Iran condemns Hollywood war epic

Iran condemns Hollywood war epic

news.bbc.co.uk

Historical war epic 300 has been criticised as an attack on Iranian culture by government figures.

The Hollywood film, which has broken US box office records, is an effects-laden retelling of a battle in which a small Greek army resisted a Persian invasion.

Daily newspaper Ayandeh-No carried the headline "Hollywood declares war on Iranians".

The paper said: "It seeks to tell people that Iran, which is in the Axis of Evil now, has for long been the source of evil and modern Iranians' ancestors are the ugly murderous dumb savages you see in 300."

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
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I haven't seen this movie yet - only the trailer, and I must say that the timing is really perfect. I mean, could the main "Bad Guys" in the movie - The Persians - be a more obvious reflection of Iran today? And I must admit, that it is kind of insulting towards an entire history of Persia - and Iran - to be portrayed as a dumb, ugly, evil, ork like, savages.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 13/3/07 by Souljah]

I watched the film and can't say I thought about Iran once. It was based on the Battle of Thermopylae which was a real event. I guess Iran doesn't ever like to remember history. 300 spartians and 700 Thespians did hold off a persian army of 1 million.

en.wikipedia.org...

ugh, for the record i saw the movie and loved it.

the main thing people dont seem to realize is that it is NOT based on straight history but in fact based on a graphic novel (read comic book) from 1998.

the graphic novel was inspired by the battle of Thermopylae

i dont see their issue though.

persia did invade greece. sparta did fight against it

if they want to get uptight about how their ancient ancestors are portrayed that jsut seems like they are looking for an excuse to be pissed off really.

Let us be honest...

The Battle of Thermopylae probably did not happen how we are told. Does anyone honestly believe that an Army of 300 people could hold off an Army of over 1,000,000?

But aside from the historical problems. (Do the math 1,000,000/300.).

Iran does need to grow up a bit here - or at least those who find a problem. The fact is a battle did happen, people do put it as roughly 300 people killing 1,000,000 (although this is still being challenged). It is not them saying: The Iranians are stupid, backward or so on and so fourth - however the timing is interesting. But I do believe the movie makes no reference to Iran and how many people know that Iran is/was Persia? I seriously doubt the Average Joe does.

Originally posted by Odium
Let us be honest...

The Battle of Thermopylae probably did not happen how we are told. Does anyone honestly believe that an Army of 300 people could hold off an Army of over 1,000,000?

But aside from the historical problems. (Do the math 1,000,000/300.).

actually it did. You have the same attitude of the Persian General Xerxes. What they failed to understand was that there was only way for the army to get through, pass of Thermopylae (The Hot Gates). The pass was so narrow that only one chariot at a time could pass through. Once the Persian army was bottlenecked all their numbers were meaningless.

EDIT: It took two days to figure out that a frontal assault in the pass would not work.

"On the second day Xerxes sent, according to Ctesias, another 50,000 to assault the pass. Again they failed. The account of the slain gives some indication why: the wall of bodies must have broken up the Persian line and detracted from their morale. Climbing over the bodies, they could see that they had stepped into a killing machine but the officers behind prevented them from withdrawing. Xerxes at last stopped the assault and withdrew to his camp, totally perplexed. By now he concluded that a head-on confrontation against Spartan-led troops in a narrow place was the wrong approach."

en.wikipedia.org...


[edit on 13-3-2007 by zerotime]

Remember, it's based on a true story.

It's amazing how many people learn their history from Hollywood. This to me is a major problem in our society.

Take some true facts and use them for underhanded, almost subliminal purposes to evoke just the right emotions and points of view.

Happens all the time and NO ONE IS IMMUNE.

I have not yet seen the movie, but knowing the basic facts and having seen the previews, as well as all of the marketing hype over the last three months I had already concluded that it was going to contain a heavy dose of "bias".

Remember this story from November 2001?

Hollywood executives meet with Karl Rove to discuss ways in which the film industry could contribute to the "war on terrorism".

From BBC: Bush adviser meets Hollywood execs

Forty-seven representatives attended from most of Hollywood's major studios, including CBS, Sony, Viacom, Dreamworks and MGM.

Mr Rove said the studio chiefs had a lot to offer.

"These people, like every other American, feel strongly about the events of 11 September and the need to see this war through to its victorious conclusion," he said.

