posted
I'm going to see it this weekend and will report. In the meantime read what people who have seen it are saying
Thank You, Michael Moore By William Rivers Pitt t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Friday 25 June 2004
"The light at the end of the tunnel could be the bulb in a film projector." - Jeanette Castillo Screens in Bartlett, Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville and Memphis, Tennessee will be showing it. Screens in Layton and West Jordan, Utah will be showing it. If you find yourself in Leawood, Merriam, Shawnee or Wichita, Kansas, you can see it. The same goes for Centerville, Fairfax and Abington, Virginia. If you happen to be in Akron, Bexley, Dublin or Elyria, Ohio, you're all set. Hoover, Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama will not be left out.
Laramie, Wyoming? It's there. Bozeman, Montana? Indeed. Should you call home Grand Island, Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska, you have not been forgotten. The largest mall in the country, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, will have it in its theater. If you are a soldier at Camp Lejune or Fort Bragg, about to be shipped to Iraq, you can see it in nearby Fayetteville, North Carolina.
These towns, large and small, along with towns large and small from sea to shining sea and straight through the American heartland, will begin screening Michael Moore's documentary, 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' beginning at 12:01a.m. Friday morning, the 25th of June, 2004. For the majority of people who will see this movie, in those towns large and small, the experience will be nothing short of a mind-bomb.
The Who once sang about how the hypnotized never lie, but as we have seen, people hypnotized by television and deliberately enforced fear can certainly support a war, and a President, which are fundamentally at odds with basic American decency. In fact, people hypnotized by television and deliberately enforced fear will feed themselves into the meat grinder with "God Bless America" on their lips.
Michael Moore's film will snap that hypnosis, but good. Those Americans who believed what their President told them because they saw it on the TV will, after less than two hours in their local theater, look at both their television and their President with doubt and loathing when they walk from the darkness into the bright light of day. There are millions of Americans who believed what they were told - about 9/11, about Iraq, about George W. Bush himself - who will come into that bright light with the realization that they have been lied to.
Speaking personally, none of the data in this film surprised me. Having spent every day of the last three years working to expose as many Americans as possible to the truth of the man they call President, Mr. Moore was unlikely to explode any shells across my bow. The connections between Bush, the Saudis, the Carlyle Group and the 9/11 attacks were there. The connections between Cheney and Halliburton were there. The connections between Enron, Unocal, natural gas pipelines, the war in Afghanistan and a little-known country called Turkmenistan were there. I enjoyed the fact that Moore showed off unredacted copies of Bush's military service record, allowing us to see the parts of those documents which had been blacked out. I found no fact, no assertion in this film to question or doubt. I have done my homework, and as was made painfully clear, Michael Moore did his.
Most Americans don't know about this stuff, and seeing it fully documented and meticulously researched on the big screen will be, to say the least, revelatory. Yes, Virginia, there are billions of dollars to be made off this Iraq war for Bush's friends. The second door on the left is the recruiting office. Sign on the line that is dotted, and be the first kid on your block to die for the benefit of Carlyle's stock options. Be sure to save your pennies beforehand, however, because the Army will dock your pay for the days you are dead. It's policy, you see.
Mr. Moore put two daggers into me with this film, the first of which had to do with American soldiers. Trooper after trooper spoke frankly for Moore's camera, condemning both the war and the people who thrust them into it. Several scenes graphically explained what happens to a soldier's body when it is caught in an explosion. The result is ruinous, and the cries of the wounded and the dying will ring in my ears forever.
The most wrenching scenes in the film center around a woman named Lila, who loves her country, loves her flag, and above all loves her children whom she actively persuaded to join the armed services. We learn that Lila has a son in Iraq, and because of that, she despises those protesting the invasion. We find out later that her son was killed in Karbala on April 2nd, when his Blackhawk helicopter was shot down. We watch her read her son's last letter home, in which he rages against Bush and the war. We last see Lila standing at the gates of the White House, tears boiling from her eyes, as she discovers her true enemy, the one who took her baby from her.
The other dagger Moore put into me came during his montage of the media coverage of the war. Journalist after journalist is shown rhapsodizing Bush, his administration and the war. Each and every one of them carried forth that which we now know to be bald-faced lies: That Iraq had WMDs, that Iraq was a threat, that we had to go, and that everything is fine. It was a slideshow of the nonsense Americans have been spoon-fed for far too long.
