Censorship at the Movies? Of F9/11, in Sac?

-----Original Message-----
From: George Main [mailto:maing [at] pacbell.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2020 11:13 AM
To: VFP Sacramento; Cc: mike [at] michaelmoore.com; sypeaceact [at] jps.net
Subject: Censorship at the Movies


I just saw my third showing of Fahrenheit 911. I saw it on a comp ticket
from Sacramento Century 14 Stadium to determine if the movie had been
censored since it opened on June 25th.

I attended the 10:20 showing opening night without my wife because we
couldn't get child care. I couldn't discuss the movie with her because we
were going to see it together. That was on Thursday, July 1st.

Something wasn't right with the movie. Republican cursing was absent from
the opening segments. I thought maybe it was later or I filled it in. I
remember when I left the theater that the R rating was ironically Republican
foul mouths and violence from the reality of war. But the Saudi execution
of four men on Christmas Day was so vivid when the first guy in line took
two strokes to sever his head. That scene was so haunting when you thought
about their crime, homosexuality.

Thursday's showing did not have Michael Moore's audio track mentioning
either the Christmas execution or their crimes that merited beheading.

I spoke to Benny, the manager, and he assured me that they would not censor
a film. They had two copies and maybe there was a problem with the 2nd
copy. I was offered two comp tickets on Saturday so that I could again see
the copy from the Friday opening. I opted for the 10:20 showing so that all
things would be equal.

My wife did not want to see the movie a second time (her first close up of
war). I took Kate Kennedy, VFP Chapter 87, Secretary/Treasurer.

The execution scene did not mention Christmas or the crime of homosexuality.
The scene did not have an audio overlay.

I went again to see the manager and spoke to Alex. He had seen the movie
after the opening and did not remember hearing anything about why the men
were executed. I gave him my VFP card and told him to let Benny know that I
was going to take action. With the Internet and media I would organize
something.

I offered Alex my hand and promised him the theater would be hearing from
me. He shook my hand for the longest time. I've played enough poker to
know a tell. I have publicly stated "I will neither confirm nor deny..."
enough times to appreciate Alex's position.

I need your help. Did you see the movie opening night or in another
theater? Do you recall Michael Moore stating the crime the four Saudis were
being executed for? Can we open a dialogue and see where our conversation
takes us?

Is this intended to avoid further alienation of the Log Cabin Republican
vote? Is Fahrenheit 911 more powerful than we imagine or Mr. Moore hoped?
No matter how much slime Bush wipes away isn't he still slime?

Please circulate this and open a discussion.

George Main, President
Sacramento Chapter 87
Veterans For Peace, Inc.
mailto:maing [at] pacbell.net
or
mailto:vfpsacramento [at] pacbell.net