(no subject)
May. 5th, 2004 08:11 amDisney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush (You have to register to read the story.)
Jesus.
Okay, look. I don't like Michael Moore as a person, 'cause he's kind of a big dumb dork. However, his films amuse me. Documentary or entertainment, Bowling for Columbine made me laugh, made me think, and made me roll my eyes (but in a good way). I've been dying to see this movie, because, let's face it, I really don't like Bush and any chance to knock on him amuses the hell out of me. True or not, I should be able to see the fucking movie and judge for myself.
This country creeps me out these days something fierce. God forbid you should dissent anything anymore. Now they not only want a draft, they're thinking of making it for people 18-34 and including women. And according to that poll on CNN.com, one in five people think those soldiers shouldn''t be criminally charged for what they did to those Iraqi prisoners. (I'm sorry, what?! If Iraqi soldiers had done this to American prisoners, Americans would be calling for them to be hanged or something by now.)
UGH. That's it. I'm starting a new fucking country. Anyone with me?
Jesus.
Okay, look. I don't like Michael Moore as a person, 'cause he's kind of a big dumb dork. However, his films amuse me. Documentary or entertainment, Bowling for Columbine made me laugh, made me think, and made me roll my eyes (but in a good way). I've been dying to see this movie, because, let's face it, I really don't like Bush and any chance to knock on him amuses the hell out of me. True or not, I should be able to see the fucking movie and judge for myself.
This country creeps me out these days something fierce. God forbid you should dissent anything anymore. Now they not only want a draft, they're thinking of making it for people 18-34 and including women. And according to that poll on CNN.com, one in five people think those soldiers shouldn''t be criminally charged for what they did to those Iraqi prisoners. (I'm sorry, what?! If Iraqi soldiers had done this to American prisoners, Americans would be calling for them to be hanged or something by now.)
UGH. That's it. I'm starting a new fucking country. Anyone with me?
no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:35 am (UTC)nothing good will come of this.
in the mean time, get out and vote!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:41 am (UTC)Are you wanting to take over an existing country and kick everyone out, or somehow use magic to create a new island-continent that you're the Queen of? Just let me know, so I know what kind of shoes to bring.
Over and out. :)
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Date: 2004-05-05 05:41 am (UTC)Michael Moore amuses me too in his bumbling, Everyman kind of way. It's kind of funny how all the freedoms we've had in this country for so long suddenly means we're all trying to control each other's freedoms. If, by funny, you mean really fucking scary.
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Date: 2004-05-05 05:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:48 am (UTC)And we can call it Bob. Or, you know, not.
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Date: 2004-05-05 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:52 am (UTC)But oh, yeah. Chicks in charge.
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Date: 2004-05-05 05:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 06:00 am (UTC)And silly shit like drafts get proposed all the time. Probably for publicity stunts.
And polls? I haven't trusted in polls for YEARS
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Date: 2004-05-05 06:01 am (UTC)I loved Michael Moore's book 'Dude, Where's My Country?' I really need to get my hands on Stupid White Men.
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Meanwhile, I think I am moving to Canada.
I'm with you!
Date: 2004-05-05 06:07 am (UTC)You know. Two hundred grand a year, and twice a week I just have to deny the existence of Mexico, or something.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 06:09 am (UTC)So. Where do we sign up? :D
Re: I'm with you!
Date: 2004-05-05 06:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 06:35 am (UTC)But maybe it should be better to create a new planet, no ?
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Date: 2004-05-05 06:39 am (UTC)I do wonder at the Times choice of wording though. "Forbidding" sounds like they've barred the film from release AND they've barred Moore from making a distribution deal elsewhere but they make a point of saying that he and Miramax are free to do just that so while Disney's decision is self serving craven-ness as I said, they haven't *forbidden* the film from release. They've *decided* not to release it domestically through a division of their company, and Miramax has sold overseas distribution rights already. I am SURE another distribution company would pick up provided that Weinsteins don't make the deal utterly and completely hellish (they have been known to do that after all).
Moore makes me insane. A lot of what he says, I agree wth 100% but by gosh, he makes it hard to side with him sometimes. What a wack job. I'm not a fan in any way shape or form of Disney, Eisner, or the way they do business and I am even less of a fan of Bush (the family, the administration or the man) but while there HAVE been attempts to actually censor Moore before -- when his revised books came out there was TREMENDOUS pressure on him to change a good deal of it and he almost lost his publishing contract defending his rights as an author to preserve it -- he is crying censorship here where from a legal standpoint it doesn't exist.
Moore says, "Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?'"
It is a free and open society where Disney, a company with a blind eye on the bottom line is free to make decisions they feel are in the best interest of the company (and since it is Disney, a company with incredibly active (and recently riled up) stockholders - those interest are always going to be proft-driven in nature). They are not barring the public from the film. Putting obstacles in the way, yes. Insurmountable ones, no. It IS being shown in Cannes. It has been sold for distribution overseas and they are not intending to block Moore or Miramax from seeking distribution for the domestic market elsewhere (which I'm betting within the clauses of that contract they are probably legally entitled to do).
Now, that said - I'd love to have a film out there that draws the connections for people between Bush and the House of Saud (several recent books are available on the subject including one the index of which I assisted in the editing of) but the general public as we all know doesn't read all that much (not you and me and the majority of LJers who I've found to be more widely read than John Q. Public), certainly doesn't read current events titles or the newspaper for the most part and so a film might reach more of them. OK, it's not a summer action film but if enough buzz is created maybe they'll go to see it just to see what all the fuss is about.
Wow. That's a lot of writing for me before coffee kicks in. But a country founded and started by Trollprincess. Sign me up!
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Date: 2004-05-05 06:43 am (UTC)YES. Let's create a nw planet. Full of peace and love and harmony ... of course, the downside is, this planet will invade ours, because it's a festering rot that needs to be in charge of everything, but whatever. :)
Re: I'm with you!
Date: 2004-05-05 06:46 am (UTC)(We will have mountains, won't we? I mean, you can't have a country without mountains, unless you're prepared to conquer a vast empire that includes mountains. Because, y'know, skiing is far more important than, say, agriculture)
Re: I'm with you!
Date: 2004-05-05 06:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 08:00 am (UTC)AMEN.
I'm sure even more people will see the movie becauseof this controversy.
Now they not only want a draft, they're thinking of making it for people 18-34 and including women.
I don't want a draft because I don't want a war, but if we're going to have one I think it should definitely include women. The exclusion of women has always struck me as being pretty sexist, especially since very little modern combat relies on brute strenght. And if my brother or my husband was asked to lay his life on the line and I wasn't, I cannot see that as fair to anyone -- my life and safety are no more or less precious than theirs.
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Date: 2004-05-05 08:18 am (UTC)... is a very good point, which I would be behind 100% if it weren't for the mind-numbing terror that grips me at the very idea of being drafted, which leads me to welcome even silly, sexist rules like that because frankly anything that would mean I wouldn't have to is good with me.
That said, I live in the UK, where drafting is unlikely to happen because there are too many sane people who would just tell them to fuck off.
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Date: 2004-05-05 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-05 08:45 am (UTC)...only want a draft, they're thinking of making it for people 18-34 and including women.
Can I just run away to Canada? (24 and female)
UGH. That's it. I'm starting a new fucking country. Anyone with me?
Can I be minister of education?
--LJ