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"Death of a President "
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:11 pm
by x-y-no
Hopefully this can be discussed without politics getting into it. (those who remember the politcs forum when we had it will recall that I'm not exactly a fan of President Bush, so that's not my motivation)
I saw a piece about this British "mockumentary" last night and I was really annoyed. Depicting the assasination of a sitting president goes way over the line in my opinion. No doubt all kinds of lofty rationales will be offered, but this is crass sensationalism and just damned dangerous and irresponsible as far as I'm concerned.
I'm disappointed in the Toronto Film Festival for choosing to show the film, and I'm disappointed in Britain's channel 4 for producing it.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:52 pm
by vbhoutex
Can you provide any kind of link to it? Not much to discuss without more info. I must agree though, without even seeing it, that the content you describe troubles me deeply!! And it doesn't have anything to do with politics!!!
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:59 pm
by sunny
I have read about this on the Drudge Report and I just find it very disturbing! And quite disappointing to be honest.
What channel was piece on Jan?
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:01 pm
by x-y-no
vbhoutex wrote:Can you provide any kind of link to it? Not much to discuss without more info. I must agree though, without even seeing it, that the content you describe troubles me deeply!! And it doesn't have anything to do with politics!!!
Found this story about it on MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14608725/
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:07 pm
by x-y-no
sunny wrote:I have read about this on the Drudge Report and I just find it very disturbing! And quite disappointing to be honest.
What channel was piece on Jan?
The piece I saw was maybe on "entertainment Tonight" ... not sure though .. I was tuning around.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:09 pm
by P.K.
I was wondering when this would be mentioned on here. They are due to show it on More4 in October I believe which I'm not sure many people watch to be honest as its not one of the five main terrestrial channels.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:12 pm
by x-y-no
P.K. wrote:I was wondering when this would be mentioned on here. They are due to show it on More4 in October I believe which I'm not sure many people watch to be honest as its not one of the five main terrestrial channels.
Actually, I'm more bothered that it's being shown at the Toronto Film Festival. Had it only been on an obscure TV channel, the best approach no doubt would have been to ignore it entirely.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:14 pm
by Grease Monkey
Interesting. I'm very suprised that they would come out with a documentary like this and make it seem as real as possible by even using the current president's face on the actor through computer technology. It just doesn't seem right. I mean how would you feel if someone made a movie about your future death of getting shot by a sniper? Used your name and face for the actor.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:59 pm
by Brent
I am very disturbed by this. I think the general idea is ok(they made movies about JFK's assassination afterall), but couldn't they use fake names(like on 24?) or wait until he's out of office in 2 years? I don't understand it.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:11 pm
by Audrey2Katrina
I also find it disturbing, but not altogether surprising given the horrendous levels of hatred that have been made manifest of late. As stated by Vbhoutex, that is NOT said with political overtones... strictly an honest opinion.
A2k
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:34 pm
by x-y-no
Brent wrote:I am very disturbed by this. I think the general idea is ok(they made movies about JFK's assassination afterall), but couldn't they use fake names(like on 24?) or wait until he's out of office in 2 years? I don't understand it.
The difference with movies about JFK or any other historical assasination is that's an actual past event.
President Bush is the sitting President of the United States - creating a fictional assassination of him (and not some fictional character) is
way over the line as far as I'm concerned. (I would say the same about other sitting heads of state as well).
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:35 pm
by Audrey2Katrina
Though we've had our share of differences on many a thread, Jan, I completely agree with your assessment of this one. Doing something like this is decidedly over the edge.
A2K
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:39 pm
by all_we_know_is_FALLING
It might be distasteful, but it's a free country. Cliche, but true.
And don't bash me for saying that. It's my opinion.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:44 pm
by Audrey2Katrina
all_we_know_is_FALLING wrote:It might be distasteful, but it's a free country. Cliche, but true.
And don't bash me for saying that. It's my opinion.
No one is disputing the cliche, and certainly no bashing. The fact is that in exercising OUR right to an opinion--we are expressing it.
A2K
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:46 pm
by Ptarmigan
Without politics, it is disturbing. As for that JFK movie, that was made years later. As for free speech, it is NOT absolute and it has limitations. Also, it cuts both ways, so I let it off my chest. Thank you.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:46 pm
by stormtruth
Sounds like they made it to be controversial and to upset people. MTV's Celebrity Death Match also kills off living people (primarily celebrities) in horrible brutal ways.
http://www.mtv.com/onair/deathmatch/
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:56 pm
by Brent
x-y-no wrote:Brent wrote:I am very disturbed by this. I think the general idea is ok(they made movies about JFK's assassination afterall), but couldn't they use fake names(like on 24?) or wait until he's out of office in 2 years? I don't understand it.
The difference with movies about JFK or any other historical assasination is that's an actual past event.
President Bush is the sitting President of the United States - creating a fictional assassination of him (and not some fictional character) is
way over the line as far as I'm concerned. (I would say the same about other sitting heads of state as well).
Yeah... that's where I have a major problem with it, as I stated.
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:58 pm
by Ptarmigan
stormtruth wrote:Sounds like they made it to be controversial and to upset people. MTV's Celebrity Death Match also kills off living people (primarily celebrities) in horrible brutal ways.
http://www.mtv.com/onair/deathmatch/
I don't think they killed off presidents. I liked Celebrity Death Match, especially with annoying celebrities getting plastered.
I wonder if they still show it today?
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:08 pm
by P.K.
The following quote is from a BBC news article. I can post the link but decided not to as it shows a still from the programme that some on here might not like.
Peter Dale, head of More4, described it as a "thought-provoking critique" of contemporary US society.
He said: "It's an extraordinarily gripping and powerful piece of work, a drama constructed like a documentary that looks back at the assassination of George Bush as the starting point for a very gripping detective story.
"It's a pointed political examination of what the War on Terror did to the American body politic.
"I'm sure that there will be people who will be upset by it but when you watch it you realise what a sophisticated piece of work it is.
"It's not sensationalist or simplistic but a very thought-provoking, powerful drama. I hope people will see that the intention behind it is good."
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:34 pm
by all_we_know_is_FALLING
Audrey2Katrina wrote:all_we_know_is_FALLING wrote:It might be distasteful, but it's a free country. Cliche, but true.
And don't bash me for saying that. It's my opinion.
No one is disputing the cliche, and certainly no bashing. The fact is that in exercising OUR right to an opinion--we are expressing it.
A2K
Wait.. huh? I didn't say anything about your opinion, lol.
I'm confused.