Tonight we went to see the movie "300", and what we found instead was a polemic in support of Bush's policies, both domestic (the Patriot Act) and foreign (war campaigns on any country in the Middle East not named Israel).

In the movie, the Persian king Xerxes sends an emissary to the Spartan king, Leonides, instructing him to submit to the rule of Xerxes. Leonides responds by violating the age-old rule and having the messenger killed.

What ensues is the historically based tale of Leonides and 300 Spartan warriors momentarily holding off thousands of hordes of Persian soldiers in the narrow mountain pass leading to Sparta before finally succombing to the exotic, demonic, decadent, freakish and effeminate Persian hordes.

The cheerleading for the Patriot Act and war powers of the president starts early, with the king facing the prospect of war during the holy festival of Carneius; by Spartan law, it is forbidden to wage war in this month. In Frank Miller's take on Shakespearean dialogue, the king wonders "how the very laws I have sworn to protect now keep me from protecting them". The point is driven home when the queen is asked what she would tell the council while her husband wages war in violation of the law. "I'd tell them that the very freedom that they live by must come at the cost of blood."

When the queen voices her intentions to the treacherous and conniving councilmember Theron, he reminds her that the king's war is illegal, and tells her that the council will never approve the troop mobilization, declaring, "I own that council!" His duplicitous argument that the war is illegal proves to be a mere cover for the fact that he'd been paid off by Xerxes. How quaint and coincidental that a high-ranking Pentagon member recently questioned where various high profile law firms are obtaining their funding to defend the accused who sit in Guantanamo Bay. Nancy Pelosi would do well to check for the imprint of Xerxes on her gold coins.

But the movie addresses more than just the Patriot Act or war powers. It also goes out of its way to depict a battle that would allow Samuel Huntington to die a happy man. The Greeks all appear as western Europeans, whereas the Persians are represented by Africans, Arabs, Indians and even Chinese.

Like Braveheart, the movie presents a number of ancient and unschooled soldiers delivering stirring speeches about "our freedom", "our democracy" and even, centuries before the birth of the nation-state, references to "our country". These characterizations are juxtaposed to the despotic slavery of the Persian Empire. The Spartans may have simply forgotten that the Greek empire used extensive slave labor, and that voting was limited to males of the patrician class. And since they were after all austere soldiers, they may well not have known that some historians identify the very Persian Persepolis as the world's first democracy.

But throughout this pro-democracy blood orgy, there can be little doubt that the makers of 300 saved their most scathing words for the broadside against the modern middle east. One of the last lines in the movie features an exhortation to save our lands from "the tyranny and mysticism" of the attackers.

But like the bigots who killed Sikhs after 9/11 and the politicians who pandered to them by advocating and passing the Patriot Act before anyone had read it, the movie doesn't do subtlety, or at least, does not do it well.

The movie's initial sequence describes the Spartan process of inspecting newborns for physical imperfections, which if found, resulted in the heaving of the newborn off of a cliff. Since these same Spartans are the white and conservative good guys, it's anyone's best guess as to who protests for the rights of these killed newborns.

Nor does the irony end there. The movie's goal seems simple enough: dehumanize and denigrate the peoples, civilizations and political systems of the Middle East. How ironic that the chosen literary vehicle for this was a suicide mission of a few stout believers. Perhaps the Spartans, much like Fox News, bring more credibility to the people they cast as enemies.

so you are saying if the Muslim World did not have oil, this movie would still have been made?

Dumb Arabs = Oil Fields = Moslems or Whatever

Duh.

And how did you like "Ben Hur" and "Spartacus" and similar films of "300" ilk? Checking out the website for "300" indicates this is just another simple minded, exploitative B-grade, which traces it's roots back to Saturday matinee "serials" like "Flash Gordon" and "The Green Flash". This is to say, you've got a mole hill, not a mountain, here. Further evidence needed? Check out the credits of the writers, producers and directors, B-list types all. Best thing to do is to stifle the urge to buy a ticket. Or, if you really like to jazz up with this stuff, take a look at "Rome" or "Deadwood" on HBO. Meanwhile, please get a grip! Even Bollywood doesn't take itself as seriously as you seem to take "300".

Dude. Its a movie. If you place this much value in pop culture, you undermine ordinary peoples ability to reason for themselves and undermine the value of your ideas. You obviously expected alot from hollywood. Why?

