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After seeing the film 300 mere hours ago (my review to come Friday — be sure to stop back for that), I find it difficult to understand how someone would be against it. But I have also come to recognize that very little that happens in this world should come as a surprise.

UK site Filmstalker, a site that usually has a wealth of interesting posts beyond your average movie news, posted an article about a petition filed by a Dr. Hamed Vahdati Nasab. In the petition, Dr. Nasab addresses Warner Brothers and Director Zach Snyder, making claims that the film 300 is “according to all historical documents, is fraudulent and distorted, and its broadcast guarantees the violation of undeniable international legal rights.”

Upon further investigation of the petition, I found that Dr. Nasab went on to talk about the “proven scholarly fact that the Persian Empire in 480 B.C was the most magnificent and civilized empire.” This is all, of course, in reference to the film’s depiction of the Persian people (and King) as a ruthless horde of savages who sought to enslave the nations of Greece.

But then again, isn’t that how it was told in Greek history books? I am sure the Persian side is a bit more rosy. It is the same way that if Islamist extremists describe the war in Iraq 10 years down the road, I am sure they will tell it a bit differently than a farmer from Arkansas would. That is the nature of conflict and societal differences — there are multiple sides. We see similarities in our own country, especially between the two political parties. But are Republicans with vested interests in big oil petitioning Paramount over An Inconvenient Truth and how global warming may or may not actually exist. No. It is a movie, based on the beliefs (or imagination) of at least 1 person.

The same can be said for 300, a film based on the vivid imagination and interpretation of Frank Miller (who, coincidentally is not mentioned in the petition despite the fact that the concept is completely his). Miller’s graphic novel was adapted into a film and distributed for the purposes of entertaining Americans and making copious box office grosses. It was not made to piss of 1803 (at time of publication) Persians who sign an online petition.

The real question — who cares? It is just a movie.

With that, I open up the floor to our faithful readers. Do you care about this? Please leave some love in the comments area to the right…

Check out the petition created in defense to Dr. Hamed Vahdati Nasab’s allegations, created by our own Brian Gibson.
http://www.petitiononline.com/300/petition.html