posted 05-22-2004 09:56 PM               

"Fahrenheit 9/11" was the first documentary to win Cannes' prestigious Palme d'Or since Jacques Cousteau's and Louis Malle's "The Silent World" in 1956." (From the web site Nard referenced in his post, above.)

posted 06-02-2004 11:15 PM               

Since fittstim and jens seem to have registered just to insult Mr. Bradbury, I registered to defend him.

What these two fail to understand (and I hold no notions that they would care even if they did) is that Michael Moore is banking on the dystopic connotation of Ray Bradbury's novel. I doubt he'd have used the title otherwise. Mr. Bradbury has a right to be angry. Of course, he has no legal leg to stand on. I'd imagine it's purely an issue of respect, of which Moore has none.

The fact that Moore dodged Mr. Bradbury's call when Bradbury attempted to contact him says a lot.

People (well, people who read, anyway) are going to make a subconscious connection between the two titles, and I've no doubts whatsoever that it was intentional. In other words, "Fahrenheit 9/11" would be almost meaningless had the established title of Mr. Bradbury's novel not already been ingrained in the public consciousness. With such an inflammatory work, Moore should have at least been considerate enough to ask Bradbury if he could riff off his title. But he wasn't. That's Michael Moore for you.

posted 06-03-2004 10:57 PM               

Can't read scandinavian languages - too bad.

posted 06-04-2004 09:30 AM            

It is a masterpiece of an artist's life. Still profoundly relevant 50+ years after its publication. What Moore has done seems to fall into the laps of present day firemen and their followers. Why the title F911? He said in honor of RB's work! Come on, Mike! That's the best you could do?

No communications to the man who made literary history with the concept of the title? Maybe Mr. Bradbury was not worthy of your presence or a mere "mano y mano" discourse.

Well, one thing Mr. Bradbury has always done is speak his mind. I guess there is no doubt now about how he views MM in the scheme of things. I say, Mr. Bradbury has a right to it and a track record to support his interpretation of things.

Hey, how about Moore cast as Beatty in the upcoming remake of the "real movie," F451?

(KP's link above is worth the read. Right out of "CODA" - RB: 84 yrs. going on 31!)

posted 06-04-2004 08:22 PM               

Moore cast as Beatty?

posted 06-06-2004 04:39 AM            

Then there are the stories of his own Ray named after the works of others (http://www.brianstorms.com/archives/000372.html
) (admitedly only minor guys like Walt Whitman and Will Shakespeare!) Not even a talent of Mr. Bradbury's stature can have it both ways I'm afraid.

I think, sadly, Ray's attitude smells of self-interest and a fear that Moore's film will confuse audiences when the film of F 451 comes out. I think he's wrong, I hope he's wrong.

His claim in the Dagens Nyheter interview that "Nobody will see his movie. It is almost dead already." could hardly be more wrong, it's clearly going to be huge and seen by millions.

posted 06-06-2004 07:01 AM               

Bradbury fans will not confuse Moore's film with Bradbury's/Darabont's - but the general public might. And OF COURSE Ray's objection to Moore's title smacks of self-interest!

And as for Ray's titles: they are usually quoting from other authors, rather than stealing their titles.

- Phil

posted 06-06-2004 04:18 PM               

My bottom line opinion is: Several people had more reason to be upset with Serling than Ray did. Most, or all of them, forgave him when he appealed to them.

posted 06-07-2004 09:29 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by philnic:

Bradbury fans will not confuse Moore's film with Bradbury's/Darabont's - but the general public might. And OF COURSE Ray's objection to Moore's title smacks of self-interest!

And as for Ray's titles: they are usually quoting from other authors, rather than stealing their titles.

- Phil

---

It's much more likely that the title similarity will encourage more people to read Ray's book and/or see the F 451 movie (wanting to know why Moore chose that title for his movie). It's more likely to HELP Ray than hurt him (unless he's a closet Republican in which case he might drop off Cheney's Xmas list :-))

So Ray's self-interest is ok but Moore's isn't? Different rules for different people?

posted 06-07-2004 03:42 PM            

Dozens of TV stations across the US today are reporting on RB's interview in that Swedish newspaper. Here's just one of the news releases:
http://www.kfoxtv.com/entertainment/3390666/detail.html

posted 06-07-2004 09:50 PM               

And now, I will cite scripture for MY own purposes:

"Thou shalt not molest an alien..."
Exodus, 22:21

posted 06-10-2004 08:53 AM            

"Moore also said he intended to phone Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, to express his regrets over Bradbury's negative reaction to Moore's film title, which Moore explained was "an homage" to Bradbury."
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-09-fahrenheit-premiere_x.htm

posted 06-11-2004 11:30 PM               

Let the elephants roam.

Triped, look under some of the threads from the last 150 days or so if you want to learn where I used to live.