Have not seen the movie yet, so will save my comments on the film until after I have seen it, but I wanted to make a comment on some of the other comments posted. Movies/Films are an important part of American pop culture and believe it or not, they DO influence the public on how to percieve the world. Dismissing this film as B-rated or "just a movie" shows that we Muslims are still unfamiliar with the fields of the media and do not understand why everyone is afraid of Islam and Muslims (in the West). Yes, it does matter what comes out of Hollywood (and even Bollywood...go watch "Mission Kashmir") when it comes to how they depict Arabs, Middle-Easterners and Muslims. People need to get their heads out of the sand and start learning the importance of film/tv in shaping public opinion in America!

Dude, you got it all wrong. The comic book 300 was written long before the patriot act and is a simple minded war comic. Its a huge battle and thats about it. The Spartans aren't portrayed that well either, as they kill deformed children. The version of 300 comes from Greek records and would be slanted towards them. The original comics is based on this hence why its so slanted.

You reading too much into this. Its a simple minded epic and it isn't suppose to be historically accurate at all. One look at the trailer will tell you this much. Its loosely based on the historical battle.

Also how many people would even associate Persia with present day Iran? Not a whole lot.

Sorry, but your article gets it wrong especially since the comics came out long before there was a patriot act. Your looking for parallels that could not have been intended by the author since they didn't exist at the time.

I don't mean to offend but it needs to be said, this article is badly researched and reactionary and takes the tone of this otherwise wonderful site down a notch.

Wes, you seem to be pretty ignorant of history if you think that the "patriot act" is a new thing, or the war on Islam and Muslims is a new thing. The enemies of Islam have been attacking us since the Prophet Muhammad (S) began to preach the message. The "West" has been afraid of Islam and Muslims since we conquered Byzantine Empire and starting going into Europe (Spain/France). You think that just because a story is written a long time ago, it does not relate or does not affect what is going on today? Unfortunately you are wrong. If you have watched tv/film for as long as I have and also studied a little bit about the Psychology of Mass Media, then you would realize that there is NO such thing as just a "simple minded" movie! Everything has hidden meanings and implications which are not obvious to the un-trained viewer. I could go into heavy deatils here, but because of limitations of space, go and study "Batman Returns"...google it and you will find many hidden meanings in the story about Christians vs. Jews. I know it is hard to believe, but you will be surprised when you see the truth. Hollywood is no joke (but maybe Bollywood is). We Muslims are just taking things lightly and dont realize the true impact it has...until it's too late!

Again, the specific parallels drawn by the article are wrong since the patriot act did not exist at the time of the creation of the graphic novel on which the movie is based. I am very well aware of history, but trying to paint 300 as more than it is here is paranoia. Its a movie, the people who buy into Xenophobic propaganda are probably too ignorant to figure out Persia = Iran. It this were anti-Muslim propoganda, it would be very simple so as to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

I have read a lot of Frank Millers work and his work is more based on anti hero archetypes such as his work on Batman, Sin City and Ronin. His characters tend to be ultra macho anti-heroes who are never wrong and fight the worst villains. This is a constant through out his work.

Trying to make this movie out to be more than it is and in the way you are trying to portray is paranoia in the extreme. The movie is at worse pro-war and at best an action epic. Read the graphic novel, the Spartans aren't portrayed in the best light really. They are pretty savage themselves.

I know in recent times Frank Miller has taken more of a right wing stance than before, but this doesn't make his previous work right wing propoganda all of a sudden. Trying to find anti-Muslim messages in this movie is a stretch. Millers stuff isn't too deep and his 300 is the best example of a pretty shallow tale. Its all about the action.

I know a lot about comics, I have read them since I was very young. 300 isn't more than it presents itself to be. The movie follows the comics very closely, to the point where the comic was basically a story board for the movie. The movie is pro-war and thats as deep as its message goes, anything else is hyperbole.

