Iran angered over films 'The Wrestler' and '300'
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46 Comments
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0
kinniku
They should apologize. There is really no need for this kind of thing in today's movies.
0
Badsey
Alexander married into the Achaemenid --> that pretty much settles it right there. =Upto that time the Greeks were the inferior class and Alexander was "the great" or as they say now "greatest"
0
yabits
I hear Kim Jong Il is still not over his portrayal in "Team America."
0
70x4060d
Yabits,
He's neither seen nor heard of it.
0
yabits
Oh, yeah. He's seen it.
Just ask Hans Blix.
0
likeitis
Were any of these actors involved in the offending films? Then why should they apologize?
Iran should just start making some equally inane movies about Americans. So long as they are subtle (which is difficult) it would be perfect.
But something I think these people complaining might not realize is that Hollywood movies are sometimes also critical of America, but granted, its not as silly or annoying as when its done in this manner to others.
Anway, 300 was such a freaking comic book. And it pre-dates Islam. And the people were not called Iranians, they were either Persians or peoples the Persians had dominated. So who cares? I am also critical of the way the Persians were portrayed. It was just silly. But it had nothing to do with Iran, and anybody who takes it as a reflection on Iran is an idiot, and that is really all there is to say about it.
0
rollonarte
Annette Bening, like most celebutards, thinks that if she dons the hijab (which she dutifully did,like a good dhimmicrat) and praises Iran for its 'culture', all will be like new and the 'the fist' will no longer be 'clenched.'
Moderator: Please do not use meaningless words like "celebutards." They lower the level of discussion and reflect badly on yourself.
0
ebisen
Stupid unnecesarry scene in the movie (the flag fight) - why whould they make it in such a way? The historical movie "might" have happenede this way - but as you know, history depends widely on who is telling it, and the Antiquity Greeks were well known for their opens sexuality and homosexuality as well..
0
neverknow2
Obviuosly you are American. Iran was known as Persia until March 1935. It offends them, even if it does not offend you. I'm not sure the aricle made a reference to Islam!? Maybe you should see a doctor about any voices you may or may not be hearing in your head.
0
Sarge
"During a fight scene the 'Ayatollah' tries to choke Rourke with an Iranian flag before Rourke pulls the flagpole away and throws it into the cheering crowd."
"They should apologize. There really is no need for this kind of thing in today's movies."
What! But we need nore comedy in today's movies!
0
likeitis
It didn't. I did.
The Persians portrayed in 300 were not even Islamic. So who cares if they were decadent? Obviously, Islam does not tolerate decadence.
And there is a city called Sparti (Sparta) in Greece. If you think there is a hard and fast relation to the Sparta of over 2000 years ago you have no sense of perspective.
Names and regions and peoples have changed. Iran may drop the name Iran someday and go back to being Parthians. The point is that they are not the same people.
Well that was certainly from out of left field. Speaking of someone seeing a doctor about voices...
0
cnc
c'mon movies are movies, just simple entertainment. And although some movies do tend to be based on true stories or history, it does not mean that they depict actual events. How can they its not like we have confirmed eyewitnesses from 400B.C. to give us accurate accounts on how those events occurred.
Its funny how they want the Americans to apologize for using the Iranian flag improperly, which also raises the question, How many times have they (the Iranians) apologized for burning the American flag, to the American people!
The best thing to do is just watch the movie and enjoy. its a fact that you will not even remember the hidden messages, if there are any, after a few hours.
Footnote: India and Pakistan regularly and ruthlessly bash eachother in their movies, we dont see them fighting over that, infact they enjoy the movies for just what they are...movies.
0
skipthesong
"They should apologize. There really is no need for this kind of thing in today's movies.""
That's right, there is no place for stuff like that in today's movies.. We should only show the west in negative light. Have any of you gone to the ME and watched Arab TV and if you go to Turkey you can catch some Iranian TV... The best has to be of the Jews as vampires!!
I sense most here only watch movies made from the UK or US. And, I think Hollywood goes way out to show positive portrayals of other peoples. Sure a few pop up every now and then. Even 24 has only shown one episode of terrorist being Muslim while all the rest were European extracts.
Additionally, I would recommend many here to watch some very old movies that never really made it. You'd be surprised by issues they were hitting back in the days of B/W.
0
airrunwesker
Hollywood racist? "Birth of a Nation"! Hollywood has came a long way! Give em credit for the small steps...
0
kinniku
Skip,
I am not suggesting that. I am suggesting that if the US would like to hold itself up as an example they should set a good one.
The Iranian flag scene was unneccessary and meaninglessly insulting. You cannot justify it by suggesting (correctly so, by the way) there are other countries that do the same kind of thing. I would suggest that more people are aware of those other countries' movies about which you have written. However, it is true that the reality is that other countries' movies generally are not seen as widely and do not have the broad influence and impact that US movies seem to do.
If it is wrong, it is wrong.
0
kinniku
Nahhh, they just go to the brink of nuclear war every once in a while instead...
0
Sarge
"300"
Seriously bloody movie.
