Tehran Condemns "anti-Iranian" Movie 300

playfuls.com ^ | 12 March 2006 | playfuls team

[timsbella]

Iran on Monday strongly condemned the US film company Warner Bros. over the allegedly "anti-Iranian" blockbuster film 300.

Javad Shamqadri, art advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, told Fars news agency that the film was an insult to Persian culture and in line with the American "psychological war" against Iran.

Zack Snyder's film, based on a comic book by Frank Miller, tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae in Greek history in which 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas heroically fought a massive Persian army attack, delaying an invasion by King Xerxes' forces and giving Greeks time for a counterattack.

Iran's has called foul over what it calls "deviation of history" but also because the Persians in the film were shown as "ugly and violent creatures rather than human beings."

The news network Khabar organised a special programme in which the film was evaluated from several angles by film critics who argued that the film's alleged efforts to expose Persians as violent was a US political plot implemented through Hollywood and the Warner Bros. company.

The state-run network also linked the film to ongoing political differences between Washington and Tehran such as the nuclear dispute.

The film critics further said that after Germans, Japanese, Russians and Arabs, Iranians seem to become the new "villian" in Hollywood productions.

A large number of Iranians abroad have already started a worldwide email campaign to send protest missives to Warner Bros. for having insulted Persian culture and history.

The film reportedly made 70 million dollars over its opening weekend, making it the first official blockbuster of the year.

[Ukiapah Heep]

Gyros, anybody?

[archy]

I liked the old 1962 movie with Richard Egan, "300 Spartans."

That's the film that author/illustrator Frank Miller saw as a child, and which inspired him to write and draw his version- which became the storyboards for the movie.

[timsbella]

I found the Private Ryan movie harder to watch than this. It isn't gory and I'm prissy.

[h-roark]

Thanks all- unfortunately as soon as I saw that it has sex scenes that ended the discussion they won't be going.

[timsbella]

The sex scenes are more intimacy than "debbie does damascus" - it's handled tastefully.

[Billthedrill]

Hmm...I may have to see this one. It seems to be pissing off all the right people.

[archy]

Gyros, anybody?

Nah. Souvlaki, or Athenian Kalamaki. And some Kleftiko, washed down with ouzo, slivovitsa, or Algerian red pinard depending on your taste.

[stuartcr]

I wonder how they teach about Xerxes' invasion in Iran? Shamqadri should watch 'A Night With the King'...it paints Xerxes in a very different way.

[archy]

The sex scenes are more intimacy than "debbie does damascus" - it's handled tastefully.

In the immortal words of Jessica Rabbit [another cartoon creation who made it to the Silver Screen] I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way...

[siunevada]

the film's alleged efforts to expose Persians as violent

Uh, it's based on a 'graphic novel', guys. It's a comic book. Like Spiderman.

Saddam thought he was the inheritor of Babylon and these guys think they are the inheroitors of Persepolis. Dream on.

[Dallas59]

If the 59 million "dumb" Americans who voted against Kerry see this movie...that's....59 million X $8.00? for the movie...that's....$472 million...Blockbuster...

[The Blitherer]

The sex scenes are more intimacy than "debbie does damascus" - it's handled tastefully.

I agree, I just think they're too much for young boys to see.

I actually like the Ephor trance scene even better because of the nudity. It was a beautiful artistic expression of the female body.

[alloysteel]

And we haven't even gotten into DVD sales and rentals....

Providing the US holds firm, people will be pulling out and re-watching this "graphic novel" fifty years from now. Of course, if the Islamofascists DO prevail, they will suppress its viewing ruthlessly.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Great Frank Miller interview......

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24146_Batman_Artist_No_Moonbat&only

[rmlew]

Frank Miller put in the homo-erotic elements.

What is so difficult for people to understand about Spartan soliders. They were hevily armored infantry fighting in a phalanx. As far as I can tell, the only correct thing there is the "lambda" on the shield for "Lacadonia".

If they want a homosexual element, then show barracks life for the Spartans. Heck, show how the Spartan men "captured" their brides on their wedding day, with the women made to look like a boy!

[archy]

Hmm...I may have to see this one. It seems to be pissing off all the right people.

Want a real warm fuzzy feeling, one that helps keep our foes trembling and wetting their oft-misplaced undies? Take along your favorite steel friend, whether edged or noisy, just to give you a little more kinship and affinity with King Leonidas and friends- oh, which included a force of 750-1000 additional warriors from Thespia, Thebes and Phocis. Spartans were not the only free men who found time in their lives to spend a coupole of September days killing invaders.

In my case, I had along a 9mm Browning GP that's been my frequent companion since 1968, but really figured that serious cold steel was appropriate as well, so hauled along my oldest kukri as well, not my prettiest or handiest one, but the one I'd want along if some time-machine bubble would run me back to 480 before Christ came along. And it might well have been recognized; the Macedonian horseman's Machaira carried as Alexander's IVth-Century[BC] cavalry toured north-west India was quite similar.