If you doubt this, Sidney Blumenthal's aggressive and effective actual journalism, as found in his most recent report titled 'Reality is Unraveling for Bush,' should help you along. "Most of the media was on the bandwagon or intimidated," writes Blumenthal. "Cheney himself called the president of the corporation that owned one of the networks to complain about an errant commentator. Political aides directed by Karl Rove ceaselessly called editors and producers with veiled threats about access that was not granted in any case. The press would not bite the hand that would not feed it."
With a single stroke, Michael Moore has undone three years of poor, slanted, biased, factually bereft, compromised television journalism. This, in the end, is the final greatness of 'Fahrenheit 9/11.' Not only will Americans get a sense of the depth of the deception they have endured, but 'journalists' all across the country will be forced to endure the humiliation they so richly deserve.
I was privileged to see this film in the company of three groups - Military Families Speak Out, September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and Veterans for Peace - which have stood against this disastrous war from day one. Many in the theater had family in Iraq, or had lost family in Iraq, or had lost family on 9/11 and seen their beloved dead used as an excuse for unwarranted war, and there was not a dry eye in the house.
'Fahrenheit 9/11' is not a victory for anyone. We the People should have known better, We the People should have been given the facts before sending 851 of our children to die. We the People have been betrayed, by our leaders and by a media that profited, and profits still, from the daily sale of lies. This film drove that horrid fact home with a mallet, and it hurt.
I was reminded, as I filed out with this company of heroes, of a portion of Shakespeare's rendition of Henry's speech before Agincourt:
He that outlives this day and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say, 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say, 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Many of us were not hypnotized. Millions of us took to the streets in this country and around the world, to try and stop this madness before it was unleashed. The people in that theater with me had done this, had never stopped doing this, though their President and their media named them traitor. They were right. They were right. They were right.
Michael Moore has unleashed a wolf within Mr. Bush's fences. There is no getting around it. Perhaps, now that it is far too late, we as a nation will wake up. On the day of that awakening, those of us who never stopped standing, never stopped marching, learned to live without sleep, learned to live in a nation that scorned truth for televised fantasy, those patriots I was with tonight in that theater can pause for breath. We can sit upon the grass on a bright day, strip our sleeves, and show our scars.
posted
Activists Using Fahrenheit 9/11 as an Organizing Tool By Scott Galindez t r u t h o u t | Report
Friday 25 June 2004
As moviegoers come out of Fahrenheit 9/11 this weekend, anti-war activists hope to take advantage of the anger Michael's Moore's award-winning film seems likely to inspire.
MoveOn.org has organized a National Interactive Town Hall Meeting for next Monday, June 28th. They have already organized over 700 house parties across the nation that night and have reserved large meeting halls for the event. MoveOn has 110,000 people pledged to see the movie this weekend, many of whom will hand out fliers promoting the Town Hall Meeting.
"This movie is one of the greatest opportunities we'll have between now and November to get new folks involved," said MoveOn's Adam Ruben. "The powerful footage in this film is going to outrage many, many people. They'll be looking for ways to take action - and we'll be there to connect them to other like-minded people in their community."
Voice4Change.org will have members outside theatres promoting the Town Hall Meeting and registering people to vote. Some of the activists will be in the traditional liberal hotspots. But many people in small towns around the country have either pledged to register voters or are looking for theatres near them so they can get involved.
One obstacle they face is that some theatre owners are refusing to show the film. If you live in the Dakota's or Wyoming, for example, you have only one place to see it - in Fargo, North Dakota.
One chain that has so far said no is Carmike, which owns theatres in the Mid-West. Mike Patrick, Carmike's president, insists that he made the decision purely for business reasons.
"This is in the biggest part of our season," he told the Chicago Tribune. "Business is great this year, and you think I'm going to play a documentary [instead of] 'Spider-Man?'"
"I'm not so sure that has commercial appeal compared to 'Spider-Man' or 'The Notebook' or 'White Chicks' or 'Around the World in 80 Days' and the other seven or eight pictures I have doing great business."
If inquiries placed to Mr. Patrick's theaters are any indication of potential ticket sales, he might be misjudging his market.
"We're getting about a hundred calls a day," said Kai Segrud, who works for Carmike in Rapid City, South Dakota,
The calls started over the weekend and have continued through this week, he said.
If hundreds of people demand to see Fahrenheit 9/11 in Rapid City, records for attendance elsewhere this weekend will likely be broken. With activists around the country poised to organize the huge numbers expected to attend, this will not be a good weekend for George W. Bush…
___________________ BIAFRA MUST RISE AGAIN. LONG LIVE BIAFRA!! Posts: 1080 | From: California, USA. | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged
What makes you think we are interested in this your liberal crap? You damn liberals should quit complaining and face reality. We are in the real world, bro!
