On Monday we reported that Time Warner Inc.'s (NYSE:TWX) Warner Bros. movie 300 was a major hit, selling $70 million worth of tickets in its opening weekend alone and probably breaking the record for March releases. The movie depicts the ancient battle of Thermopylae where supposedly 300 Spartans held off a massive Persian army. Iranians are outraged at the inaccuracies of the movie and the way it portrays the Persians.

Movies, however, are in the business of telling a story -- not history -- and a good action flick especially needs good vs. evil forces. In 300's case Spartans are good, Persians are bad; Spartans are good looking, Persians are odd looking and so on. The movie creators maintain it's a fictional account based loosely on facts.

It is no wonder then that since its opening, the movie has outraged the Iranian community in the U.S. and Canada as well as received numerous condemnations from Iran. The movie, the descendants of the Persians claim, "is part of a comprehensive U.S. psychological war aimed at Iranian culture."

This isn't the first time Hollywood films caused controversy. In 2004 The Passion of the Christ stirred just as much outrage, if not more, among the Jewish orthodox community. The movie was a great success, though, grossing $611 million worldwide.

It stands to reason then, that despite the controversy and the outrage (and probably because of it) 300 will continue to be a great success. Those who had no desire to see the movie will now be curious. Others, due to current political climate, might also go see the movie. In fact, one of the reasons Time magazine cited why the movie is going to be a huge success is due to the political and religious metaphors.

If you want to read some facts vs. fiction on the Battle of Thermopylae, here's a history professor's account, and the Persian Mirror has its explanations as well.