fredericks

re: My mini-gripe about the upcoming movie "United 93" I found this while perusing the IMDB news blurbs - Theater Yanks Trailer for 9/11 Film

A New York City movie theater pulled the trailer for the upcoming movie United 93, about the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania following the terrorist plot of Sept. 11, 2001, after several theater patrons complained, according to Newsweek magazine. Kevin Adjodha, a theater manager at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 12 theater, told the magazine that one lady was crying and saying that the theater should not have played the trailer. "I don't think people are ready for this," he said. Newsweek also said that in Los Angeles, some in the audience at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre shouted "Too Soon!" when the trailer appeared. But Carole O'Hare, whose mother died on the flight, voiced support of the film, which is scheduled for release on April 28. (It is due to open the Tribeca film Festival three days earlier.) "This story has to be told to honor the passengers and crew for what they did," she said. "But more than that, it raises awareness. Our ports aren't secure. Our airlines still aren't secure, and this is what happens when you're not secure. That's the message I want people to hear."

I caught the trailer while waiting to watch "V for Vendetta" two weekends ago, and while I was quite unnerved by the wheedling "this story has to be told! don't be angry at us! please watch the movie" tone of it I was surprised by how non-responsive the rest of the audience was as a whole. In my mind the story HAS been told over and over again in an propaganda-like fashion. All conspiracy theories aside, the government was all too willing to point out the people on United 93 as heroes because, like the "war" on gay marriage, it distracted from the main issue - that issue being unforgivably lax national security. I don't believe the movie will raise awareness as the media has been scaring the public shitless with lack of safety in the air since the events, but I do think it might be somewhat cathartic for some of family members of those involved. Ultimately, though, Hollywood is deluding these people if they believe the movie is about anything but the bottom line of cash money. Welcome to America.

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With a headline that says "Sesame Street Videos Causes Controversy", best believe I clicked over plenty quick. I was expecting the video to have some porn on it, or at least a same-sex muppet family (conniptions from the Bible Belt, woo-hoo!). I was not prepared to read this: NEW YORK (April 3) - The creators of "Sesame Street" are releasing a new line of videos Tuesday targeted for children as young as six months, outraging some child-development experts who feel no form of TV or video is suitable for kids under 2.

Huh? While I know the AP guy went with the whole deceptive headline to lure people in...I was a bit disappointed. I wanted to lay the curmudgeon on. I'm feeling real ornery this afternoon, and God help anyone that looks at me funny.