Iranians call ‘300’ an ‘obvious insult’

The Iranians have an obvious gripe over the adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel, 300.

In an associated press article, Javad Shamghadri, cultural adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the movie was an attempt by the United States to humiliate Iran. Shamghadri also said the U.S. was trying to “compensate for its wrongdoings in order to provoke American soldiers and warmongers” against Iran.

Some Iranians also say the Greeks-vs-Persians action flick insults their ancient culture and provokes animosity against Iran.

The movie itself raked in $70 million over it's first weekend and is based on the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. In that battle, a force of 300 Spartans held off the massive invading armies of the Persian Empire at a mountain pass in Greece for three days.

The movie is as gruesome as Miller's other graphic novel-turned-movie, Sin City.

But this time it is not the violence that's drawing attention. It's the sexually flamboyant and almost homosexual depiction of the Persians that has the Iranians up in arms.

Director Zack Snyder has said he never intended to insult the Iranians or add to any hostility amongst the country and the United States.

But Iran suggests actions speak louder than words.

“It is a new effort to slander the Iranian people and civilization before world public opinion at a time of increasing American threats against Iran,” said the Ayende-No newspaper.

But do they have a right to be angry after the aggravation they've caused the world?

Plain and simple: The country is looking for scapegoat. They know most of the world is against their nuclear plans and they are looking for a way to pit other countries against the United States, the prime antagonist against Iran's program.

The movie is not likely to open there because of the government's restrictions on western films. So what's the big deal?

Western countries tolerate the harshly hypocritical and frequently advertised middle eastern views toward western civilization all the time. In fact, nearly 3,000 Americans died as a result of an extremist form of that view six years ago.

Hamshahri, another Iranian newspaper, has predicted that 300 will spark protests all over the world and that Iranians living in the U.S. and Europe will not be indifferent about this obvious insult.”

Good. Because The U.S. and Europe will not be indifferent to the building of nuclear weapons for genocidal reasons; not to mention the supplying of weapons to known terrorists.

I'll be owning this movie when it comes out on DVD.