[HPFGU-OTChatter] Amanda --->Cold dead hands (or a lawyer), was Bowling for Columbine

[Shaun Hately]

On 3 Aug 2003 at 19:54, Kathryn Cawte wrote:

> Incidentally the film was shown at Cannes at the request of the judges (even
> though they don't normally do documentaries) and won the oscar for best
> documentary (or factual film or whatever it's called) so no it is not in
> anyway a comedy.

It's also not a documentary, nor is it particularly factual.

Discussing it in too much detail would go well into the discussion of 
current political issues. But anybody who is praising BFC should be 
aware of the issues mentioned in:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110003233

That link is from 'The Wall Street Journal', a fairly reputable news 
organ. After reading it, I would also suggest people check out:

http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html

which is a more detailed analysis of Moore's misrepresentations, but 
from a less reliable source. It's accurate as far as I can tell (and 
I've checked it out - it should be noted that one of the problems was 
removed from later editions of the film), but it has a definite 
political axe to grind.

My objection to Mike Moore and this movie is not politically motivated - 
it's motivated by believing anything that calls itself a documentary 
shouldn't deliberately misrepresent the truth. I get every bit as 
steamed up about the NRA's deliberate lies about the level of crime in 
Australia (which is an area I know a great deal about, and which is what 
got me involved in the gun control debate - I do not like American 
political lobby groups lying about my country - especially not when 
their lies present it as worse than it is).

I think BFC is a reasonably good film - in the same way that 'Triumph of 
the Will' was a great film. It's a wonderfully made piece of propaganda. 
But a documentary? Nope.

The fact that I agree with many of the political goals of that 
propaganda doesn't make me like it any more.



Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia