I couldn't make it out to see Bourne Supremacy, adding that movie to the list of things I wanted to see but haven't seen yet:
Kill Bill vol 2
Manchurian Candidate
I, Robot
and Fahrenheit 9/11
I only recently saw Michael Moore's other film, Bowling for Columbine. I actually went into seeing the movie with some very low expectations, given the amount of criticism and flaws that had been pointed out in Bowling's production since it's release. I came away from the movie with a much different experience; to me I didn't see the movie as a criticism of gun control or gun ownership, it's biggest message to me was one that I've echoed for quite a while: a criticism of the mass media.
Reading things like Ted Turner's take on big media further illustrate the problems with mass media today. I'm eager to see Fahrenheit 9/11 not because I think our foreign policy has deteriorated beyond belief, but because I'd like to see how much Moore takes the media to task on the reasons we are where we are today. Unfortunately the masses still aren't being taught exactly why things are the way they are, instead it's deemed much more important to report on vague terror alerts, the daily death toll in Iraq, etc... I'm all for reporting all the bad stuff along with the good in the world, but I think a huge duty of the media is also to educate, to truly inform and not just to drive up ratings. I spent my middle, high school learning more than I wanted to know about European history again and again, but never really understanding the middle east and how it came to be. It wasn't until I made the decision to take a class on it in college did I begin to understand the origins of why that part of the world is in such a mess in a lot of senses. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to hate and a little less easy to learn first, which definitely doesn't help the situation at all.
I've got a Macdate coming today, I felt the need to write some before I went to bed though which is where this post came from :)
Goodnight folks.
Kill Bill vol 2
Manchurian Candidate
I, Robot
and Fahrenheit 9/11
I only recently saw Michael Moore's other film, Bowling for Columbine. I actually went into seeing the movie with some very low expectations, given the amount of criticism and flaws that had been pointed out in Bowling's production since it's release. I came away from the movie with a much different experience; to me I didn't see the movie as a criticism of gun control or gun ownership, it's biggest message to me was one that I've echoed for quite a while: a criticism of the mass media.
Reading things like Ted Turner's take on big media further illustrate the problems with mass media today. I'm eager to see Fahrenheit 9/11 not because I think our foreign policy has deteriorated beyond belief, but because I'd like to see how much Moore takes the media to task on the reasons we are where we are today. Unfortunately the masses still aren't being taught exactly why things are the way they are, instead it's deemed much more important to report on vague terror alerts, the daily death toll in Iraq, etc... I'm all for reporting all the bad stuff along with the good in the world, but I think a huge duty of the media is also to educate, to truly inform and not just to drive up ratings. I spent my middle, high school learning more than I wanted to know about European history again and again, but never really understanding the middle east and how it came to be. It wasn't until I made the decision to take a class on it in college did I begin to understand the origins of why that part of the world is in such a mess in a lot of senses. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to hate and a little less easy to learn first, which definitely doesn't help the situation at all.
I've got a Macdate coming today, I felt the need to write some before I went to bed though which is where this post came from :)
Goodnight folks.
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Jalf - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
As GTaudiophile said, there's definitely far more anti-Americanism around than before Bush. I live in Europe, in one of the more US-friendly countries even, and I'd be hard pressed to find anyone here who has the least respect for the US foreign policy. ;)Don't underestimate the disgust the rest of the world feels at Bush's foreign policy...
That said, people generally don't have a problem with individual americans (except the ignorant flag-waving kind, who feels that questioning things == being unpatriotic, and being unpatriotic == the ultimate crime)
I'm not sure if anti-americanism is even the right word. It's not that people dislike the country, or the individuals living there.
tay - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
Your blog is broken in rss. The tags don't render the html properly and the tags can be sen.I use bloglines
GTaudiophile - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
Anand: am over here in Munich, Germany at the moment on a business trip + vacation. Because I speak German almost fluently and am able to "blend in" to the point that most people approach me as a German, I have the distinct advantage of being able observe yet not actually experience modern european anti-Americanism. The hostility and tension certainly does seem much higher than in years past. #Having said that, many (young) American tourists deserve such antagonism simply because the majority are loud and abnoxious, finding humor in smashing beer bottles on public streets at four in the morning! But such events aside, a lot of the increased anti-Americanism can indeed be attributed to the Bush Administration.
How do I feel personally? Iraq was a bad move, but now that we are there, we have a job to see to its end. I also am an optimist: I like to wonder what the world may be like in 20 years if Iraq is a prosperous democracy in the Middle East and maybe, just maybe, even the most die-hard liberals will end up appreciating Bush's efforts.
Kevin R - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
I have another movie to add to your list. It is call "Outfoxed". It is about how Fox News Channel is totally for the Right and over sesationalizes everything. It is on DVD at Amazon and is now being released at theaters in LA, DC, SF, NYC and Seattle this week. You can find more here:http://www.outfoxed.org/
Jumbi
Adam K - Friday, August 6, 2004 - link
Anand,Another movie you need to add is "The Corporation." It might make you think twice about your corporation's responsibility to our planet. (I am kidding, Anand, I know that you are a world conscious, intelligent person.) But you should go see it. You will never drink milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone again! (if you even drink it today).
Have a good weekend, and thanks for coming back to your blog more.