300

Now, up to a certain point, that's absolutely fine. I mean I'm all for semi-clad oiled men shouting at each other with beards, that's fine, it's not a problem. The problem is that people start interpreting this thing politically and some people said ah well it's a proto-fascist tale... and people have compared it to Leni Riefenstahl, the whole thing about its Nazi mentality. Other people have said no actually it's a parable of Iraq. There have been statements from some people in Iran saying it's anti-Iranian. The fact is none of the above are true. It is a film about well-oiled men in their pants shouting at each other. Now, that's all it is. That's not necessarily a bad thing but historically it has nothing to say whatsoever, philosophically it has nothing to say whatsoever, politically it has nothing to say whatsoever. Aesthetically it's just that -- it's pecs and abs and dabs and oil and sweat and grunting and shouting.

-- Mark Kermode on 300, BBC Five Live