___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
posted
Ogalla: NO WAY! We aint stopping, not until that brainless fellow called Bush is out of the WORLDS HOUSE: the White House. What you guys who seat in your enclosure in the U.S dont seem to grasp is that this matter (Bush must go)is no more an American affair. If you want to know what I am talking about, just tune your TV to see the type of anti-Bush demonstrations and activities that trails him wherever he goes. Even your hitherto Irish friends have gone on the streets to protest Bush's visit to Ireland. Same is planned when he steps his foot in Turkey this weekend. Already, those you guys describe as "terrorists" have already given him a red carpet reception by bombing the Hilton Hotel where he is scheduled to stay while he is in Turkey. Compare this hostile reception with the WARM reception the likes of Clinton received wherever they went while they were in office then you will come to the conclusion that Bush has done MORE HARM THAN GOOD TO AMERICAN IMAGE AND PEOPLES. Is that what you want for your dear country for the next four years? I guess not.
NwaBiafra: Thanks gain for keeping the lead on this all important matter. There's no dount that anyone that truly love U.S., be they residents or non-residents will agree with what you have been doing and will see people like Mike more as HEROS that they are.
Posts: 997 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
As promised I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 this weekend and do plan to see it again for a second time July 5 a public holiday. Why do you want to see it again you ask?
Well, this movie is everything you have heard, which is what makes it what watching again and again.
In the movie theater, I was not bored neither was anybody else in the room, this is because the documentary’s scathing attack on George Bush Jr.’s Presidency is informative, provocative, frightening, compelling, funny, and most of all, entertaining.
Even though much of what the movie focuses on has been covered in the news reports, magazine articles and books, Fahrenheit 9/11 manages to present new data and little-seen footage by connecting the dots in a cogent and persuasive way.
Folks, Fahrenheit 9/11 is the YEAR MUST-SEE FILM (WAYPOINT take note, I will even pay for your ticket.) Back to my report, I saw myself gravitating to the big screen and will not forget the devastating footage of Bush’s bewildered, dumbstruck reaction on the morning of September 11, 2001, when he learns of the attack on the World Trade Center, instead of conferring with advisers, he sits quietly in a Florida classroom for an interminable seven minutes and reads MY Pet Goat to the children.
Among the most powerful moments: 1. Interviews with once gung-ho military personnel now uncertain about their Iraq mission. 2. A segment with a grieving mother whose son was killed in the war sharing her pain and the inhumanity of the war. Those graphics and other Fahrenheit’s graphics war footage got me emotional, some will argue it’s intended purpose was to work of the public emotion than intellect, but that doesn’t make the film a propaganda (Take note Mota Ogallala).
In this film I see Bush depicted as unscrupulous and self-serving, some in this forum like RESIDENT DIDO HEAD WAYPIONT will brand this movie as a personal attack on Bush Jr. however, most of Fahrenheit’s information comes from verifiable sources.
In this movie Mr. Moore presents information with his trademark deadpan humor, which is the main reason I recommend it for all to go see.
PS: Waypoint let me have your information to send you a ticket to see this move. You might learn something and it will change your mind.
posted
Now that you have seen my report, read what others are saying about the movie Fahrenheit 9/11
'Fahrenheit 9/11' smashes records at the box office
June 28, 2004
Propelled by the political firestorm that surrounded his movie, Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" took the top spot at theaters this weekend with an astounding $21.8 million. The film, which criticizes President Bush's handling of the events following Sept. 11, 2001, shattered most box office records within its opening weekend. "Fahrenheit 9/11" already is the highest-grossing feature-length documentary, eclipsing Moore's "Bowling for Columbine," which took in $21.6 million in 2002.
Other documentaries, including 1998's "Everest" and last year's "Space Station 3D," have taken in more money on large-screen formats, such as on Imax screens. "Everest" has raked in $77.4 million, while "Station" has taken in $51.3 million. But those films play in theaters that charge more for tickets and run those movies for months. Those films did not draw audiences in droves on opening day, as "Fahrenheit 9/11" did. The film took in $8.2 million Friday, its first day of wide release, another record for a documentary. "These are mind-blowing numbers," Moore said Sunday of the estimates, which were $7 million more than most analysts predicted. "All the predictions were that the movie would only speak to the choir, that it would only be for those who don't like Bush. I don't think that's turned out to be true." Final numbers are due today.
