As his epic film 'Alexander' opened in England, director Oliver Stone had some harsh words for the people of the United States and how they received his film.

'Sexuality is a large issue in America right now, but it isn't so much in other countries,' Stone said at the premier of the film in England yesterday. 'There's a raging fundamentalism in morality in the United States. From day one audiences didn't show up. They didn't even read the reviews in the south because the media was using the words: 'Alex is Gay'.'

The film's star, Colin Farrell, had another explanation for the film's failure at the box office in the U.S. Farrell implied that the movie went over the heads of many an impatient American viewer. 'The film is a draining experience to watch. It's loaded with mythology, icons, symbolism and destiny. My friends have watched the film and said: 'Jesus Christ it's not exactly Gladiator'.'

Stone added, 'The script was just too ambiguous, too questioning about an action-hero who was masculine/feminine. These are tough qualities in Hollywood. It's just too big a life. It doesn't fit in into the Hollywood formula.'

Regardless of why, Stone's much anticipated film took in only $33 million in domestic box office while costing roughly $150 million to make. It is expected to fair better overseas.