Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7102 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: Arabic, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 122 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
To anyone who truly understands what it means to be an American, Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 should be seen as a triumph of patriotic freedom. Rarely has the First Amendment been exercised with such fervour and forthrightness of purpose. After subjecting himself to charges of factual errors in his gun-lobby exposé Bowling for Columbine, Moore armed himself with a platoon of reputable fact-checkers, an abundance of indisputable film and video footage, and his own ironically comedic sense of righteous indignation, with the singular intention of toppling the war-ravaged administration of President George W. Bush. It's the Bush presidency that Moore, with his provocative array of facts and figures, blames for corporate corruption, senseless death, unnecessary war, and political favouritism toward Osama Bin Laden's family and Saudi oil partners following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Moore's incendiary film earned Palme d'Or honours at Cannes and a predictable legion of detractors, but do yourself a favour: ignore those who condemn the film without seeing it, and let the facts speak for themselves. By honouring American soldiers and the victims of 9/11 while condemning Bush's rationale for war in Iraq, Fahrenheit 9/11 may actually succeed in turning the tides of history. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
Disc 1: Feature

Disc 2:
- Release of Fahrenheit 9/11
- From Iraq:
-- The eve of the invasion
-- Outside Abu Ghraib Prison
-- Eyewitness account form Samara
- From Washington:
-- Rose Garden press briefing
-- Condoleeza Rice’s 9/11 testimony
-- Lila Lipscomb at the Washington DC Premiere

- Music: -- Soundtrack to War

- Additional Footage:
-- Homeland security Miami style
-- Extended interview with Abdul Henderson
-- Arab/American comedians
-- Kudos Youth Group
-- Career Gear featurette

Synopsis
Academy Award-winning director Michael Moore examines the Bush administration's financial ties to Saudi Arabia and the bin Laden family in FAHRENHEIT 9/11, a well-researched, fast-paced, highly controversial, and important documentary that won the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Using actual footage and declassified documents, Moore takes a detailed look into political events both before and after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, beginning with the polarizing Supreme Court decision that ultimately gave the state of Florida and the 2000 election to George W. Bush. Moore reveals how the U.S. government helped the bin Laden family return to Saudi Arabia immediately after September 11, when all other flights were still grounded; and examines military recruiting techniques in such poor areas as his own hometown of Flint, Michigan. He even attempts to get congressmen to enlist their own sons and daughters into the military. The writer-director also visits with the troops, including at a VA hospital where soldiers are having second thoughts about America's involvement in Iraq, and spends time with a family whose eldest son is fighting in Iraq. FAHRENHEIT 9/11 is a worthy successor to Moore's previous documentaries, ROGER & ME, THE BIG ONE, and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, once again shining a light on the past, present, and future of the US.

Customer Reviews

Now watch this drive!
Michael Moore has made, in Fahrenheit 9/11 (the temperature at which truth burns), an hilarious and yet at times, moving, documentary.

The hilarious part (and one of the best things about the film) is the fantastic archive footage of President George W. Bush (the second, all hail!). We see him in his younger days bragging about how lobbyists like giving him money because he has unfettered and direct access to the president, his daddy; we see him in his current incarnation as Commander in Chief, making a solemn pronouncement calling on all nations to defeat the scourge of terrorism and then in the same breath, asking reporters to admire his golfing prowess.

Moore goes in to the background of Bush's failed businesses before he became one of the most unpopular and divisive presidents in U.S. history, businesses that include Arbusto (emphasise the "bust") and Harken Energy; Moore also explores the exceptionally close relationship between the theocratic and repressive and thoroughly anti-democratic royal family of Saudia Arabia and the Bush family via their connections through the Carlyle investment group, a relationship that may well have had a significant importance to the events of 11th September, 2001; a lot of this seems to be drawn from Craig Unger's expose, House of Bush, House of Saud (Unger is interviewed on the film).

The moving parts of the documentary are those seen from inside Iraq before, during and after the American invasion, the human costs of the war, the impact it has had on real people's lives, both Iraqi civillian and the working poor of the U.S. army - working poor because the chicken-hawk politicians who voted for the war wouldn't send their kids off to fight it.

Many will try and smear this film as being one-sided but this film simply brings to light facts that many people would prefer not to be confronted with, maintaining comforting illusions about 'democracy buidling in the Middle East' et cetera. This film could be described as being, "Chomsky for Children" and that is high praise indeed.

Nice use of Clapton, too!

Disturbing yet fascinating look at the USA's Leadership
Michael Moore's film is more like a documentary than any movie but is gripping from start to finish...the more so as it is a true story! With clever use of newsfootage and filming that he has carried out, coupled with interviews of people from various walks of life he has portrayed an extremely disturbing picture of the leadership of the only world Superpower.
At the beginning we see President Bush being told, as he is entering a primary school, of the first plane hitting the two towers. He carries on with his engagement, smiling and reading to children as if nothing is wrong. An aide then comes in to tell him of the second plane hitting. This stops Bush smiling but he sits there looking lost and vacant and so obviously unable to know how to respond, it was like he was waiting for someone to tell him what he was to do next. This was one of the most scarey and chilling parts of this production.
Moore goes on to show how Bin Ladens family were allowed to leave the States right after the terrorist attack and what Bush's plans were for war. The American people were truly duped (as were the British) into the belief that Iraq was a threat. One can only wonder what the American people were thinking of when they re-elected this person into office! Frightening stuff.

A prosecution case using primary evidence
I was wary of what to expect considering the criticism I had heard in advance. Moore however provides a thorough and watertight case using primary evidence such as the National Air Guard documentation, footage of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam and Rice and Powell stating Iraq's lack of weapons before their later U turn. Other footage of Bush adressing his powerbase, the 'have's' and 'have more's' is quite simply disgusting as is the frightening statement from Britney Spears.

From some of the rubbish written anyone would think it was just Moore dishing out opinions in stand up style but this is clearly not the case. Opinions such as those of the former CIA agent and the varying ones of US soldiers provide balance and range and as for objectivity this is a counterblast to the hugely powerful Bush machine, not a debate.

I notice that another reviewer calls it ridiculous then proclaims that most of the facts arent't true. I'd be interested to know what s/he is referring to.

With all the lies to justify the war now buried, its supporters cling onto the simple argument that the world is better without Saddam. The long term outcome remains to be seen but a far worse fundamentalist regime taking over seems the likeliest prospect and all the signs are there. This was certainly the case in Iran where the US puppet was overthrown and replaced with something far more terrifying.