You think they will make it very obvious like those old war propaganda films of the 30's and 40's? They're smarter and more subtle than that.

Here is a long book review on "Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon shapes and censors the movies by David L. Robb". It's been going on for decades!


In this case, take a real historical event and portray it in such a way to evoke feelings of good and moral heroism in the viewer and make the enemy look like a bunch of rag-tag "barbarians" and voilà! You've helped the "war on terror". Most people won't even know what been done to them.

I will see the movie eventually but with my eyes wide open along with the knowledge that Hollywood has had five years since that meeting with Rove to craft their contributions to the "war on terror".
.

edit: link fixed


[edit on 3/13/2007 by Gools]

Originally posted by Gools
Remember, it's based on a true story.

I have not yet seen the movie, but knowing the basic facts and having seen the previews, as well as all of the marketing hype over the last three months I had already concluded that it was going to contain a heavy dose of "bias".

In this case, take a real historical event and portray it in such a way to evoke feelings of good and moral heroism in the viewer and make the enemy look like a bunch of rag-tag "barbarians" and voilà! You've helped the "war on terror". Most people won't even know what been done to them.

I will see the movie eventually but with my eyes wide open along with the knowledge that Hollywood has had five years since that meeting with Rove to craft their contributions to the "war on terror".
.

The persian army was a slave army, but the main persian fighters in 300 were the immortals and they were protrade pretty well. They were the only ones to kill the spartians and the greeks were terrified of them.

en.wikipedia.org...

As for anyone messing with the film you can believe what you like but the movie is very close to the graphic novel written by Frank Miller in 1998. It was pretty much dead on. I would recommend reading it before you see the movie.

en.wikipedia.org...

Originally posted by zerotime
actually it did. You have the same attitude of the Persian General Xerxes. What they failed to understand was that there was only way for the army to get through, pass of Thermopylae (The Hot Gates). The pass was so narrow that only one chariot at a time could pass through. Once the Persian army was bottlenecked all their numbers were meaningless.

I suggest you read your own source:

Modern estimations tend to consider the figures given in ancient texts as miscalculations or exaggerations on the part of the victors. It is assumed that if Herodotus' 300,000 estimate at Mycalae were to be accepted, then the land army at Thermopylae could not have surpassed 500,000, and the total Persian presence in Greece would be estimated at 1,000,000. This accounts for one fifth of Herodotus' record.

Forget Wikipedia and read a real history book.

Persia was the first empire NOT to use slavery nor enslave it's conquered enemies. It was quite the enlightened policy for the times and stands out in history.

I bet most people don't even know the brilliant military manoeuvre this battle is remembered for and I'm betting it was completely left out of the movie.
.

This topic is really "rich", and I was hoping it would show up here.

I don't recall the persians, er, iranians having a problem with the movie about Alexander kicking their butts all over the middle east, so why the problem with this one? Only thing I can guess is that the persians, er, iranians perceived the Alexander movie as portraying them in in a better light, fighting battles as men, perhaps even with a chance to win. While the true story of the 300 Spartans shows how really stupid the persian commanders were back then. Another thing to be puzzled about as to the persian, er, iranian attitude is that they did win this battle, although it took the help of a Greek traitor for them to be able to win.

Finally, what is it with these people? First it was the uproar over cartoons "insulting" their religion. Now we have to worry that we might also insult some of their 2,500 year old ancestors? Are we going to have riots now with people dying because of a movie depicting a 2,500 year old event?



[edit on 3/13/2007 by centurion1211]

Originally posted by Odium

I suggest you read your own source:

Modern estimations tend to consider the figures given in ancient texts as miscalculations or exaggerations on the part of the victors. It is assumed that if Herodotus' 300,000 estimate at Mycalae were to be accepted, then the land army at Thermopylae could not have surpassed 500,000, and the total Persian presence in Greece would be estimated at 1,000,000. This accounts for one fifth of Herodotus' record.

Hey, if it makes you feel better to believe the Persian Army was only 500,000 instead of 1 million great.

Originally posted by Gools
Forget Wikipedia and read a real history book.

Persia was the first empire NOT to use slavery nor enslave it's conquered enemies. It was quite the enlightened policy for the times and stands out in history.

I bet most people don't even know the brilliant military manoeuvre this battle is remembered for and I'm betting it was completely left out of the movie.
.

Thanks gools but I have a degree in History. It was my minor but still a degree. I had planned on being a history teacher but I decided to head down a different road.

I never said that persia was the first to use slave armies or to enslave so I am not sure why you decided to say that.

Feel what you like about Wikipedia it does a great job of detailing the Battle of Thermopylae.

Also the Graphic Novel and the Movie show how brilliant a miltiary Maneuver this battle was. You are making comments about a book you have never read and a movie that you have never watched.

See how unstable Iran is? They think there is hidden messages in our movies!!! LOL, OUR MOVIES!!! LOL..

Someone explain to them that you can't believe everything you see on tv.

Originally posted by zerotime
Hey, if it makes you feel better to believe the Persian Army was only 500,000 instead of 1 million great.

No.

I don't really worry either way.

However, I dislike people who try to pass something off as fact when it isn't. You can not proove that 1 million people were there, your own source doubts it but still you try and paint yourself off as knowing the exact amount of people.

Originally posted by zerotime
I never said that persia was the first to use slave armies or to enslave so I am not sure why you decided to say that.

Ummm...

Originally posted by zerotime
The persian army was a slave army, ...

Originally posted by zerotime
...the Graphic Novel and the Movie show how brilliant a miltiary Maneuver this battle was.

Does it? It shows how the Persians got a land force from Asia to Europe? If so, kudos to them.

You are making comments about a book you have never read and a movie that you have never watched.

I already admitted that.

The main point I'm trying to make is that Hollywood can and does portray things with a heavy dose of pro-american/pro-western bias.
.

Originally posted by Connected
See how unstable Iran is? They think there is hidden messages in our movies!!! LOL, OUR MOVIES!!! LOL..

Someone explain to them that --you can't believe everything you see on tv. --

For a reason. It's all propaganda. You don't think 300 SPARTAAAAAAAAAANS Going against out next war bogeyman has a propaganda effect ? The timing couldn't be better.

All indications are this country is stupid as hell. Enough will use this nonsense to just fuel whatever other nonsense to start war with Iran.
Then again, expecting these same people to know Iranians are Persian might be giving them too much credit.

Nevermind.





[edit on 13-3-2007 by AwakeAndAllSeeing]

[edit on 13-3-2007 by AwakeAndAllSeeing]

Originally posted by Gools

Originally posted by zerotime
I never said that persia was the first to use slave armies or to enslave so I am not sure why you decided to say that.

Ummm...

Originally posted by zerotime
The persian army was a slave army, ...

I'm sorry. My fault. I misread your original statement. I thought you wrote that the Persians were not the FIRST army to have slaves. Your actual statement was was that "Persia was the first empire NOT to use slavery." This is not true of the persia army lead by Xerxes. The entire front ranks of the Persian army were expendable slaves and they were enslaving the Athenians in their greek invasion.

Actually... the 300 were wiped out to a man so they did not hold off the Persian army...however they made an incredibly noble and doomed stand.

I've seen the movie. It's got some great visuals, and a great story. I am not concerned with how much is fiction and how much is fact. I know the movie was based off a graphic novel. As an artist I have a lot of fun drawing and painting battle scenes. I like history, and sometimes I like using historical fact to mix with fiction. Sometimes true stories are more amazing than fiction. That being said...... as I watched the movie I just KNEW someone would become offended over it, and I also knew that some would shout "Propaganda!" At times like these you have to watch movies like "300" with caution. Remember that it is a graphic novel, that it is mostly fiction (if the creative, imagined CG monsters don't give that away, I don't know what will), and that it is made for entertainment purposes. Whatever else you take away from it (politics, propaganda, etc) is going to ruin the movie for you. You can keep that in mind, but it's fantasy people! Enjoy the story, enjoy the characters and leave it at that. I'd hate to have some of my artwork turned into commentary on todays politics. I just enjoy history and fantasy,..... or do I need to start making sure that all of my artwork is politically correct too??

Another thing...... should we start banning Hollywood and artists from producing artwork and films that on some fine scale resemble today's conflicts?? Should we wait until the conflict is over? When is it O.K. to make these movies and show them? I'd hate to have to wait until the end of the war to see the type of movies I enjoy watching. People need to chill out.