Documentaries

I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 last week. Others have more interesting things to say, so I'm not saying too much. I found the film powerful, but moreso when Michael Moore wasn't narrating. I think it's wise to get both sides on all issues and not believe everything anyone tells you. It irks me when people, who haven't seen the film, complain about it... because they heard on Fox News that it's all lies.
See it for yourself, you know? You can't really judge it until you do. Otherwise you just sound silly because you're just spitting back up what the media told you to say.

Anyway, it was interesting, but I didn't take it as absolute truth. I kept my mind open. I do like that it's gotten us all discussing the issues it brings up.

I also saw Supersize Me. I thought this was a pretty powerful film, as well. I was surprised at how it made me feel. I mean, I know fast food and processed food is bad for you, but putting it all together was alarming. From seeing the trash kids eat in school (reminding me through junior high I had french fries and "grape drink" every day for lunch) to what happened to Spurlock's body was eye opening. I didn't take this as a McDonald's-bashing film--more bashing the fast food culture of America. It reminded me of Fast Food Nation.

Again, it's funny to hear critics of this film who haven't seen it. Yes Spurlock did an extreme thing, yes not many people eat at McDonald's 3x a day and all of that, but he was proving a point. America is the fattest nation in the world with 100 million overweight people, 60% of whom get no exercise. Why is it a bad thing that he's drawn attention to that? If the film weren't extreme and controversial, yet still drew our attention to these facts, it would just be a film strip from Health class that no one wants to see.

After such heavy stuff, I think I should see Napoleon Dynamite next.