Rating: 
Summary: The Second TV Series
Review: "TV Nation" was Moore's earlier venture into TV journalism, and in some significant ways it was better.
As Moore got "bigger," he lost some of the sparkle he displayed in earlier movies and TV efforts.
But, that carping aside, this series is pretty good. Mike launches this from Times Square in, say, 4 am, and manages to field a good-sized audience for his intros and outros in the city that never sleeps. He uses a series of good "stringers" and Mikey wannabes to conduct the heavy-lifting, but I really do Miss Jeaneane Garofalo from "TV Nation."
I use his segment on the New London, Connecticut police department in teaching graduate class in Human Resources. The city of New London gave an IQ test to applicants for police patrol officer jobs, and used an "upper cut score." In other words, if you score too high, you're screened out. The story grew out of a famous [unsuccessful] lawsuit filed by Robert Jordan, protesting his exclusion from a patrolman job because he scored too high. It's great for the students to see how a company can win a lawsuit but lose in the court of public opinion...
Anyway, it's a fun series, but it is expensive, and "TV Nation" was better...
Rating: 
Summary: Michael Moore should win a nobel prize?
Review: After hearing so many bad things about Michael Moore, I was reluctant to watch this. After watching an episode with a friend, I bought the DVD set and was blown away by how good it was. I highly recommend buying this, it is too expensive - you can borrow it from a friend or buy the VHS (which is cheaper)/ or a used DVD.
This series is just too important to miss. I don't know why wonderful eye-opening shows like this aren't widely shown on our American networks.
Here are the benefits of the Awful Truth:
- You see what is going on with the world
- You can make a difference
- You laugh your head off
- This opens your mind
Since he bears a strong resemblance to Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. I think Moore should be nominated for a Nobel peace prize.
Rating:
Summary: amazingly disturbing - just what america needs!
Review: although the stand-up bits that preface the skits aren't that entertaining, my god, once the film gets rolling, this is the most entertaining half hour tv ever showed. equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking, this dvd set is now permanently parked in my changer and i'll routinely check out my favorite bits, although certain parts can only be watched once - the christmas carols for one, once definitely was enough for that, but it's helping me quit smoking. along with stupid whit men, these are some of the best demonstrations of freedom of the press ever.
Rating:
Summary: *such* a great series!
Review: ARGH! I can't stand it when people who have never seen the series rate it low because they don't like Michael Moore. Even if you don't like his politics, he takes on a lot of great, completely non-partisan issues and problems- heck, first episode, he gets a guy a kidney transplant paid for by Humana. He tackles some great social stuff, and it's definitely worth buying.
And as far as Moore himself- nobody who says that they hate Moore has actually ever seen any of his works.
Rating:
Summary: Not the most subtile approach...
Review: But effective nonetheless. From the first episode you get the tone of the rest of the series, as Moore tries to get a dying man a needed transplant to save his live from an HMO that wouldn't cover the operation. Then he holds a rehersal funeral in front of the HMO's building. Other favorites include: running a ficus tree against an unopposed congressman, putting a webcam feed into the appartment of the lady that convinced Linda Tripp to tape her phone calls, and handing out day glow orange wallets to black people because there were reports that police shot a man reaching for his black wallet, ehrn they though it was a gun.
I'll admit, Moore's point gets lost easially as he makes a public display out of himself, but that's half the fun, making the show both entertaining and thought provoking. There are comments about him being socialist or comunist, and to them I say, "what's your point?" Hey, if you can look into the eyes of the above paitent and say to them "you have to die because I;m unwilling to alter my capitalist ideals" then there is little I can say to change your opinions and you can just label this review as not helpful and move on.
To the rest of us, sit back, enjoy, and then try to make the world a better place for everyone, if for no other reason than to save yourself in the long run. America was founded by revolution of the poor upon the monarchay in Europe, and now those that would rebel have semi-automatics, and are close enough to do some real damage.
Rating:
Summary: More from Moore!
Review: Forget what you saw at the Oscars! This is Michael Moore at his best. He really sticks it to the giant corporations and the U.S. government and he makes us laugh while doing it. If you're going to pick up any TV shows on DVD, make it "The Awful Truth"!
Rating:
Summary: Why Are People So Angry?