0
mareo2
I know that nationalists can be very sensitive with the flags, so an apology maybe is fine. But... 300!?
0
Badsey
It is the re-writing of history with blatant lies that angers these people. To them it is unacceptable behavior that makes no logical sense -so why do it?
300: Held up the mighty Persian army and all the barbarians were eventually slaughtered anyway.
0
dennis0bauer
The should watch some wreslting matches with the sheik.
en what has current Iran to do with the Persian Empire?
0
timeon
I think Iran should apologize from changing the name of the great Persia into Iran, to please the fascist aryans
0
shouganaika
it was perfectly necessary! flag waving and jingoistic nonsense is a significant element of american wrestling (and movies). The movie doesn't have to be supporting that crowd just by showing it. some wrestling fans are idiots who get off on thinking 2 fellas from different countries bashing each other up in a ring has any kind of larger nationalistic significance? yes, many probably do. Is showing that in a movie wrong? No, definately not
0
skipthesong
I hereby protest the disgusting films of Scarface, the TV show Cain, and I protest re-runs of Ricky Ricardo.
If you are with Iran on this issue and you watch any of the above, you are a hypocrite in my book.
0
skipthesong
I meant cane!
0
likeitis
I have not seen the movie. But, I have to wonder if there would be any complaint if the Iranian wrestler used that move to win?
The whole deal does not really symbolize anything special to me. I do not watch that and feel all of Iran took a blow, just that wrestler. Anything seems somewhat hypersensitive to me.
About all I can say is that no nation's flag should be treated that way.
0
OneForAll
Hang in there Hollywood. New film "Nine member team takes on the Iranian religious right". The freedom of the press will prevail. Sorry but we need it for a free society. I liked that film "300". Brave souls and they should be remembered. Who here would stand up against Tens of thousands? Never even thought of the modern day Iran. Beautiful people and I hope they evolve to a free state.
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likeitis
I really wish that were true. Unfortunately, there is a lot of propaganda in there. People can't help but connect it to real life, and the movie makers can help but inject real life and current events into them. Planet of the Apes was inspired by the racial upheavals of the era it was made.
That a super good point. I doubt most Americans could even identify an Iranian flag, and bet few have ever seen one burn or even considered doing it. In fact, I bet more Americans have burned the American flag, and witnessed Americans doing it!
0
sailwind
Ummmmm
Somebody should clue the Iranians in that 'Pro' Wrestling is fake and as campy as you can get.
Next thing you know the left will demand that Pro-Wrestling will also now be politically correct, so as not to offend ones sensibilities.
I demand that Hulk Hogan also apologize for all those years he wrestled 'The Iron Sheik' who also sported an Iranian flag when he entered the ring, and yelling Iran Number one ( and famous for his signature hold 'The Camel Clutch') in the past.
0
bebert
I agree with an above poster. During the 1980's there was a lot of jingoism in wrestling, with the "bad guys" being Russian, Iranian, Arab and (oddly) American religious conservative characters. So the Iranian flag deal made sense.
"Birth of a Nation"? Really? You have to go back 90 years and pick a film that repeatedly makes the list of the top 100 films of all time to find racism in Hollywood? Try reading the book "The TV Arab" by Jack Shaheen to find some racist anti-Arab films from the 60's, 70's and 80's by our ever so tolerant Hollywood. Then pick through a bunch of films in the 1990's and this decade where the bad guy is a white Southerner or European with a German (Nazi) accent. One reason I like Japanese films is they don't pick their bad guys from the stock character cookie cutter of liberal Hollywood bogeymen.
0
kinniku
likeitis,
Well, first I think it is insulting to frivolously use the title of a religious leader. What is next. The 'Rabbi', complete with the headgear and long side burns? The 'Pope', complete with headgear, robes etc? I understand there is a 'good guy/bad guy' aspect of Pro Wrestling. There has been Pro Wrestling in Japan for a long time. However, I think it is about time people started to attempt to respect each other more and think about how they would feel if they were a true follower of the faith they are using in the movie.
I am merely suggesting a little bit more perspective on the part of writers that sometimes seem to be taking the easy way out.
0
kinniku
To add, for those who suggest the Ayatollah part was put in to show how 'simplistic' the characters are and how Pro Wrestling fans eat that stuff up. Fair enough, but they could have demostrated this without insulting someone else's faith.
I am all for freedom of speech and would not suggest this kind of expression should be banned or anything. However, people should also be able to voice their complaints about it as well.
0
LFRAgain
Freedom of speech means little without the responsible exercise thereof. If you're going to use a prominent religious figure of another culture, then you should do so without insulting that culture through blatantly negative stereotypes.
With that said, Iran could learn a bit from this in that the views expressed in one film do not represent the views of the industry as a whole, much less the views of those that go to see such films. The point being, everyone has a right to a viewpoint. But no one has an inalienable right to not be offended.