Wes, Don't take this the wrong way, but if you claim to be a comic book fan and have read all these famous stories, then I'm surprised that you do not understand the power of films and stories (including comics) in propaganda! Have you heard of the comic book "Nam", which is about the Vietnam War (Pro-US)? As you know there have been many, many comic books which have told stories to give the "American" (i.e. Pro-Western) point of view. One just has to look at "Captain America", "Superman", etc. etc. to name a few. Also every film starts out with a story board, which is basically a "comic book", thus it is easy for people like Frank Miller and other comic writers/artists (Stan Lee, etc.) to be successful in telling their stories on film. My friend Wes, please do not be naive. Yes, it is an "action movie", but it DOES have alot of impact on the public's perception...But for most people it happens subconsciously....same way that advertising is done....if you keep showing the same images (stereotypes) over and over again, then people will believe it! And YES, the people will put Persians and Iranians together. It is done with IMAGES. The Persians (and Arabs) are almost always shown as bad and evil people, who are "dark skinned", dirty, disgusting, etc. When these images are shown over and over again in these so-called "simple action films" then people start to believe it to be true. Ask any average American what they think about Arabs, Iranians/Persians and Muslims after they have seen all these movies and you will be surprised at what they actually believe (i.e. we are ugly and evil people who have no good qualities). Go study the work of Professor Jack Shaheen, who wrote a great book back in 1984 called "The TV Arab"....he breaks down all the stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims in famous films and tv shows from the 70's and 80's. Then if you still feel that these "simple movies" have no effect on the public....you are totally lost my friend, and I can't help you!

I have not seen this film nor have any desire to do so. An American friend lent me the trade paperback version of "300" many years ago and I thought it was pretty good. I don't recall there being an anti-Persian angle to it.
Hollywood is notorious when it comes perverting the creators original vision. In general, Hollywood produces crap....the fact that comic book based movies are making more money then regular films says a lot about the lack of talent and ideas there.

All groups need to establish and pass along through the generations their archetypes and stereotypes which explain how the world is, and why. At the higher levels of abstraction and aesthetic, the transmission takes place through such vehicles as literature and religion. At the lower levels, "pop culture" is the lowest common denominator for expression of archetypes, stereotypes, and their explanations. This is the domain of the mob, in any culture. "300", like much of pop culture, is just part of the bread and circuses which the cultural leadership provides to keep the mob pointed in the "right" directions. Any honest appraiser can find analogs of "300" in any culture, in any era. Getting all lathered up over pop cultural phenomena really seems, at least to me, a distraction from the real challenges facing us. Gotta find ways to deal with the "stinking thinking" rather than its expressions in pop culture. Sorry to say, I've seen pop culture media expressing Islamic values and beliefs in as poisoned and poisonous forms as any other culture's. When I see this in any culture, I try to remind myself that it is in the messengers, not the mess, that the real challenges lie. I would find it useful if fellows like Irfan and A. Arian would compare and contrast some of the popular presentations of Arab and Persian archetypes and stereotypes with those in question here. I know there are some great flics about Saladin, for example, which, while very entertaining, don't rise much above "300".

It is a movie, based almost entirely on the comic book. Almost every frame of the comic is is the movie as well as the lines of dialog. This is the closest adaption from graphic novel/book to movie that I have ever seen. However it is still just a movie, for entertainment. Some directors might put some hidden meaning in their movies, but not all. If you think there are 'always' hidden meanings built into every movie, then perhaps you need to find something better to do with your time than make shit up. The director explains clearly what he was trying to achieve with the creation of 300 over several interviews all posted right on the website. Wes it right that the comic book was written long before the Patriot Act ever came around. And to IrfanR, the actual history of the battle of Thermopolae happened long before Muhammad came around. This battle also helped decide the next few battles in the Greek and Persian wars that ended with the advancement of the Persian army into Europe. If that had not happened, this would be a very different world right now, and we might all be speaking non-latin based languages. Of course it seems like a 'pro white' whatever movie. It was at the time in history and so it still is now. Would you rather have the director decide that this could be seen as a racist movie so I'm going to make the Greeks look like Persians and visa versa. That would be pretty dumb. Now this isn't meant to be historically accurate, if that's what you want to watch, then go see a documentary. If you want entertainment, then go to the theater. If you are not entertained by this movie, then don't watch it. But to rip on the movie about how horrible and pro patriot act/anti arab it is, is ridiculous and far fetched. As I said earlier, perhaps you need something better to do with your time. You don't have to watch the movie.

