I am not a fan of Mr. Moore. Frankly, when it comes to describing him and his destructive influence on the nation's political debate, words fail me.
Fortunately, words don't fail the author of this site: Centigrade 9/11: Alternative Views of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11". This site is a collection of the factual errors and corrective essays concerning Moore's fatuous film.
Hat tip to Powerage for the link.
Posted by Random Penseur at July 18, 2004 01:58 PMI've almost blogged about this several times, but I just didn't want to deal with various comments bound to crop up on it, so I'll vicariously use your comment screen, Random! LOL! ;-)
I loved "Roger and Me" when I first saw it many many years ago. I ran across it again on TV not too long ago, maybe 5 years back, and I was distressed to see how much my perception has changed. What I once thought was barbed wit, now appears as Michael mocking everyone in a manipulative way. Encouraging people to open up by being particularly wide-eyed and innocent with his questions when I know now on the second viewing that he obviously has an agenda he's following. Pretending he's trying to help them when he's actually exposing them in a cruel way.
It was just not funny the way I thought it was the first time around when I was in my twenties.
So, I have tried to watch, "Bowling for Columbine" 3 times now over the last month and I can't get past the first 10 minutes without snapping off the TV in anger at his attitude. He's so sarcastic, so demeaning, but they don't seem to *hear* or *see* him doing this. I can, quite clearly and it infuriates me. Many of these people appear to be the "salt of the earth" type. Simple folk. And once again, he appears to be *mocking* them. He personally strikes me as such a megalomaniac, I can't get past his personality long enough to hear his supposedly important message.
I know I'm supposed to rise above all that in order to look at the subject matter, which according to many is valuable and thought-provoking. I honor that, I do. I *want* to see what the fuss is about, but I don't know if I will ever be able to actually watch the movie because of my aversion to him.
On the other hand, I don't like President Bush either. I have an equally strong aversion to him, for wildly different reasons.
Unfortunately it seems that in this rather hysterical political climate we now find ourselves, because of the upcoming election and all the emotion over the war and 9/11, I feel I am expected to take *sides* between the two men.
Well, I can't take sides, as I am violently repelled by each of these men for vastly different reasons.
I will attempt "Bowling for Columbine" again. I have not given up yet. Dan saw it a year or so ago. He said there were many valid points brought up, although he disagreed with many others.
I despise people who trash a concept or a film or a book without researching, viewing or reading it first. I must force myself to see this movie and the next one too, so I can have an informed opinion.
Maybe I will crack open a bottle of wine, drink half the bottle, then turn the damn thing on again suitably anesthetized. It's been sitting in TIVO for weeks now.
If I can't get through "Columbine" how am I ever going to get through "9/11"?
Posted by: Amber at July 19, 2004 12:54 PM