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The Awful Truth - The Complete Second Season

The Awful Truth - The Complete Second Season

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: More Moore
Review: Chances are, if you're considering this DVD purchase, then you're familiar with Michael Moore. The renegade filmmaker behind Roger and Me returns for the second season of his Emmy-nominated documentary TV show "The Awful Truth." It ran on Bravo! in the summer of 2000, and Moore returns to his familiar Times Square setting for more of his guerilla-style harassment of all things nasty.

Moore's satirical fist knows no friends: he takes stabs at both major political parties (note to Conservatives: just because he bashes you doesn't mean he doesn't bash Liberals, too!), goes after screwy judicial systems, the mainstream media, religious nutjobs, and even himself. Some of his stunts include driving a taxi in New York that refuses to pick up white people, sending a pimp to Congress (to make the point that politicians who whore out votes in exchange for campaign contributions are "hos"), importing Iraqi gas and selling it for 60 cents a gallon, and a new short film: Ficus, in which he runs a ficus plant for an uncontested Congress nomination (and, by all counts, WINS). This season is much more hit-and-miss than the first season, with some episodes, like the pimp, worth watching over and over, while others are pretty darn boring. But, all in all, there's certainly enough here to justify this 2-disc set.

The video is presented in crisp full-frame, which makes sense because most of it was shot digitally. The sound mix is a strong DD 2.0, standard TV-show fare - there isn't enough here to really rock the old subwoofer anyway, and the mix is more than adequate. The only extras are some Bookie segments that didn't appear on TV, and Michael Moore's commentary on four of the episodes. His commentary is hilarious and informative, which is generally what I'd expect from Mike. The only disappointment is that Awful Truth episodes ran 60 seconds longer in the UK, and it would have been cool to see that extra footage, but hey, it's a minor complaint.

So sit back, pop in this DVD, and get ready to think. Rather than succumb to the fallacies of those he satirizes, by offering easy, cookie-cutter, bumper-sticker answers, Moore is content raising questions and letting us work through them on our own. It's a sign of maturity, intellect, and a true desire to change the world: people are more apt to work for themselves when they figure out the answers to problems on their own, instead of listening to MSNBC, chubby radio talk-show hosts, or the 700 club for the "cheat-sheet" solutions. It's refreshing, and well worth your time. But beware: you might get a little ticked off when you learn the Awful Truth.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Much better than season one
Review: For several years now, the only way I could get the Bravo network was to subscribe to a digital cable service -- which is pretty expensive, so I've had to pass. Which means I missed out on Michael Moore's return to television in "The Awful Truth." Luckilly season one and two are now available on DvD.

Season two of "The Awful Truth" is more true to the "TV Nation" format than season one. Once again, Mike is out at Times Square in New York City, talking to folks on the street and introducing the segments. Thought-provoking, hilarious and angry all describe the segments. There's plenty of Moore's typical in-your-face style as he confronts his favorite targets, corporate America, with frequent police intervention. It all makes for great television, such as the contest where people playing dead are laid out on sidewalks in New York City, Great Britain, and Canda. The contest: which country would first investigate the dead person on the ground? Other segments have Moore and a team of inspectors at a Holiday Inn express, documenting the numerous safety and health violations (like blood-stained sheets). In another segment BMW executives are confronted about their failure to pay reparations to the slave laborers used in Germany during WW II.

Michael Moore fans will find much to enjoy in "The Awful Truth." The truth is out there -- and it's awful.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Much better than season one
Review: For several years now, the only way I could get the Bravo network was to subscribe to a digital cable service -- which is pretty expensive, so I've had to pass. Which means I missed out on Michael Moore's return to television in "The Awful Truth." Luckilly season one and two are now available on DvD.

Season two of "The Awful Truth" is more true to the "TV Nation" format than season one. Once again, Mike is out at Times Square in New York City, talking to folks on the street and introducing the segments. Thought-provoking, hilarious and angry all describe the segments. There's plenty of Moore's typical in-your-face style as he confronts his favorite targets, corporate America, with frequent police intervention. It all makes for great television, such as the contest where people playing dead are laid out on sidewalks in New York City, Great Britain, and Canda. The contest: which country would first investigate the dead person on the ground? Other segments have Moore and a team of inspectors at a Holiday Inn express, documenting the numerous safety and health violations (like blood-stained sheets). In another segment BMW executives are confronted about their failure to pay reparations to the slave laborers used in Germany during WW II.

Michael Moore fans will find much to enjoy in "The Awful Truth." The truth is out there -- and it's awful.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Awful indeed.
Review: Here we're treated to a second season of ramblings from the paranoid narcissist Moore. I recommend purchasing the second season of The X-Files instead, because although it's also loaded with conspiracy theories, it's more based in fact than Moore's self-indulgent propaganda and also much more entertaining.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Funniest comedy I have ever seen
Review: I almost died from laughter. If you want to avoid a cardiac arrest, please do not buy these DVD's. The funniest scenes:

1) A man in a giant gun costume is sent to a gun show and a gun dealer remarks that "this is great, it gives kids something to relate to".

2) When Jeb Bush is confronted and given "advice" on how to execute more people so he can out do his brother in Texas.

3) John McCain states "I feel like I'm Luke Skywalker trying to get out of the Death Star".

4) Women in lingerie are sent to confront an oil executive.

5) A man in a giant chicken costume is sent to confront a pesticide executive.

6) A government official is confronted by a man (with a rubik's cube) who failed to become a police officer because he achieved a high score result. They hand him a new test result which now proves that he is in fact not too smart - whereby the official then proceeds to tear up the new result.

7) A montage which depicts George Bush as a recipient of Affirmative Action since he achieved a C average in high school, then enters Yale where he achieved E and D averages.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Funnier than last season...
Review: I just finished reading Stupid White Men and really liked it, so I figured I would get the Awful Truth's second season. I thought it was funnier overall than the first season and would recommend it if you like Mike, or are fed up with the status quo.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Funnier than last season...
Review: I just finished reading Stupid White Men and really liked it, so I figured I would get the Awful Truth's second season. I thought it was funnier overall than the first season and would recommend it if you like Mike, or are fed up with the status quo.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just buy it now.
Review: I LOVE this DVD and it's one of the few I can watch over and over again and never get tired of it. Laughter and bittersweet tears will ensue. I was a bit disappointed in his F911 film, for beginning with solid facts but weaving them in a bit of a twisted manner such that the message was compromised in the end (I felt). But the Awful Truth episodes are the old "Roger and Me" Michael Moore that I love.. it's the combination of his quirky sense of humor and his diligent fight for human rights and sanity in a crazy world. A few segments fall flat, but on DVD are easy to skip in favor of the many priceless gems.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just buy it now.
Review: I LOVE this DVD and it's one of the few I can watch over and over again and never get tired of it. Laughter and bittersweet tears will ensue.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Moore at the top of his game
Review: I was really surprised by how funny the second season of TAT was. The best shows are in the beginning (when he still had money). I loved the segment where he brings a portable mosh pit to all of the presidential canditates. Also hilarious was running ficus the potted plant for congress (He gives you oxygen; can YOUR congressman do that?). It's too bad this show is stuck on bravo this should be on prime time network tv. If only Americans had as good taste as the Brits.


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