First of all "artworkajb"...Im not making any "shit" up. I have been working in the field of Media Activism, Film/Video and TV production arenas for over 10 years now, so I think I know a little about how the medium is used. Unfortunately, most Muslims think it is a waste of time to actually study these fields, and thus, the majority, such as yourself are very ignorant and naive about it, and think it is only a movie and no big deal! Let me also clarify that I am a big fan of movies and tv, so I have nothing against these forms of entertainment, and I also do plan on watching "300" because I think it will be entertaining to watch, BUT what I am trying to tell people here on these postings is that Let's not be so naive to think that these types of films do not have any negative impact on the public and that there are not MEANING behind films. ALL FILMS TELL A STORY AND ALL STORIES HAVE A MEANING. It is very simple. Nothing here which is out of the ordinary. But for those Muslims (and others), who are untrained and uneducated in these fields of Mass Media and the use of Psychology and Propaganda, then they can ONLY SEE WHAT IS ON THE SURFACE...in front of them on the screen...and nothing else. You can believe whatever you want, that is fine by me, but Please do NOT underestimate the power of these media tools (Film, TV, Radio, etc.), because you feel it is just for entertainment or just for fun. It is much more than that. As a Media Activist, I have worked in this field long enough to realize this. In time, more Muslims will do the same. To "emjayinc" and anyone else, you can read some other articles and reviews I have done for other films and tv programs on: [url=http://www.jam-productions.com]http://www.jam-productions.com[/url]

Some Iranians are a little upset about it: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117961076.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

@IrfanR
I never said Millers stuff doesn't have a message. All I said is that his stuff isn't all that deep. What you see on the surface is the message. All his stuff is basically the good guys versus the corrupt totalitarian. The good guys take the form of super macho anti-Heroes. 300 is a continuation of this.

His Batman, Sin City and his other work have this theme. Its something he uses a lot. The article get the wrong meaning from 300. Its looking for something that isn't there. The movie is a simple good guys versus the bad guys in a lot of ways. This is the sort of thing Miller is known for.

So there is a meaning, but the articles authors goes looking for a different meaning than is intended. I base this on Millers past work as well at the graphic novel which was created before a lot of the parallels mentioned existed.

Wes, yes I understand what you are saying as well, but there are sometimes two meanings for the film...one is on the surface which post people see, and the other is hidden...which is for the sub-conscious. Let me give you a good example: BORAT. Most people enjoyed the movie (as did I) as a comedy about a guy from Kazakstan who goes around doing crazy things and being stupid in his "backward" ways. Some people (ignorant) even thought the movie was Anti-Semetic, etc. Now all that is on the surface. If you look deeper, and get the true and actual HIDDEN messages in the film you will realize (which is now widely known) that in fact the movie was completely against Anti-Semitism and was showing how people have these tendencies already (i.e. racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, etc.). Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor/comedian who plays Borat is a practicing Jew who lived in a Kibbutz in Israel and still has family there. He also spoke Hebrew in the film Borat, which was like an "inside joke" for all the Israelis and Jews who watched the film. Some of the lines he was saying in Hebrew was also famous lines from old Hebrew TV shows in Israel. Now all this stuff you can find on the internet and search for it. The thing I'm trying to point out is that not everything is as it seems on the surface. Even though Frank Miller is just repeating an old story and being true to the comic book, does not mean that the Hidden meaning is not there. Remember, Film/TV also affects your Pysche. The images and stereotypes go deep into our minds and then when something happens, we immediately are reminded of them! Sorry if I offended anyone, and this will be my last post on this subject. If anyone would like to continue this discussion, you can contact me thru my website: [url=http://www.jam-productions.com]http://www.jam-productions.com[/url] Peace!

It's scary to see how naive and blind people are.

This is "just a movie" as much as "Birth of a Nation" was "just a movie".
Can you imagine creating "Birth of a Nation" again and then say "hey, just a movie based on some old book".

Or why not re-create "The Eternal Jew" and then say "just a show, relax!".

Hollywood is very well connected to Washington. In fact, Dov Simens in one of his seminars bluntly said "Washington is employed by Hollywood!".

You just got to be purely blind not to see the propaganda value of "300".