___________________ BIAFRA MUST RISE AGAIN. LONG LIVE BIAFRA!! Posts: 1080 | From: California, USA. | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged
posted
Moore as in More of what people are saying about the Movie.
Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' scorches box office
BY ELAINE DE VALLE
The hottest ticket in South Florida this weekend wasn't for a private fundraiser or an invitation-only concert at a velvet-roped nightclub. It was a $9 ticket -- $6.50 for seniors -- to the highly hyped documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 -- Michael Moore's scathing, award-winning assault on the Bush administration's response to Sept. 11, 2001. And the ticket wasn't easy to get, as shows sold out at the dozen cinemas where the documentary is playing in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. David and Debra Adan were shut out twice at the AMC in Coconut Grove's Cocowalk. ''Friday, all three shows were sold out,'' said David Adan, 42. Like many who sought tickets, the couple -- recent transplants from New York -- are fans of the filmmaker, having seen Roger & Me and Bowling for Columbine. So they tried again Sunday, when they thought crowds would diminish. Not. They arrived nearly an hour before the 7:15 p.m. show -- which was sold out anyway. They weren't alone. Dozens of moviegoers were turned away from theaters nationwide as Fahrenheit 9/11 became the first documentary to debut as the No. 1 weekend film, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press on Sunday. The 130-minute message beat out two other premires -- the tearjerker romance The Notebook and the Wayans brothers' comedy White Chicks -- raking in an impressive $21.8 million in its first three days. That's already more than Bowling for Columbine's total gross of $21.6 million and half of what Tom Hanks' The Terminal has earned in 10 days. All this on a limited release. Fahrenheit 9/11 opened in 868 theaters, a large number for a documentary but not when compared with big Hollywood pictures. The film averaged $25,115 a theater, compared to $7,190 in 2,726 cinemas for White Chicks, the AP said. Many people couldn't wait until after the weekend rush. Peggy Fisher, a lawyer from Pinecrest, bought tickets online for the show at 5:20 p.m. in South Miami, which later sold out. ''People I knew had gone to see it over the weekend and were talking about it,'' said Fisher, who was already interested, having seen Moore's other films. ''It was very powerful,'' Fisher said. ``The audience clearly reacted to the movie. At times they were laughing. They clapped at the end. There was applause throughout the middle.''
ATTRACTS YOUNGER PEOPLE
She was also impressed with the number of young people she originally thought were there for Garfield or Shrek 2. ''We expected an older audience,'' Fisher said. ``We saw parents with children. Young people in their late teens, early 20s.'' Bryan Roycewicz, 15, went to see it with his mother at Sawgrass Mills' Regal Cinemas 23 in Broward. ''It makes me want to be active politically,'' Bryan said. Laura Bunassar, 17, of Kendall, suggested the movie to her mother after the two got into a discussion about the Iraq war. Laura wanted to be able to discuss the movie with friends, who are already talking about it. Mom Donna Vangross, a 41-year-old educational consultant, wanted vindication: 'It's to validate my feelings of `Oh, my God. Is this really our president?' ''
BIG DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT
The movie has been embraced by left-wing groups, which mobilized members to see it during the opening weekend as conservative groups sought to discourage theaters from showing it. Indeed, many of the people interviewed Sunday were self-described ''Bush bashers'' and Democrats seeking support and confirmation of their beliefs. ''I hate Bush and I don't want him reelected,'' said Lulu Selby, an entrepreneur who lives in Coconut Grove. ``And Michael Moore is a very intelligent and clever person who is expressing himself, as is the right of every American.'' But there were also some skeptics, like Fort Lauderdale Republican and Bush supporter Steven Holtzman. ''There was nothing in this movie I didn't already know,'' said Holtzman, 46. ``I take anything Michael Moore says with a grain of salt.''
Herald staff writer Kevin Deutsch contributed to this report.
posted
Micheal Moore is another version of an angry poor white trash. He is not about the truth, it is about him. An over weight asshole with an image of silver back.
Hail Biafra
[ June 28, 2004, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1673 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
If what you lay in this board is considered intelligent, I will be damned if I ever engage in any meaningful conversation with you. Because you speak like a town drunk and a dysfunctional writer blended, meaning you make no sense. I particularly do not consider you to be in my league thats probably the reason why I have remained mute with you.We are not in the same level of reasoning. Advocate 90 and Advocate 314 may be numbers but quite a gap. It is a reflection of my loyal fans like you and mark of superiority. Thats the edge. Hope you copy, stupid.
Hail Biafra
[ June 28, 2004, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1673 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
What I will endeavor not to engage in name-calling or use profanity as you do. One can tell from reading your ranting that you are afraid to engage in meaningful debate hence a quick rush to name calling.
Only a person lacking in intelligence will publicly profess to be more intelligent and superior to another in this forum. What such proclamation upon yourself does is show everyone in this forum just who you really are, that is a man that is (tempted to really call you what you are but I will not go there) What kind of a person will use the advocate number as proof of superiority? Only waypoint.....
Do me a favor as dispute any facts that I have presented be it about the love of your life Bush Jr. If you can do that then you are a better man than me.
Fifty-four percent like in people (Americans) now believe what I didn't need a spin-doctor or dead Americans to know that the unjust and illegal invasion of Iraq was wrong. Does this make me a saddam loyalist? Far! But if you are guided by truth, as I am then the only remaining logic is a total declaration of this war as STUPID! He is according to the same poll doing better by leading John Kerry with a one-percentage point, good gracious big deal. Thanks to the GOP propaganda machine bush has been able to avoid the anger of Americans but not for long though. The question would be: Who's better equipped to pacify the world community georgie disrespected?
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
Do one really need intelligence to understand what's been said about your father? Simply put he's a "THIEF" I read in here! Any whine/cry should be directed at the originator of this claim since it’s in apostrophe. My simple challenge to all the lying yoruba and their bini elder brothers is to cite any reference to such in its entirety then let's discuss it.
quote:What kind of a person will use the advocate number as proof of superiority? Only waypoint..... - Nwa Biafra
Bababoyz, I guess you couldn't read this far, right? Thanks.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
Not so fast! BIAFRA is coming back only this time with vengence and the ferocity only a determined mind will have. You better be ready cause it's on young fella. Oh wait, tell us about your history. How come you guys don't extend proper homage to the bini who's shown that your ancestor was a runaway thief from bini? Tell us more please!
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
posted
Nwa Biafra: Please enough of the engagement with the habitual name-caller. The only way to weigh a man's intelligence is by knowing how he receives praise and how he reacts when critized. You can't buy these attributes in the market nor will you read it any university. Hope you got my drift.
Coming to the movie, I have had reason to watch it TWICE before it premiered in the U.S.. Infact, we on this side of the Atlantic who had the opportunity of watch it /tbecause some he over-zealous extremists in the U.S. did want the American public to watch it) were so fascinated with the documentary that the European film enthusiates had to vote it the 'best movie of the year' at the recently-concluded Cann Film Festival held in France.
One thing about Moore's film is that it showed Bush to be all we thought of him -- a power-monger, neo-facist, and most of all, a man contolled by the powerful American big business.
Another section that exposed the HYPOCRISY of those at the Capitol that gave their approval to this SENSELESS war is where Moore was asking the 'Senators' in the movie if they would love to see their kids in Iraq. As would be expected, all the imaginary 'senators' simply walked pass the person putting the question to them. What this tells us again is that THOSE WHO WILL NEVER DIE FOR OTHERS ARE OFTEN THOSE WHO WOULD WANT EVERYONE TO DIE FOR THEM.
Bottomline: life or dead, if there's anything Saddam Hussein achieved it is that he exposed THE REAL America to the world. He showed us that every country/people (U.S. included) have their faults; there is THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY America. So unlike what the green-card chasers on this board would make us believe that the U.S. is heaven on earth, where everything fuctions without fault, truth is that the U.S. (I mean the government) and the Americans (the ordinary citizens) like every other people on mother earth have their WEEKNESSES as they have their GREAT attributes.
MeBiafran: Thanks for asking in another thread. I am ok. Just attending to other things as you were doing. Man go waak, abi?
Posts: 997 | From: Germany | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
I will heed your advice as regards to engaging in name-calling with a known name caller in this board .. waypoint.
I gave him his chance to be civil, so far it seems he took it. Failure to so do would have resulted in my exposing him for who he is. I'm ready to start a thread with all the moronic things waypoint has said in this forum using archives information. That option is still open as far as I'm concerned if waypoint misbehaves again by calling himself intelligent and superior.
Back to the MOVIE, you captured the feelings of everyone thatn have seen the movie. For those of you that are going to see it soon, get your tickets early because it is SOLD OUT in most theaters.
___________________ BIAFRA MUST RISE AGAIN. LONG LIVE BIAFRA!! Posts: 1080 | From: California, USA. | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
