Monday, March 12, 2007
More on 300
Yesterday I recommended the movie 300 for any number of reasons. Now the Iranian government is attacking the movie as insulting to Persian civilization -- which it is, by the way -- and "part of a comprehensive U.S. psychological war aimed at Iranian culture," which it is not.
Unserious reaction: Yet another reason to see the movie!
Slightly more considered reaction: The Islamic Republic is complaining about 300 to score propaganda points, not because it cares in the least for ancient Persian civilization. Indeed, whatever 300's cartoonish implications about ancient Persian culture, the hostility of fundamentalist Islam toward that same cultural tradition -- or those aspects of it that are inconsistent with a strict interpretation of Islamic law -- is far worse than anything in the obviously stylized movie.
12 Comments:
By 
, at
Tue Mar 13, 02:01:00 AM:
I don't know if a regular theater will do it justice but the IMAX has been sold out for days but I refuse to see it any other way...
By , at
Tue Mar 13, 02:42:00 AM:
I'm thrilled that The 300 is doing so well...could it be an indicator that the public is still interested in WINNING wars? "Simplistic" images of good guys vs. bad guys? A reminder that all those polls showing dissatisfaction with Iraq indicate a desire for more aggressive tactics, not withdrawal?
The box office take of The 300 is an encouraging sign of public mood.
Or maybe just a bunch of gamers watching it multiple times...
By , at
Tue Mar 13, 03:25:00 AM:
Both Iran and the effete just hate this movie.
Coincidence? I think not.
By 
Christopher Chambers, at
Tue Mar 13, 11:03:00 AM:
First, if the Iranians are complaining about this--especially the mullahs-in-charge, then they are certainly as silly as the few--FEW--pinheads on the left who've even given this thought, and the drooling right wingers out there--like one comment above (doing my Rush Limbaugh on drugs and a cocaine suppository imitation) "The Iranians and the effete despise, I ay DESPISE this movie."
Well the truth is that yeah it's bunch of gamers, teens, comic fans lie my sister and her boyfriend (who both wouldn't be too unhappy if that bloodclot in Cheney's leg were to move) seeing this thing multiple times. In April, the 300 for coarser adults, called Grindhouse (from Tarantino and Rodriguez) will supplant it.
Until then by the way, Frank Miller is indeed a liberal. That said, let me restate the liberal thought on this for the 100th time, especially for Mr. Effete and Iran out there:
The real-life homo aspect of the Spartans is something I would have thought the right would rail against. Indeed, they seem to have saved (or at least bought time for; it was the Athenian navy under Themistocles who eventually beat them) the very Western Civilization which righties feel that those pesky queers are destroying.
I met Frank Miller at NY Comic Con and he is aware of the politicization. He finds it laughable, as do I, but this is a sad knee jerk on the left for which liberals truly need to apologize. The "illegality" of the war was due only to the Spartan religious practices (indeed, one might say akin to our right wing evangelical orthodoxy?); Miller was just pointing up that part of the true story. The rest of it, as he still maintains (he's in ill health, by the way) was mere fantasy.
So let me try to parse the liberal mind on this one: Basically, it's common knowledge that the average American, brainwashed and plugged into symbols and myths by Fox News, et al, and intellectually short-changed by a No Child Left Behind brand of education, has a very limited idea of historical truth, trends, social history, geography, etc. Along comes a movie that most of such morons will take as historical fact, and on top of that, given that they lack critical thinking tools, they extrapolate support for the war in Iraq and other wild-ass Bush policies from lines in a CGI flick.
There's precedent. Look at the very tangible political/cultural/social drama that has plagued Texas premised soley on John Wayne's version of "The Alamo." A whole mythology that has translated into politicl strife grew directly from that film. 35 years after it's premiere, the story is remade based on actual documentary and archeological and even DNA research. Presto, chango--we have a fairly decent idea of the "truth." I dare say Billy Bob Thornton's interpretation of Davey Crockett, right down to the fact that he hated to be called "Davey" and the coonskin cap was a sick joke to him was dead on, and put John Wayne's to shame. Oh but the righties came scurrying out of the woodwork on that!!! Even the President had to comment, but this was on instance were Rove, our VP Dick and Roger Ailes may have urged him to be a little circumspect. Ditto for Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Not so with Mr. Perry, the governor, who put his foot in his mouth stating that the movie "made the Mexicans look like heroes," and disputed that these Texas martyrs had anything whatsoever to do with slavery. What a mess!