Review: I appreciate having the opportunity to see things from different perspectives. That's just what Michael Moore presents. Intellegent, curious, well informed individuals are not threatened by his extremist points of view. Thinking, questioning, people of moral character welcome the opportunity to evaluate situations, people, policies etc. in manner presented by NO ONe ELSE. He provides one more data point...the continum and complexity of situations require us to evaluate the whole picture. It is our responsibility to weigh all the information... not just what we like to hear or what is popular. His positions create tension, tension creates dialogue, dialogue encourages learning. Why are people so angry... our country was built on questioning the status quo... isn't that a good thing?
Rating: 
Summary: What a waste of space
Review: I do not think about Michael Moore, other than in disgust. What a waste of an intelligent (if he even is) human being. What a waste of a human life...his.Find a cause worth living for, Mr. Moore. There are people with AIDS in Africa, starving in the Sudan and India - and all you can see is the nose at the end of your face. Again, what a waste. My attitude is, change the channel and ignore this man. Since when is crudeness worthly of being thought provoking? yulk.
Rating:
Summary: can't handle the truth?
Review: I feel an overwhelming sadness for people who are so polarized by the convictions their daddies instilled in them that they cannot think for themselves. Michael Moore has an agenda: that is true. But he also uses only facts and TRUTH. For lies, check out Rush Limbagh or the Fox News channel. Anyone shopping at Amazon lives in a free country, and it is the duty of all free people to think for themselves and look at all sides of every issue. That most of America refuses to do so is a travesty in itself. And this is the heart of Michael Moore's documentaries. You don't have to agree with everything he says, but you have to be open to being challenged by facts you have not been exposed to before. You have to realize that sometimes (gasp!) the powers that be LIE. Once upon a time investigative reporters were hailed for their duty to the people when they uncovered hidden truths such as the Watergate scandal. Now most people want to ignore the truth and stay locked in their happy bubbles. Michael Moore is here to pop those bubbles, and it is about time someone did. This series is a great place to start, since it is not too much information at once when taken episode by episode. As a whole, this program is powerful, revealing, sometimes shocking, and always entertaining. The point here is to THINK, not to accept blindly. This should be required viewing for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: You don't know Michael Moore until you see this series
Review: I recently purchased this set because I had never seen the show in my area. Unlike many of Moore's more recent work, "The Awful Truth" is less partisian and more eloquently zeroes in on the issues that form the nucleus of Moore's agenda, which is about people and not parties. In fact, this series, most of which was produced while Clinton was in the White House, often targets the democrats and issues surrounding Clinton or the government's policy. Unlike his opponents, Michael Moore is not blindly allied to any political party as evidenced in this series.
That's not to say Moore doesn't have an agenda, or doesn't tackle controversial issues. He most certainly does. And he demonstrates how intelligent and creative he is in touching upon very sensitive issues, making people think, via humor.
The first episode of "The Awful Truth" is a great example. It consists of two segments. In the first one, Michael addresses the overblown Starr investigation against Clinton (which cost taxpayers $50+ million) and proposes that if the Republicans want a "witch hunt", he can do it cheaper and more efficiently, and that's exactly what he does. Hilarity ensues as Moore assembles a group of Salem-era "pilgrims" in period costume to parade across capital hill passing judgement on the plethora of hypocritical adulterous politicians. Do not drink any liquids while viewing this segment or they'll end up all over your living room -- you've been warned.
The second segment is even more powerful, and it's required watching for anyone who is prejudiced against Michael Moore. I showed this clip to a friend who "hates" Moore and at the end she was crying. Her opinion of the man will forever be changed. That's how powerful the segment is, where Michael Moore follows a young man who's HMO refused to pay for an operation he needs to save his life, and Michael and his people descend upon the corporate offices vowing to not give up until this young man gets the pancreas transplant he desperately needs. In the end, Michael wins, the young man's life is saved, and the HMO reverses their policy on this issue. It's clear evidence that Michael Moore has actually saved at least one man's life, and who knows how many others through his lobbying for humane healthcare policies. I challenge anyone to watch this segment and content that Michael Moore isn't one of the true people left who is really looking out for the common man. NOBODY who can malign the man could possibly have viewed this segment.
That's just the first two spots on this extensive DVD collection. And that's just the beginning... get this series and get it for all your friends - you won't be sorry.
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