By Darius KADIVAR

MEET THE SPARTANS (*) From the Creators of Scary Movie, Date Movie and Epic Movie soon in the Theaters

©meetthespartans.com & Photocomposition ©DK
 

"The Bigger the Hit, The Harder They Fall"

Payvand.com - 20th Century Fox Meet the Spartans, which arrives in theatres on January 25 stars Carmen Electra, Sean Maguire, Kevin Sorbo and Borat's Ken Davitian is a spoof of last year's movie 300 blockbuster produced by Warner Bros. The film had sparked an unpredecedent reaction from the Iranian community at large both in the Diaspora and in Iran leading to an online petition that got the support of equally the former Empress of Iran Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi as well as strangely enough that of the Islamic Republic of Iran which protested to the movie's "anti Iranian" rhetoric. The latter's reaction was all the more ironic given that Iran's regime has recurrently expressed its dislike for any reference to Iran's pre-Islamic Past and particularly the monarchy and had even been vehemently criticized by prominent Iranian scholars of Ancient Persia and archeologists for disregarding Iran's cultural heritage and particularly historical sites ( classified by UNESCO as part of World's Heritage) of the Aechemenid Era threatened by the construction of the Sivand Dam. 

Prior to the release of 300, Warner Brothers expressed concerns about the political aspects of the film's theme. Snyder relates that "There was a huge sensitivity about East versus West with the studio." Media speculation about a possible parallel between the Greco-Persian conflict and current events began in an interview with Snyder that was conducted before the Berlin Film Festival. The interviewer remarked that "everyone is sure to be translating this [film] into contemporary politics." Snyder replied that, while he was aware that people would read the film through the lens of contemporary events, no parallels between the film and the contemporary world were intended.

©meetthespartans.com
 

I have expressed my personal view in regard to Snyder's movie and the reaction it triggered at the time of its release in my article "The Persian Empire Strikes Back !" and what I think about so-called "conspiracy theories" in regard to Hollywood so I don't think I will bother reacting to a parody of the 300 movie and the Sword and Sandals film genre.

Hollywood has a marketing ability to thrive even on controversy and self parody which has always been more or less lucrative. One can remember Airplane! with its all cast Star celebrities and its more or less critically acclaimed sequels or hybrid copies which led to former romantic Hollywood veteran Leslie Nielsen to a second career but this time as a recurrent comic hero.

Given the box office success of 300 and its testosterone ridden cast and eccentric plot, a spoof of Zach Snyder's movie and actors seemed something to expect at some point.

Well here it is: Meet The Spartans !

Not sure if this spoof will enhance our knowledge on Ancient Persians and/or Spartans for that matter but well at least it may hopefully make us laugh !

VIVE LE CINEMA !

Mais surtout
 

PERSEPOLIS ! ;0)

Zach Snyder's 300 ©Warner Bros

©meetthespartans.com

 

©meetthespartans.com
 

Authors Notes:

(*) MPAA:Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language and some comic violence

See Trailer 

Official Website of Movie: http://www.meetthespartans.com/

Recommended Readings:

The Persian Empire Strikes Back! by Darius KADIVAR

Persia ? Ancient Persia's Virtual absence in Hollywood by Darius KADIVAR (Iranian.com)

Battle for The West The Original 300 Technicolor cult movie shot in 1962 by Darius KADIVAR (Iranian.com)

He is Awake: Close Up on Cyrus KAR (director of a movie on Founder of the Persian Empire Cyrus the Great)  by Darius KADIVAR

XERXES: A Screenplay by Ren A. Hakim interviewed by Darius KADIVAR  

About the Author: Darius KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist, Film Historian, and Media Consultant. He contributes OCPC Magazine and The MiddleEast Magazine.

... Payvand News - 01/29/08 ...