Movie '300' called an insult to ancient Persia

[Azure]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

You have got to be kidding me.

It must be because the Persians got their ass whooped.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

People will whine about anything

[Displaced Flames fan]

I didn't realize there were any ancient Persians around to be offended.

[Thunderball]

Funny... they can have publication after publication of anti-semitism, anti-Americanism, and anti-Westernism... but if the evil decadent west makes a movie about a historical event (where the Persians were empire building and got their ass handed to them by the Greeks...) they cry foul.

Complaints from that part of the world shouldn't even be published as news.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I didn't realize there were any ancient Persians around to be offended.

I actually thought the same thing...then read this:

But, aside from politics, the film was seen as an attack on Persian history, a source of pride for Iranians across the political spectrum, including critics of the current Islamic regime.

[Ozy_Flame]

It's the Prophet Mohammed debacle all over again, or at least in the eyes of some.

Seriously, I can't stand people who think so far out of rational thought like this - it's just one of about A MILLION movies on this earth with political overtones, so don't just pick on this one. Yeesh!

[Barnes]

I knew a guy who refered to himself a Persian and refused to say Iranian. Never knew why. His family probably disagreed with the Islamic government.

Anyone with half a brain will know this happened long before the life of the prophet Mohammed and the establishment of Iran and Islam but I am sure it will be twisted.

[Hack&Lube]

Ancient Persia has nothing to do with Islam

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Ancient Persia has nothing to do with Islam

I'd go so far as to say modern Islam had gone to some lengths to distance itself from the Persian roots of the region.

[mrdeeds]

This is ridiculous, but not altogether surprising.

[RougeUnderoos]

"compensate for its wrongdoings in order to provoke American soldiers and warmongers'' against Iran.

I don't know if these guys actually believe this crap, but if they do then they are grossly misinformed. The "warmongers" don't now and never did need a movie based on a comic book to get all hot and bothered about Iran. What sensible person would see this crazy looking movie and apply any of it to the real world?

I said the same thing in the other thread -- the last Frank Miller movie made American culture look like a stylized version of hell, full of all sorts of monsters, murderers, drug addicts, vigilantes, whores, pedophiles and lunatics.

It is kind of ironic (is it ironic or just a coincidence, or maybe just a similar mindset?) that the religious loons of both Christianity and Islam are busy barking about Hollywood bringing on the downfall of civilization.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It is kind of ironic (is it ironic or just a coincidence, or maybe just a similar mindset?) that the religious loons of both Christianity and Islam are busy barking about Hollywood bringing on the downfall of civilization.

Well of course.. it's someone else's fault

And besides, at that point in time, the persian empire encapsulated parts of egypt and span from turkey to india.. I don't remember any direct reference to iranians....

[icarus]

Xerxes must be rolling in his grave.

[CaptainCrunch]

Just as a bizzarre aside to this. I picked up a book the other day called "How to lose a battle, foolish plans and great military blunders" by Bill Fawcett.

It covers major battles from Arbela to Dien Bien Phu, and the bad decisions and outright stupidity that lead to defeat.

There's an interesting section on Exodus where heavy Chariots lead to the demise of the Pharoah.

I would encourage any military history junkie to pick up this book if you want a good chuckle.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by icarus

Xerxes must be rolling in his grave.

All bow before Mazda!

[Daradon]

Well even though I had no plans to see Passion of the Christ, I defended it aganst being Anti-Semetic with, 'chill it's just a movie and one guys point of view, why does everyone have to think everything is against them?'

Flash forward to 2006 and a drunk Mel Gibson... And things seemed to look a little different.

Although I will say I doubt it is the case with this movie, I could see how the broad generalizations and charactures might be taken that way. I guess it's supposed to be based on a graphic novel but I could see how certain people or groups might feel that way.

Personally I think a lot of people are too senstive and of course, lots of media outlets and power brokers will turn anything into a crusade for their case.

But see the argument. Maybe not agree with it, but see it.

[Vulcan]

Now we need a movie about the N. Koreans losing a battle or doing something dumb.

[Burninator]

It seems like nothing these days can escape not offending someone.

Where is PETA in all of this? I thought they would be up in arms after they killed a computer generated rhinoceros and elephant. Clearly this promoting cruelty to animated animals.

[Circa89]

Nine out of ten Americans would not know that Persia is now Iran/Iraq. So this arguement has little merit.

[llama64]

This argument bothers the crap out of me.

Ok, America is an ideological descendant of Ancient Greece. Iran is a geological/cultural descendant of Ancient Persia. Greece, the free world then, was at war with Persia, a consuming empire. Greece, a culture obsessed with reason above all was facing annihilation against the religious empire of Xerces II. Hmm... rationality vs religion.

Sounds familiar eh? That's because it's the same conflict, just 2500 years later. It's not current political overtones! This is a case of people misunderstanding the historical roots of modern day conflicts.

Besides, if Iran doesn't like it, just block it and make another movie where Americans run around like a bunch of little mice before the Muslim tiger or something.