mean necessarily that 300 is a good film per se, I am just saying to not always rush out faulty info without knowing what context it was in. But then, today everything becomes a headline, doesn’t it?)

]]> by: John Arena http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61830 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:27:11 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61830 A review is up at the Hollywood Reporter. It's pretty much a love letter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=FJQxvn0VctjgGSLmnhTcv9TbjtX3Nx4bjBcpQcSL7DjcKJHJLNW9!-1720843958&&rid=8813 A review is up at the Hollywood Reporter. It’s pretty much a love letter.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=FJQxvn0VctjgGSLmnhTcv9TbjtX3Nx4bjBcpQcSL7DjcKJHJLNW9!-1720843958&&rid=8813

]]> by: The Beat http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61799 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:48:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61799 Ah interesting. That clarification was DEFINITELY added later. Ah interesting. That clarification was DEFINITELY added later.

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61781 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:08:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61781 Heidi, it says at the bottom, <i>"Note from Erik: This was a press screening. This was not at the premiere of the film which took place later that day"</i> Though, I'm not sure I see why it would it make a difference in the validity of the opinion for being a press screening as opposed to the premier, especially when it comes to more negative reviews. Maybe I'm not seeing the full picture, though. And there is now a longer review up now, as well: http://www.cinematical.com/2007/02/14/berlinale-review-300/ Heidi, it says at the bottom, “Note from Erik: This was a press screening. This was not at the premiere of the film which took place later that day”

Though, I’m not sure I see why it would it make a difference in the validity of the opinion for being a press screening as opposed to the premier, especially when it comes to more negative reviews. Maybe I’m not seeing the full picture, though.

And there is now a longer review up now, as well: http://www.cinematical.com/2007/02/14/berlinale-review-300/

]]> by: The Beat http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61759 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:28:18 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61759 Bulent, I'm pretty sure it WAS the world premiere, which was indeed held at the Berlin Film Festival, with a press conference and photo call, etc. What makes you think it was a press screening? Bulent, I’m pretty sure it WAS the world premiere, which was indeed held at the Berlin Film Festival, with a press conference and photo call, etc. What makes you think it was a press screening?

]]> by: rolando http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61754 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:22:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61754 Just realized I spelled PAID as PAYED. I'm an r-tard. Just realized I spelled PAID as PAYED. I’m an r-tard.

]]> by: rolando http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61753 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:22:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61753 I'm confused... If it's a press screening, then aren't those people being PAYED to watch the movie? Isn't that like walking out on your job? Wouldn't regular people get fired for doing something like that? I’m confused… If it’s a press screening, then aren’t those people being PAYED to watch the movie? Isn’t that like walking out on your job? Wouldn’t regular people get fired for doing something like that?

]]> by: Bulent http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61658 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:02:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/02/15/300-ich-bin-nein-berliner/#comment-61658 It wasn't a world premiere, it was a press screening. There's a difference. Also, judging by the original post and the subsequent review on Cinematical, I wouldn't place much stock in the credibility (and veracity) of their opinions. It wasn’t a world premiere, it was a press screening. There’s a difference.

Also, judging by the original post and the subsequent review on Cinematical, I wouldn’t place much stock in the credibility (and veracity) of their opinions.

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