I think that's the likely vein of liberal thought on the matter. I could go on about The Passion of the Christ, The Last Temptation of Christ, Glory, Ride with the Devil and any other civil war flick; any film on Custer before the truth came out in Little Big Man. Any film on Indians likewise. Gone with the Wind--oh that image what slavery was about is still paramount in our thinking and is utterly falacious on so many levels.
By , at
Tue Mar 13, 05:26:00 PM:
"...whatever 300's cartoonish implications about ancient Persian culture, the hostility of fundamentalist Islam toward that same cultural tradition -- or those aspects of it that are inconsistent with a strict interpretation of Islamic law -- is far worse than anything in the obviously stylized movie."
This must be a very sensitive issue in Iran. Necessarily, Islam is antagonistic and considered superior to the preceding Persian civilization, just as Christianity is antagonistic and considered superior to preceding Roman civilization. However, many Persians have deep feelings about ancient Persian greatness.
I imagine that portraying the whole Persian army as a bunch of freakazoids would be as unpleasant to many Iranians as equally grotesque portraying of Roman legions would be to many Italians.
Some devout Persian Muslims disparage everything that was before Islam while some Persian nationalists consider Islamization of Persia as one of the greatest misfortunes to befall their land. Apparently, the government of Iran is trying to chart some sort of middle course. From the article that you referenced, "..."values in Iranian culture and the Islamic Revolution are too strongly seated to be damaged...", said the Iranin official."
By uniting Iranian (Persian) culture with Islam, the mullahs seem to be forging a stronger position. We need to criticize modern day mullahs and tread carefully on illusions of ancient glory.
Besides, Spartan society was extremely unpleasant and absolutely incompatible with almost all of our modern values.
By , at
Tue Mar 13, 09:03:00 PM:
The mullahs have built their nuclear facilities in all the most important Iranian cities that hold pre-islamic architectures and heritage. As we speak today, they are hell bent on destroying Pasargad and perspolis: for more info please read:
http://fleetingperusal.blogspot.com/2007/01/islamic-republic-planning-to-destroy.html#links
BTW, the singer on the soundtrack of "300" is an Iranian born woman. You can see he picture and the interview on my blog.
By , at
Wed Mar 14, 06:00:00 AM:
Christopher, Christopher, Christopher....
HUH? Your lame imitation of an intellectual ill suits you.
Also, you can't just pull phrases out of the "Little Lefty Guidebook", string them together, and expect anyone with a brain to understand them.
Go home. Take your meds. Come out to play when the majority of your brain cells are clicking.
By vetdino, at
Wed Mar 14, 10:13:00 AM:
let the idiots complain!! it's a fine movie showing that if they had won back then today we would be suffering from the same mullahs and islamofasists!!
long live the west!!
By , at
Wed Mar 14, 09:06:00 PM:
dear vetdino
back then, THERE WAS NO ISLAM IN PERSIA!!!!!!!
yeahi I know they never say this movie is accurate but the sad truth is, a lot of people are gonna think it is. a lot of kidas and teenagers are gonna think that the persians actually looked like that and now modern day iranians and middle easterns in general are the same way. so they do actually have a right to complain, not to stop the movie or anything(cuz thats just stupid), but to amke the voices heard and tell people that this is'nt historically accurate. so there are no misunderstandings and wrong thoughts about ancient persia, which to many people is of extreme importance.
and I saw the movie. other than the whole history issues, the graphics and music were amazing. just awesome!
By , at
Thu Mar 15, 12:14:00 AM:
Thats becuase unlike DANCES WITH WOLVES this movie 300 shows what would eventialy lead the western civilization and the persians(IRAN) are seen as violent killers
By , at
Thu Mar 15, 01:17:00 PM:
If We or Frank Miller are so concerned with Islamic extremisim pick a bone with a civilisation that got wiped off the map by Islam!!! Islam and Christianity came several hundred years after the Iranian-Greco war had ended.
Wouldn't be inaccurate to portray Alexandar and the Macedonians as Christians while you're using the real names and not a fictional name?
By , at
Fri Mar 16, 10:02:00 AM:
Hello guys.
I'm Shayan, 20 and writing from Tehran to you.
I can't see the movie because I'm in Iran(Persia), but I heard and read somthing about it.
I'm sorry about my bad english, it's not good.
Persians (Iranian People)are differ from mullahs (the gvernment)I know some of you hate Persians (I don't know why) but Persians are not as bad as you know.
Please, if you saw the movie or gonna to see it know that its just a tale and maybe just the names are true not whole the story and after seeing the movie read more about ancient Persia (if you can) and their thoughts.
