For the people who have seen "An Inconvenient Truth"

[bloom]

Is it just me - or does the movie seem like it could be seen as too much of a political ad for Al Gore.

Not the part where he actually informing people about global warming and the science behind it - but the personal "this is why Al Gore" is on this campaign" parts.


It seems to me that those parts could have been better spent showing stories of people who have been affected by global warming - like people who have had to move their village. People who lived by Lake Chad and remember when it was still a lake. That sort of thing.


My worry is that Republicans (the partisan sort) would be turned off from it and not absorb the message. If the movie had seemed less like a political ad - it might influence more people to do something. As it is - a lot of Republicans like to think that global warming is just a Democratic hoax - I'm afraid the movie could reinforce that view for some.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I don't think so at all.

I'm sure some will give a whiny echo of your fears, but for a few short scenes in a full length film, I really don't think that's a valid criticism.

[bloom]

3. I suppose if he doesn't run for office...

then it won't seem like that so much.

[CAcyclist]

2. It did not seem like an ad to me

I think you are overworrying the problem. Republicans wll always be stupid, but the rest of us can do the work to get this thing turned around without them.

[twilight_sailing]

4. I must admit that I thought there was too much Gore in it.

(insert horror movie joke here)

But, yes, I agree with you. Too much Gore.

[QuestionAll...]

7. I didn't think so until a couple we went to see the movie with

brought that up.
so maybe yes, a bit too much like a Gore commercial, but what the hell - I'm glad it was done and has as much success as it does.

[twilight_sailing]

8. On the other hand

seeing the movie made me feel perfectly willing to vote for Al Gore for President.

True story.

[bloom]

9. There has been a spike in support for him here on DU

since the movie came out.


It would certainly be a good thing to have someone in office who has made global warming a priority.


Mostly I just think that the movie could have served whatever purposes Gore wanted it to serve - without it seeming like so much of a commercial for him.

[Bluerthanblue]

14. I just saw the movie for the first time with my son's school-

it was a small multi grade class of 10-13yr old kids.

Parents were encouraged to attend because the movie has tended to frighten some kids, and to get the message out.

I must admit, I was really psyched to finally see it, and also ..... sadly disapointed... :hide:

I didn't really mind the "Gore" story- but it was not transitioned or balanced in a way that allowed the film to flow smoothly from the inspirations (his life changing reaction to being shown how fragile and precious life is, when his young son was in a car accident)- to seeing how every second of every day, there are precious irreplaceable losses to this earth- and how important it is for us to recognize and fight this.

When the kids were asked to discuss the film, one of the youngest boys cited the "kid who died when he ran out in the road" as his most notable part :crazy: ....

The tobacco and farming end of things really kind of ....rubbed me the wrong way- and I LIKE Al- and voted for him, in the primary as well as the 'sel'ection of 2000!!- I'll be honest, the 'gentleman farmer' end of things, and his repeated references to not knowing the difference between 'chores and work' fell flat for me-..... Having lived on a farm, where it was not a hobby, but a life/career/struggle against nature, 'progress', disease, regulations, and just plain dumb luck- it just seemed so .... off.

The message of the movie is sobering. It is vitally important to get the facts, evidence, and information out to everyone- in as palatable a way as possible. I think the movie is something that everyone should see- but it didn't inspire, invigorate, or even 'disturb' me as much as I wanted it to.

Don't mean to be a wet blanket- or to dis this movie- I expected something really intense.

The one thing that struck me, that I mentioned when it was my turn, was the reference to the problem of the hole in the Ozone layer- which was a big deal when I was young-, and how everyone thought that it was impossible to 'fix' or stop that problem, and how people DID take it seriously, made changes, and that what was once seen as something we could not dream of stopping or reducing- had indeed-changed. And that what that says to me, is that we shouldn't look at global warming as something that can never be 'fixed' so why bother trying- but as another opportunity to correct our actions that are doing harm-

Not to be despondent, or give up, but for each of us to do what we can as individuals to 'help'- to make changes where we can.

I hope I'm in the tiny minority when it comes to my disappointment with the movie- and that it continues to wake people up, and call them to action.


peace,
blu

[ms liberty]

5. No, because...

It's about Al Gore's personal mission. A mission that wasn't in the spotlight until the movie came out. The point of the personal bits was to show that he's been sounding the alarm for a long time, and without movie cameras or the press paying attention.

[bloom]

6. The thing of it is...

If this issue is as important to Gore as he says it is - then it would be better to make the movie more about the problem and less about him.


Does is it really matter that HE has been sounding the alarm (along with 1000s of other people)? Is the point of the movie to stroke his ego or to get people motivated and mobilized?

[ljm2002]

10. First of all...

...I am *so* over worrying about what something "could be seen as". That's the kind of thinking that leads to handwringing and endless triangulation -- and it gives undue power to our foes to define the debate and how we conduct it.

That said, I also think that the parts about Al Gore in the movie were an attempt to make it more of a personal statement. The bit about his sister dying of lung cancer, and his father realizing that he needed to quit growing tobacco -- that reaches us in a way that charts cannot.

One can always critique how something is done. Perhaps there were equally good, or even better ways to bring home the personal aspect of what he was talking about. But he's the one who did it, so he and his producers had to make the call. They could have simply filmed him giving the presentation -- obviously they felt they needed a bit more for the sake of the film. And after all, he *has* been out there now for years giving that presentation to audiences around the world -- I think he's earned the right to make the film and to blow his own horn a bit. I'm grateful that he produced this film, and won't presume to second guess the choices that were made.

(don't take this a a flame, not meant as such at all)

[bloom]

11. I had seen a segment on something like UCTV

of his showing the presentation (m/l) - so I was already familiar with that aspect of it. And thought it was a good show. I have also seen scientists explaining this stuff - and I realize that Gore is not the only one doing that (he's not even really the best one to present evidence - not being a scientist). He may be the only politician doing that. And politicians think like politicians, I guess.


Other people may not be as turned off by commercials as I am. I mute them and don't watch them. Rarely watched commercial TV at all. And I don't listen to commercial radio at all.


So - it is my perspective - I realize that.


But to me the main thing is the importance of the subject - not how Gore feels about it - and it's not about him getting credit. It's not like he's Keeling or somebody.

[ljm2002]

15. Oh, believe me, when it comes to commercials...

...I do not tolerate more than a couple seconds' delay between when the commercial comes on and the mute button is pressed! I am known among my family and friends as "The Mute-Nazi". I can't stand commercials either!

[NYCGirl]

13. BTW, Al Gore did not produce the film. In fact, when approached about making

the film, he didn't want to. Only after the producers convinced him that his slideshow would be seen by millions of people did he consent.

The producers are: Laurie David, Lawrence Bender, Scott Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Lesley Chilcott, and Jeff Skoll.

[ComerPerro]

12. Republicans who would think that would say that no matter how it was presented