That's the question some in the media are asking...
Michael Cieply of The New York Times:
Three weeks ago a handful of reporters at an international press junket here for the Warner Brothers movie “300,” about the battle of Thermopylae some 2,500 years ago, cornered the director Zack Snyder with an unanticipated question
“Is George Bush Leonidas or Xerxes?” one of them asked.
The questioner, by Mr. Snyder’s recollection, insisted that Mr. Bush was Xerxes, the Persian emperor who led his force against Greek’s city states in 480 B.C., unleashing an army on a small country guarded by fanatical guerrilla fighters so he could finish a job his father had left undone.
More likely, another reporter chimed in, Mr. Bush was Leonidas, the Spartan king who would defend freedom at any cost.
Mr. Snyder, who said he intended neither analogy when he set out to adapt the graphic novel created by Frank Miller with Lynn Varley in 1998, suddenly knew he had the contemporary version of a water-cooler movie on his hands. And it has turned out to be one that could be construed as a thinly veiled polemic against the Bush administration, or be seen by others as slyly supporting it
Read The Complete NYT Piece Here...
This, my friends, is just another one of those "non-news" stories that compels me to comment...
One could find similarities to any historical figure or period in any story ever conceived--If they want to do so.
When Miller wrote 300 in the late 90's, I don't recall anyone equating the story to major news of that time...I see it as a rocking war tale using the facts of history as its canvas. I can't speak for Snyder or Miller-of course-But I would imagine that the reporter who asked the question of Snyder, was hoping to pin him down, thus, creating controversy either way.
Thankfully, Snyder's diplomatic answer lets the viewer make his or her own mind, about the film's intent.
300 opens in theaters this Friday.
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