For most moviegoers the useual hideout ankle gun or tucked-away pocket pistol is more likely to be along while viewing such an epic; likewise a folding pocket knife is the more usual cutting-edge companion. But it'd be damned embarassing to see that particular movie and then be mugged or carjacked in the parking lot only to reply with tools excessively minimal for the task at hand.

[rmlew]

Saddam thought he was the inheritor of Babylon and these guys think they are the inheroitors of Persepolis. Dream on.
Achmadenejad is no Cyrus.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"The film critics further said that after Germans, Japanese, Russians and Arabs, Iranians seem to become the new "villian" in Hollywood productions."


We all know those nations and people have squeeky clean pasts with no ill will towards even a fly. LOL

[Redleg Duke]

Anyone want to make a bet that this movie gets no Oscar nominations?

[Dallas59]

Lib Yahoo User Reviews:

C-

As a Persian I was really frustrated to see How far 300 the movie has gone to fabricate Lies and disrupt truth. If you are interested in ancient history don't let this propaganda film to mislead you. Remember the film is based on Greek historians and amusingly Frank Miller biased it even More against us. By commands of King Cyrus written in stone (a memorial to which resides at the UN HQ in NYC), slavery was forbidden in ancient Persia. Liberty is a universal value and no one can exclusively assign it to a specific background. Help for mutual understanding of different diverse cultures of this world.

F

The author Frank Miller and Warner Brothers Studios should understand that distorting historical data is unethical, and so is feeding ignorance to viewers and readers. Fantasy-like characters should not have names that are based on actual historical figures. Xeroxes was one of the many revered and respected rulers of an ancient civilization the vestiges of which last to this day and are acknowledged by historians of all nations. He did not look like a creature out of a frightening bedtime story. Neither did his soldiers.

F

What do you guys have against persians by making movies like this or alexander? Whatever greece has as far as art, science, their buildings, culture, and etc has it all from persians. persians rulled the whole world for soooo many years and decades, whats your point of degrading this powerfull nation?

F

A good story should have some truth to it!! This is pure BS Done in best visual techniques to feed people and probably kids with. Very boring as well inspite of all the noise and blood shedding. I thought persians were the first nation to bring human rights to the world and banned slavory!! I dont believe monsters can do that!! Hated it! waste of time and money for sure. I would rather see sin city again in the movie theatre than this BS.

F

PERSIA (IRAN)= LOVE +PEACE by toolmetal18 (movies profile) Mar 9, 2007 28 of 97 people found this review helpful EVERYBODY PLEASE DO SOME RESEARCH ON PERSIA... This was just a movie but it is a good reason for everyone to go and actually check on the proud Persian civilization!!! LONG LIVE THE WHOLE WORLD, LONG LIVE PERSIA, AND LONG LIVE HUMANITY.

F
Insulting a Nation for the Sake of a Buck by jaques_personal (movies profile) Mar 9, 2007 17 of 43 people found this review helpful Out of all the great books out there written about the countless contributions of Persia to the world, why would a bunch of directors/producers/etc choose a stupid comic book to make a this movie? Answer: ignorance, arrogance, and propoganda. Read some books people.

F Overall Grade: F Story: F Acting: F Direction: F Visuals: F Another Biased GARBAGE/ call it: Alexander II by jbs_2324 (movies profile) Mar 9, 2007 26 of 108 people found this review helpful Can these MORONS in Hollywood ever make a movie of the glorius Persian history (like where they saved the Jews from a sure extinction!) before making such insulting repetitive junks??? What is worng with these biased full of hatred idiots?? Do not watch this movie if you have a taste for unbiased historical events.

F

Terrible! I want my 8 bucks back! by gautum (movies profile) Mar 9, 2007 9 of 18 people found this review helpful This movie lured me with action and graphics, but left me feeling disappointed and angry. I did not want to see a U.S. War propaganda film promoting the fight for freedom and equality against the evil Persians. It disgusts me that the director would so inaccuratly portray history to promote these ideals. I would hope that people undertand that this is just a movie and not a historical lesson. My boyfriend quotes, "I would rather eat dung than watch this movie!", "too, the graphics left much to be desired."

F

Good Movie For Bush Lovers by cyberkam2003 (movies profile) Mar 10, 2007 9 of 22 people found this review helpful This is a sample of how hollywood wants to change the facts. They wanna instill into all minds that persians are evil ,some freak creature that should be massacred because it is worth it for the so called freedom and democracy. Freedom is when 2+2=4 not 3 or 5 or whatever that it shouldn't be. This is exactly how this movie looks like and intended to do: "He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future."[George Orwell] This movie is so offending and it is with no doubt a big insult to one of the glorious ancient nation in the world. Regret.