http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s= <http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article _id=16948&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2> &url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=16948&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 Message of 'Islam' bogged down by boring delivery
By Michael Clark Movie Critic "An examination of Islam, violence and the fate of the non-Muslim world." That is the tag line for the new documentary "Islam: What the West Needs to Know," and it's a tag line that packs all the excitement of watching grass grow. Tag lines are supposed to get us revved up, or at least mildly curious. "Islam" is the exact opposite of "The Heart of the Game," the other documentary opening this weekend, and it's sure to completely turn off the typical viewer. Dry as the desert sand and bland as plain oatmeal, the film is 98 minutes of tedium, punctuated by only occasional breaks from the lengthy dissertations delivered by a handful of Islam/Middle East experts. What they have to say is very interesting and, on occasion, nothing short of mind-blowing. It's just presented in a manner that, even to the most patient of viewers, is monotonous and dull. The film opens with an interesting montage of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. President Bush, former President Bill Clinton and current U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid in various speeches extolling the virtues of Islam and the spiritual and peace-loving nature of most Muslims. It seems clear they're trying to appear diplomatic, earnest and - most importantly - understanding of a group of people they know little about. The politicians are then followed by the talking heads who work to confirm the worst suspicions Westerners have about Muslims. They include Abdullah Al-Araby, Robert Spencer, Serge Trifkovic, former terrorist Walid Shoebat and Bat Ye'or, an Israeli woman. What they say flies in the face of all of the rhetoric being spouted at seemingly every turn. According to these other folks, the majority of Islam-following Muslims wish to lay waste to the entire Western world - and at any cost. Producer/directors Gregory M. Davis and Bryan Daly cull dozens of quotes from the Koran that specifically instruct followers to "kill the infidels." The filmmakers also include a mini-biography of the prophet Muhammad that paints him as more of a bloodthirsty conqueror than a non-violent holy man. "Islam" is a film with a lot to say, and it is stuff we better pay attention to - quick. If the filmmakers hadn't presented it in such a staid and bland manner, it would have certainly worked better as a movie. As it is, it's a keg brimming over with powder with a fuse too wet to light. Exclusive one week engagement starts today at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive in Atlanta, 678-495-1424. (Quixotic Media) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
