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#87820 11/26/2002 1:27 PM
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I have a feeling that I red somewhere that this film is based on a real story. Unfortunately, I can not quite remember where I've seen this. Can somebody help me? there is a discussion about "American history X" on a Russian Board and I'd like to have the facts to oppose to people who think this story is some sort of propaganda.


#87821 11/26/2002 2:57 PM
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Dear Vika: Here is URL to a review of that movie, which sounds like junk to me.
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1800018632


#87822 11/26/2002 3:08 PM
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based on a real story.
...
some sort of propaganda.


The two are certainly not mutually exclusive. Hollywood's track record in the "based on a true story" category is not exactly one of being obsessively concerned with the facts and the choice of stories can, in itself, be driven by a desire to get across a certain point of view.


#87823 11/26/2002 3:34 PM
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wwh,

the movie is not junk. at least, *i don't think so


#87824 11/26/2002 3:48 PM
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here's a more full-blown review by Roger Ebert; he mentions nothing about factuality.
http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1998/10/103004.html

edit: everything you wanted to know about AHX:
http://www.bomis.com/rings/americanhistoryx/10

#87825 11/26/2002 3:50 PM
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Dear Vika: I cheerfully acknowledge being an excessively conservative old grouch. It ;is ;my
carefully considered opinion that 99.9% of American movies are revolting garbage.
The last movie I really enjoyed was Walt Disney's Fantasia.


#87826 11/26/2002 3:55 PM
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I cheerfully acknowledge being an excessively conservative old grouch.

That's what I love about you, Dr Bill.


#87827 11/26/2002 4:48 PM
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I agree with Humphrey Bogart, when he said that if somebody had a message, they
should call Western Union.
Dear AS: I regret that there is so little about me that is lovable.


#87828 11/26/2002 6:02 PM
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I would sooner accept Bill's opinion about a movie he had not seen than embrace the fluffy opinions of Roger Ebert about a movie that he has seen and reviewed for the Sun-Times. The guy is uncanny. Never, I repeat, never, has he given a thumbs down to a movie that panders to the fuzzy thinking of the nouveauleft.

And Bill. It is precisely your unloveable traits that we find so loveable...???...or something like that.




#87829 11/26/2002 6:13 PM
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Ah, but milum. Dr. Bill's analysis is based totally on ignorance and prejudice. With Ebert, at least you have a baseline to work from. You might give Ebert a full 180, with Dr. Bill you are spinning an unmarked dreidl.


#87830 11/26/2002 6:26 PM
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One of the last movies I took my wife and kids to started off with a homosexual rape.
And it had been recommened to me by a Jesuit priest social worker at VA Hospital.
Needless to say we immediately left and got our money back, but the evening was ruined.

The title of the movie was Brubaker.

#87831 11/26/2002 6:41 PM
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No comment on AHX or Brubaker. Never heard of Brubaker, but I saw several 5 and 10 minute slices of AHX and it seemed depressing, but generally pretty good to me - though it took me a while to figure out that part of it was about transformation. One of my favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, had not graphic rape scenes, but violent preludes to homosexual rape.


k



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And what mind-altering drugs were you using at the time?

I've not seen it since I was quite young, but many adults have expressed their opinion that it's great when you are in the throes of one "drug" or another.

I think I will grab myself a margarita and rent the movie.



TEd
#87833 11/27/2002 10:25 AM
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thank you, twsum

the second link is most helpful. unfortunately, the critics agree with my opponents that the movie has numerous flaws. I was wrong - this is not a "based on a real story" thing.

but I still think that Dr. Bill is too (0.9%) strict. i would say that as much as 1% of American movies are worth seeing



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a margarita

Whatever floats your boat, TEd. Last time I saw it I made what I think is a better choice and correctly identified the segment done by Walt Kelly in the process.


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I saw American History X. It is kind of unpleasant at times, but of course no film about neo-nazi skinheads is going to be all peaches and cream. One murder scene is particularly nasty. I was impressed with how much the star, Edward Norton, transformed himself for the role. He usually plays a sort of nice-young-man character, and yet in AHX he is really menacing.



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