IrfanR, when I said 'making shit up' I was referring to the posts about this being an anti arab/pro patriot act movie. That of course is ridiculous, and a far reach for a reason to look for bad in something where none exists. I don't really care if you have 50 years of experience in the movie industry, if this is your opinion, that the movie's intent is to bash on arabs, then you are making shit up. You are right that every movie tells a story, that is what a movie is: a story in film format. The story here is about a battle that really happened, the Persians really were spreading and conquering Asia and into Europe. The Greeks stood up to them and stopped the invasion. You are also right that movies can have a huge impact on people's perspectives. I do not underestimate the power of film. But you have to look at it from both ways; Not only could this movie have a negative impact, it could also have a positive impact. Instead of searching for the negative in everything, (this is demeaning, racist, etc etc etc), why don't you spend your time looking for the positive? In the face of adversity, a handful of soldiers stood up to insurmountable odds and held off an attack using superior fighting skill and strategy to give their country a chance to prepare. It is an underdog story. Perhaps one of the greatest in history. That of course is debatable, since there are many such stories from every country, race, nationality, whatever. And please do not think of me as ignorant in the film industry. I also work in that field, not as an activist but a director/producer/creator whatever you want to call it. 300 is one of the greatest action films I have ever seen. It is visually spectacular with a good storyline behind it, thanks to history and Frank Miller. The fight choreography is excellent and this movie, more than any other, has inspired me to attempt to achieve similar amazing results in my own work. How's that for impact on the public? And not a negative impact either.

Well I’m going to be a total fence-sitter on this one. On one hand, Irfan has a good point that movies can have hidden meanings and have the power to build/reinforce stereotypes. This obviously has the potential to be an extremely negative force for Middle-Easterners if they are repeatedly shown in a negative light.

On the other hand, to say this movie “justif(ies) aggressive policies towards the Muslim world” and suggest a close connection between Washington and Hollywood seems absurd to me. What about movies where Muslims aren’t demonized? Saladin in ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ was a champion with a strong and fair sense of morality, while most of the Christian commanders were sadistic murderers.

Andrea -

Your assessment has two major flaws:

1- "a close connection between Washington and Hollywood seems absurd to me."
This statement is seriously flawed as the connection between Washington and Hollywood is very well documented in the academic world. Some library research will reveal information on how even Pentagon plays a role in major Hollywood film production and even editing/censoring Hollywood scripts. FBI's link to Hollywood goes back to the 30's and so on. Plenty of documentations out there, again I suggest visiting your local library (don't rely only on google) to find some info on this fact.

2- You gave "Kingdom of Heaven" as an example of a movie that does not portray Muslims in a negative light. Perhaps Saladdin was not portrayed as a bad person, but did you notice how Muslims were portrayed like cartoonish characters that were lousy fighters? The Knights kicked butt, while Muslims could hardly make any progress.
Having said that, historically speaking Saladdin himself is a controversial figure because he was more friendly to the Jews and Christians than to his Muslim foes whom he killed with no mercy. The "flawless" character of Saladin was another misinformation by Hollywood. Saladdin is revered mostly by the people of Iraq (that's were he is from), but if you ask people in Egypt or Iran, you'll get a different account.

Point is, a person who is very well educated in Media and its history knows very well that "300" is NOT "just another popcorn movie". It portrays all the "values" preached in the past 8 years, from "either you are with us or against us" to "great good west versus evil nasty east" attitude.
This movie for sure promotes clash of cultures and civilizations that many contemporary scholars have warned us about. This includes the comic itself, as the controversy started long time ago when the comic was released.

Maybe ‘300’ does reinforce conservative values/policies to some extent — I’m just saying that Iran’s claims are exaggerated. I think this for a few reasons:
1. Because the two civilizations (Greek & Persian) weren’t portrayed as purely good and evil (for example the unfit babies killed by Spartans). So it’s not totally a “great good West”.
2. Leonides goes to war without legal approval and the Spartans pay a heavy price. So from another perspective, it is an attack on the Bush administration.
3. There are definitely movies created by Hollywood that cause anger and frustration in the Government (i.e. the movie “V for Vendetta” springs to mind, because the heroes were terrorists). You claim “300” has propaganda value, and maybe it does. But if you draw a parallel between “300” and current times and then you cant ignore movies that counter Government interests like “V”
4. This is a brainless action movie designed for teenage boys who will see then forget about it the next day


Also, I didn’t think the Muslims in ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ were cartoonish at all, they kicked arse! And the knights were only good against the poor trade caravan~ and were then destroyed at the Battle of Hattin --- Seriously, its not all as bad as you think!