fantastic 0 Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 I was just wondering what some of my fellow USers* thought of Mr Moore and his opinions / way of telling 'em. Like or not? * Other nationalities also welcome to vent! Link to post Share on other sites
Stefan 0 Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 He's a master manipulator. I am really undecided on him. I like his first documentry Roger and Me and I've seen some of his series The Awful Truth. But if I'm honest I do tend to find him a little annoying at times, he just seems so self righteous! I refuse to read his book 'Stupid White Men'. The title alone is a bit freaky and after hearing numerous friends ramble on about its contents, the word sensationalist comes to mind! I'm not from the USA. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted October 8, 2003 Share Posted October 8, 2003 I had a look at his website once, and it didn't seem particularly credible. He appears to be making a handsome living out of muck-racking, and judging by what's on his website, he doesn't seem to care much about his sources - if it's bad, it's good enough for him. The trouble with that sort of approach is that it can discredit genuinely damning information when it's presented elsewhere by more careful researchers. That's just my judgement based on his website alone. I haven't seen anything else. For a similar sort of thing done differently, I prefer Greg Palast. Link to post Share on other sites
rachael 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 I am undecided too - I think he goes OTT. Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 He is OTT, but that's the point. He's trying to be as ridiculous as the situations he highlights. He's not giving any answers or points of view himself, or even suggesting he has answers, merely wanting people to question imbalances that most take as the status quo. Being of a laissez-faire/republican leaning myself (in the true sense of the word, not the U.S. bastardization of the term) I find his socialist leaning 'projects' a little tiresome, but generally, a refreshing breeze of satire, irony and subtle sarcasm, highlighting hypocracies that most of us non-Americans think go unnoticed to the American masses. Sensationalist... he pales in comparison to speeches from America's right honourable...or my daily dose of CNN for that matter. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 I think he's great. Of course he's always praising Canada but aside from that. He seems to expose some white collar crimes which may normally go unnoticed. Good to have people in mainstram culture out there questioning issues facing a lot of the North American population. Link to post Share on other sites
snowboard_freak 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 I don't really know a hell of a lot about him but from what I have seen I have enjoyed. I would like to sit down and watch the Awful Truth at some stage. They look quite good and interesting. I'd also like to read "Stupid White Men". I've read the intro and it seems like it would be a worthwhile read. Link to post Share on other sites
crazyski 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 Coincidently, I'm in the middle of "Stupid White Men" right now. I've seen his films "The Big One" and "Bowling for Columbine," and have since been undecided about both his views and his approach. (I suppose the fact that I'm thinking about it fulfills the goal of the muck-raking tradition...). In the introduction of "Stupid White Men," Moore goes a bit of a long-winded, far-fetched tirade blaming the current poor state of the world on "theft" of the American Presidency by good ol' Dubbya. I opposed the means by which Bush rose to power (there are some especially disturbing hints of corruption by allies of Bush in the Florida electoral process), and I oppose the way he is running the US. However, Moore discredits some of his more well-reasoned ideas by wildly flailing his frenzied fists at everything that turns his big jowels red. His sarcastic comedy often gets in the way of his ideology, as well. See the chapter where he shuns recycling as a conscience-clearing act for the polluting American public (#1 in energy consumption per capita, baby!). Anyway, Moore is a funny guy, and a much better filmmaker than he is a writer. For a much more evenly-balanced recent critique of a specific thing that has actually changed America a bit, see Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation." No one I know has not given up McDonalds (at least for a time) after reading this book. It is thoroughly researched and meticulously referenced, and is actually a pretty quick read. Link to post Share on other sites
Bowler 0 Posted October 9, 2003 Share Posted October 9, 2003 i read the book when it first came out. basically says that its all georges americas fault. like i havent heard that before!!! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Just started on Downsize This, seems it was written before the SWM one. Quite interesting read, even though its just ott most of the time. Link to post Share on other sites
Glen Falting 0 Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Sometimes a person needs to be OTT just to be heard. Reasoned, well balanced arugements (unless they're on snowjapan!)often get lost in the background noise. Without a doubt he sensationalises the issues. The bowling for columbine bit where he has the kids confronting the supermarket that sells bullets was nothing short of exploitive. But I guess for every right wing christian group that says people shouldn't wear condoms because they don't stop aids(!) there needs to be a guy standing up for a bit of common sense. Link to post Share on other sites
snowboard_freak 0 Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 I watched the movie of "The Big One" which is the tour that he does for "Downsize This". Not a bad flick. Theres some good stuff in there. He's definately good at confronting people. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Was just going to write a comment but crap I dont have enough info I will read the book and watch some vids be back in a week or two, Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts