Michael Moore Discussion Forum

3097 Posts / 82M

26yrs

Wyote

Michael Moore

[+ favourites] [- hide]

ok, this guy has been around forever stirring up controversy where ever he goes it seems. with his new movie Farenheit 9/11 out today, i just wanted to know what everyone thought of him. some people are really offended by this man which confuses me and i was hoping maybe i could get some insight from some of you Moore haters out there. also, why do the people out there who seem to love him to death do so?

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. - Thomas Carlyle"

3469 Posts / 114M

30yrs

Decius

[- hide]

I love the man because, like Bill Maher, he is completely un-phased by anyone he talks to. You need to really "see" the world to not care whether you're speaking to a huge CEO, or the president himself.

He is the lone voice behind opposition to Bush and all he stands for, and was (to my knowledge) one of the few completely outspoken individuals in Hollywood who stood his ground amidst huge crticism.

He's an idealist, plain and simple, and a smart one at that. I don't worship him, but I respect him, and I don't respect many celebrities.

"A good man is identical to the corrupt man, save for the contradictions in his words and actions."

228 Posts / 80M

27yrs

Windupnostril

[- hide]

i like michael moore, although i am somewhat skeptical as to the legitimacy of some of his material.

"You are reading this."

3097 Posts / 82M

26yrs

Wyote

[- hide]

i saw on the news today that a complaint had been filed against Moore because the comercials for Ferenheit 9/11 contained images of Bush. i am not very clear on all the rules and regulations of the election, but what i did find out is that he is not allowed to show images of Bush after July 31... i think its good that it was brought to everyones attention but, why was a complaint filed this early? nothing has been done wrong.... this seems ridiculous to me, and altho it didnt ruin my day, it did irritate me for quite some time.

people need to lighten up.

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. - Thomas Carlyle"

1668 Posts / 84M

23yrs

Angelfire

[- hide]

Moore is the Liberal version of Rush Limbaugh. He's funny, but ultimately, convinces nobody and only increases the prejudices on both sides. To any attempting to be balanced, he has zero credibility, and is just an amusing distraction.

No, just nonesense, the american Jose Bove, funny nonesense though.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

3469 Posts / 114M

30yrs

Decius

[- hide]

Nah, totally untrue.

Rush is entertainment, and doesn't claim to be anything else. He has no skills and is simply a speaker.

Moore is the voice of the opposition. He is necessary. Rush is not.

Rush could not and would not be able to steer an election in any way. Apparently, 9/11 (the movie) is so well done, it is literally impossible to view Bush in any light other than an evil shallow man.

It is inconceivable to assume this won't affect the election, which makes Moore a highly relevent figure.

If he wasn't, Bush's lackeys wouldn't have filed a complaint against the ads for his film.

Man... I can't wait to watch it.

"A good man is identical to the corrupt man, save for the contradictions in his words and actions."

3097 Posts / 82M

26yrs

Wyote

[- hide]

i think Moore's true skill is as an interviewer. he is able to bring peoples guards down completely and then assault them with questions they arent even expecting; then the interviewee ends up responding before they have a chance to stop and think. he is just as cunning as barbara walters and ten times as vicious.

the thing i like about him the most is his twisted sense of humor though.

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. - Thomas Carlyle"

228 Posts / 80M

27yrs

Windupnostril

[- hide]

i agree with wyote on this one--michael moore's movies were pretty good, but anybody with the filmmaking/interviewing skills that michael moore has can make a documentary and twist facts to support their opinion. all i'm saying is that nobody should allow themselves to be bought by propaganda, or by anything that has the potential to distort the truth.

"You are reading this."

144 Posts / 76M

66yrs

squatteam

[- hide]

I want to like this guy. I want to think what he is saying/doing is correct. My problem is that he speaks so "loudly" that he distracts attention from anyone else trying to make the same or a similar statement. But more than that, Moore is asking you to vote AGAINST Bush, not for Kerry. As I've stated in other parts of this site, I've gone through the 'vote against' phase. It doesn't work. Now, if Moore would just make a positive film about a candidate, or a positive film about anything...that is where he could really provide a service.

"Popular dissidents are merely pacifiers given to us by the Government to keep us in line and thinking someone is making a ruckuss."

1668 Posts / 84M

23yrs

Angelfire

[- hide]

"Moore is the voice of the opposition. He is necessary. Rush is not."

If we had a democrat president. Rush would be the 'voice of the opposition.

Have you seen bowling for columbine? It is the most misleading set of half-truths and outright lies which managed to pose as a documentary.

Make no mistake, Moore is infotainment, not fact. He discredits a serious cause.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

251 Posts / 88M

20yrs

Danipog

[- hide]

I agree with DumbTeen on that he is infotainment, and that he can often just make worse our prejudices. Yet, Fahrenheit 9/11 is the first documentary to be #1 in the box office, or so I've read. If you think about it, it's pretty notable that a documentary is selling out in the theaters. This shows that he may be appealing to a wider audience.

I also think he can twist information in a certain way, to make it fit with the point he's trying to make. Still, he's the biggest left-wing filmmaker out there who's open about his ideas, and I'd say he's better than nothing.

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear."

3469 Posts / 114M

30yrs

Decius

[- hide]

It matters not whether you believe what he says are half truths or full truths.

He definitely is diplomatic in his presentations, and the point of this diplomacy is to bring out a point.

Does his point affect people and move people and cause change?

Yes, indeed it does.

So whether you believe he is an entertainer or an activist, his actions effect like an activist does, which makes him necessary and not entertainment.

Also, his goals (to me) are to inform people, and entertain them while doing so. It is impossible to categorize him traditionally because no documentary filmaker has had the success he has, nor has one created the incredible reverse propaganda he has.

I find it necessary for him to twist (not lie) facts around to make his point... the reasoning being that there is so much bullshit flying one way, he has to step above the rest of the liberal people and be agressive in his stance to make it matter.

"A good man is identical to the corrupt man, save for the contradictions in his words and actions."

1668 Posts / 84M

23yrs

Angelfire

[- hide]

Right, so now that you've decided its ok to spout BS if the conservatives are spouting BS, the only question remaining is : is he going to convince anyone who isn't already a liberal?

I think he is too heavy handed for that.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

251 Posts / 88M

20yrs

Danipog

[- hide]

Well, I was kind of trying to hit that when I talked about his documentary being the most successful. Perhaps he is recruiting new followers?

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear."

3469 Posts / 114M

30yrs

Decius

[- hide]

Good question, and the answer is a resounding yes.

If you watch Farenheit you will see how friggin diplomatic he is.

He focussed the entire film on the plight of soldiers and their families, stating that soldiers are forced to die for evil people like Bush, whereas they are pious good natured people tryiing to defend their country.

He focussed almost half the film on that... specifically because that is the one point that pro-war people HAVE to empathize with. It is taboo to state soldiers are assholes for supporting a war they know nothing about, as it is taboo to blame them for the crimes they commit in war.

Hence he targets the politicians that permit soldiers to do evil things, which isn't really the soldiers' fault, yadda yadda.

To me, he couldn't have done a better job of not attacking republicans personally, but making it seem that the very people who love America hate Bush, and suffer because of him.

This, unlike bowling for columbine, was not a film made out of the yearning of Moore's need to express himself... this was made to destroy Bush, and ensure a Democratic victory.

"A good man is identical to the corrupt man, save for the contradictions in his words and actions."