Javad Shamaqdari needs to not only grow up a little, but he also needs to grow a pair, as do the vast majority of Iranians who buy into this jingoistic "Our Faith is Beyond Reproach" crap that's been grinding US-Iranian ties to a halt. Iran has a loooong way to go with regard to understanding the value of, much less the preservation of, human rights.
0
rollonarte
What a laugh this is. Arab and Iranian TV regularly feature the most obscenely racist portrayals of Jews and Xtians.It is the moral relativism and the self-loathing of the cultural Left in the West that encourages Iran, Saudi Arabia and the various failures of Islamic social engineering around the world in their completely one way understanding of "tolerance."
0
adaydream
I guess they'll have to go back to Iran. < :-)
0
sailwind
Kinniku
They did that also. It's just campy silly entertainment and everyone (except the Iranians) know it. This is just plain silly (in my opinion). It's just like when the Soviets made a big deal about Rocky 4 or was it was 3??? When he fought the Soviet Champion and they had a hissy fight then also.
One other thing the Iranians don't get also. The Bad guy wins as much as he loses, just in the end the good guy always wins. The basic storyline for almost every Hollywood movie ever made with a good guy / bad guy plot.
Anyway 'Brother Love' was pretty annoying when he was wrestling and I'm glad he's not anymore! I also have to ask the folks that live in Japan, remember 'Hard Gay'........ That was pretty silly also but I didn't see the Gay community get all up in arms about his character either, they knew it was just as silly as "Brother Love" and his bio below or the "Ayatollah" in this movie.
Brother Love was a character of controversial nature, which is nothing new for WWE. Back in the 1980's there were plenty of televangelist scandals going on involving religion. The WWE famously mocked these incidents by "showing some love" and preaching to the masses. For a while, Brother Love had been doing in-ring segments with various afflicted people and they would claim he had cured them of their problems. His love was felt all over.
In the "Ultimate" act of love, Brother Love's character was beat down by the Ultimate Warrior in March of 91.
0
SuperLib
Complaining over a professional wrestling movie? It just makes Iran look silly.
0
Triumvere
A little thin skinned, Iran? You've been calling us the "Great Satan" for years, and whats up with all those "Death to the USA" and anti-american murals you've got up everywhere? But a movie is to harsh fo you?
0
rollonarte
Poor Iran, just can't get any respect. They invite Sean Penn to one of their state-sponsored hatefests in Teheran, ten thousand militants shrieking "death to America, death to Israel," and how does he repay them? - he goes back to the US to portray Harvey Milk in a movie which wins him the academy award.
0
OssanAmerica
Let's ban all Hollywood movie exports to Iran. Come on, how big is Iran's contribution to global revenue? They don't like it they don't have to watch.
0
rajakumar
Hollywood makes all sorts movies,people criticise them for many reasons. Just don't watch them.
Pictures like titanic,james band movies,star wars movie and others, they have brought Billions in US dollars to US movie industries.
It is one of the ways US got richer than other nations.
Iranians should make better pictures,if they want others to criticise their movies or to get richer in Iran.
0
ca1ic0cat
Iran makes movies too and a lot of those make all westerners out to be GWB on a bad hair day. Are they going to apologize for that?
I think the Iranian conservatives are going to become even more shrill as Obama trys to extend a hand to thaw relations. The last thing the conservatives want is to loose their great enemy. There won't be any way to deflect public opinion about their own shortcomings.
0
kinniku
sailwind,
I admit I am not extremely familiar with US Pro Wrestling. However, I don't remember any 'Pope' or 'Rabbi' characters in the 'sport'. In addition, this was a movie and not Pro Wrestling itself. Again, I am not saying that we should ban this kind of expression. I am saying that it is reasonable of the movie industry to think more deeply about taking the feelings of people into consideration when deciding to use religious figures or leaders in their productions.
As to Iran's reaction, considering Iran has issued a fatwa for Salman Rushdie's novel etc, I think this is rather tame and it is fair for anyone to complain or give their opinion about a movie portrayal of someone or something they hold dear to them.
There is nothing wrong with listen to the opinions of others in this regard, especially if we would like others to listen to ours...
0
sailwind
kinniku,
No worries. This is nothing more than lack of cultural understanding on the Iranians part.
Nobody in the U.S takes Pro-Wrestling seriously, that's why they don't even call it a sport. They call it sports entertainment, and that is all it is. I was just pointing that out, and if the Iranians want to take 'Pro-Wrestling' seriously, well they have every right to, but it's pretty obvious they don't understand our culture in the least.
They are making such a fuss over something as silly as a 'villian' in a pro wrestling movie. Next I expect them to demand yet another apology from us in the decadent West for yet another affront to their sensibilities.
But I have a better Idea. How about the Iranians settle this little dispute in the squared circle, with a champiion of their chosing instead? Of course there will be 'no cheating' or bending of the rules allowed.
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kinniku
sailwind,
re: your idea, that could be a lot of fun! Actually, more interaction of that kind would only makes things better!
0
airrunwesker
Let's make a deal with Iran! Iran gives up all nuclear ambitions, and we will let them direct 3 big budget movies about Iran!
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