F911 from Manhattan, Kansas - 7 PM showing

[Solly Mack]

We decided to eat afterward so went to an earlier showing. My husband got off duty around 5:30 and we made it to the theatre with 20 minutes to spare.

I was so excited! I could barely contain myself. Finally! I was going to see F911.

We met out party outside the doors. Only 2 soldiers of the 5 expected showed up. We're told they'll make it tomorrow for the 1st showing. I'll be there regardless. I MUST see this movie again..and again...and again.

The parking lot was filling up when we got there. I took it as a hopeful sign. We bought our tickets, got something to drink, and off to take our seats. I had grabbed extra napkins at the concession because I knew I would need them. (I did)

The viewing room was maybe 1/3 full when we sat down. I looked around me at my other comrades in arms - for that is what they were. People, who like me, were fighting together to rid our country of the evil that is Bush.

We sat in the middle. Middle row and middle seats. I was dead center of the screen and loving it! Most of the people were older than myself and I'm 40. A few, maybe, were as old as me and the rest were young college-age kids. Many of the older people came together and were part of the Unitarian Universities.

7 PM came and went and the movie did not start. More people were piling in...wonderful! 10 minutes go by and Finally!!!!!...lights go dim. Unreal! 20 minutes of "previews" that were nothing more advertisements. Nokia. Calvin Klein. Video Games.

This is a college town so I stifled my grunts and snorts. :)

The fireworks begin..and people, I start to cry then and there and can't stop. I will never get over Selection 2000! NEVER!

My heart is breaking all over again as I watch the CBC. The same doom I experienced when it actually happened swept over me and I again felt my country slipping away forever. I was once more devastated for my country.

I don't think I let my husband's hand go the entire time. I know it is bruised now. He laughed about it over dinner. I held on and just squeezed. It was a wild ride but one I wanted to take so badly. I wanted to relive those moments since 2000. I wanted to taste the bitter gall again in my mouth...and rejoice in knowing I was doing so in the company of others, in a public theatre, where the truth could finally be told. Not hidden on page 12 of the newspapers or completely ignored altogether.

The audience laughed at the ignorance that is Bush. They gasped at the Bush/Bin Laden connections. You could hear it clicking for them.

There were people muttering "damn" and "jesus" and "oh my god" throughout the movie. You could hear crying..though I know I must have been the loudest. My heart was ripped a part by this movie...but by the movies end...my heart was once again whole..and cleansed. Cleansed because the truth was finally out there. Cleansed because I got to share that truth with perfect strangers who felt like people I had known for ages.

At the end the audience clapped and cheered.

The soldiers that came with us were not the only soldiers present. This was "opening night" for our town and I think more will see the movie.

My husband talks politics at work all the time. The main reason soldiers agreed to go with us was because they were impressed my husband called the Halliburton contracts. He told them when they got to Iraq that Halliburton would get the oil contracts..they didn't believe him. Can you imagine? People being impressed by such an obvious and easy call? So they listen to my husband now. They feel he knows his stuff. So much so they asked my husband to be "voter NCO", in charge of registering enlisted soldiers to vote and helping them understand the issues better. LOLOL! My liberal husband!

He had to turn it down because we are moving to Germany but said he would be glad to help the person who does take the job until we leave.

His soldier is a BOSS representative. BOSS means Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers. Well, this BOSS rep saw F911 while on leave in Dallas. He and my husband have been discussing this entire Bush mess since before they left for Iraq back in 2003. Anyway, on Fridays, the BOSS rep puts out info for single soldiers that the 1SG MUST read and pass on. This BOSS rep, while in formation, was asked if there was anything else he needed put out and he said YES! "For all soldiers to be aware that F911 was now playing at Seth Childs and to be sure and attend!" My husband said it was GREAT! To see the faces of some of the more hardcore right wingers that just blanched at the mention of F911...and he said the look on the 1SG's face was priceless.

I will be seeing F911 again tomorrow.

Oh yeah...there were ONLY 17 empty seats at the 7 PM showing. It was like that for the first and second showings of the day as well. (we asked) And for this neck of the woods..that's awesome!

[faithnotgreed]

1. wow. thank you so much. i love hearing this kind of thing!

[Solly Mack]

3. It was great. I'm still "heady"...the afterglow thingie is

in full throttle. :)

[Poiuyt]

2. Thanks for the great report

[Solly Mack]

4. My pleasure!!!

So much so I'm doing it again...tomorrow. Seeing the movie, that is

:hi:

[Hubert Flottz]

6. I saw the movie this afternoon and it was very good!

It's been on here for a week and it still drew a better than half packed house at the 3:50 showing! It was after 6:00 when I came out and there was a much larger crowd coming in to see the next showing! The later incoming crowd, was mostly older people, but the crowd I watched with were mostly young folks! People were laughing and crying all through the film and at the end the film got a long and loud ovation!

I hope the film is shown on TV before the election, so the people who are afraid to go see it in a public place, can see it at home! I do think the film will make a difference when any person of sound mind sees it! I could tell that the crowd around me was quite moved by the film and I readily admit that I was!

Edit}That film would make a great 'End Of August Surprise' on HBO!

[Solly Mack]

7. I agree!!! It would be great for people to view it in their homes

because many are afraid someone will "catch" them

[Corby]

5. Thanks for the report.

It's heartening to hear that our men and women in uniform are getting active and involved. They have more to lose in this election than anyone.

Best to you and your husband.

[Solly Mack]

8. Thank you!

It does my heart good to see how active they are becoming. Bush scares them.

[Wind Dancer]

9. So glad you finally had the chance to see it!

It does bring out so many emotions even if you know the information. I am outraged over the treatment of our troops in this country, * has caused such suffering and then has the audacity to prevent media from taking pictures and reporting accurate number of deaths and injured.

Another great documentary just out is The Control Room, a must see but a hard movie to watch. I want our soldiers home so the Iraqis can have control of their country.


Neither * nor VP has attended one funeral.

[Solly Mack]

10. I want to see that! Also "The Hunting of a President"

and "Unprecedented"

and "Motorcycle Diaries"

I was surpirsed by my level of emotion..then I gave in to them and welcomed them.

[Wind Dancer]

11. There are several good ones out now!

The Corporation is another that has a forward by MM that is supposed to be quite powerful. Given the state of our country, it is impossible to remain calm and not be emotional. The visuals and sounds from these powerful scenes release the floodgates, so to speak. I really had a hard time after the Control Room but it makes me want to fight harder to get this country back.

[Solly Mack]

12. Yes! I must see that one too!!!

My movie list is growing as fast as my book list does.