Captain Mike Across America (2007) Reviews

• Pretty stirring stuff....

  intelearts2008-09-24

  Firstly, this is a film that is really about more than just raising awareness of the need to vote. It comes across as a film about the right to protest, the right to object, the right to meet, and the right to live in a democracy. Whatever your political persuasion a good society needs its Michael Moore's, he's a voice of conscience, a voice that says what needs to be said when no-one else will do. He is doing what MLK and Bob Dylan did in the 1960s, what Democrates did in the Agora in Ancient Greece... Michael Moore is the voice of the underdog for a new generation - who genuinely cares that the excluded, the poor, the workers, and the unemployed are Americans too. Even if you hate MM, and really disagree with everything he's ever made, you should still agree that his films are a voice that is allowed to be heard. The documentary itself is without a doubt good propaganda for the Democratic vote, but it also pretty good entertainment - it is very funny, and very, very poignant in places... ....And the students love him. Pretty stirring in places, with some good live music thrown in, MM is an excellent orator - let's just hope he never becomes a politician - even though he's got the chops for it - because he is the living proof that to hope is to be an American. And that one person can by getting off his or her slacker behind remind us what is means to care for We, the People rather than just Me... Definitely worth the free download...

• a decidedly minor work, too episodic, but makes it points well with Moore as commanding presence

  Quinoa19842009-01-28

  I'm glad this was free to download or made about as cheap as a film from a major filmmaker (and say what you will, like him or hate him, it's your right either way, he is a major filmmaker now in America), because it is a lessor effort. Since I am a Michael Moore fan and admire his "big" movies greatly (Roger & Me, Sicko, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine) it was easy for me to decide to want to watch this. But this does also fall, even for fans, into that category akin to The Big One, which was, as this is, a travelogue of Moore going around on a tour to promote something with him as the focus really instead of something else like guns or GM in Flynt. The only little difference is that Moore is on the road to promote voting- for Kerry in 04 of course- and tries his best to rally up support, even in Utah where a businessman pays 25 grand to *not* have him speak at a school- which is, any way you look at it, commendable. Now, it goes without saying that people hate Michael Moore. And when I mean hate I mean that he has to have at least one bodyguard, or more depending on the city, in the hopefully unlikely event that he could be attacked or shot or whatever. He is such a strong target for the right and even moderates and a handful of liberals that he still remains a potent poster child for spreading lies and propaganda. This can be argued this way and that, but Moore makes a point more than once during his time traveling around and giving the occasional press conference that he is just one guy making films, and the media has/had a responsibility during the lead up to the Iraq war. He is a target, but not one to stand down. It's hard to at least not respect that. And as for the other side, he gives them some screen time in Slacker Uprising: at least 15 minutes of the film shows how many republicans (obviously the majority but with some vocal power) and bible-thumpers came to protest outside and inside during Moore's speeches. He gives them their just do to speak. And also makes sure to offer them military enrollment forms as they are Bush supporters. He may be many things, but Moore's got balls. So watching some of these ups and downs throughout the 62 city tour, of both the highs of speaking to tens of thousands of people in venues that are swing states, and some of the controversy stirred due to Moore's polarizing nature, are interesting. The only problem really comes with the fact that, stylistically, Moore goes simple for this one. The musical choices, the actual score, is repetitive and doesn't do much to add to the picture, which is a shame since Moore is usually creative and inspired with his choice in music, and only some moments of his brand of "gotcha" humor creeps in. The actual musical performances from guests Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello and Steve Earle are fantastic though, with Roseane Barr and the other musician in Tennessee just OK (Viggo Mortensen is a nice surprise). It's not any triumph of film-making, wont win any awards, and it certainly shouldn't be paid much for. It's the right choice to offer it up online for free or as cheap as possible on DVD, since those who want it can get it and those who definitely don't can pass on by... unless their curiosity is peaked somehow. It's good for one watch, even for those who want it right away, and then to move on along as it's now four plus years gone anyway. For what it's worth, on its own basic and unpretentious terms, it's not too bad at all.

• Even tedious for Moore fans

  ktappe2008-10-06

  I'm a rather serious fan of Moore's work and lean heavily liberal in my politics. And even so, this film got tedious and felt very self-serving on Moore's part. There are good parts, no doubt, but did we really need to see him signing autographs and hugging women with "Hug me Michael" signs? What on earth is that besides self-aggrandizement? I can't imagine what he was thinking other than "I need some more filler here." Michael: We've seen you do better. Much better. And your timing here is very suspect--you are releasing this in the final days of the 2008 election season because you think people will, in their fervor, watch your film for some input about the election. Yet you have little-to-nothing to offer. You're looking four years in the past here while Obama is looking forward. Sure, your message "the young should vote" is currently applicable, but I think Mr. Obama has already done an amazing job of getting that out. Overall, this is somewhat interesting for us die-hards, but I can't see it being all that captivating for the masses.

• Without an informed public, democracy ceases to exist.

  lastliberal2008-09-23

  Michael Moore traipses across the battleground States to visit 60 cities before the 2004 election and passes out Ramen noodles and clean underwear to slackers who will promise to register and vote. This film about his journey is just as relevant as it was four years ago. This year's election will also turn on getting the slackers out from behind their X-Boxes and get them to vote. A combination of speeches, great music, film clips, interviews with regular folks, this was a film for all those who want their country back. It's yours to watch for free at http://slackeruprising.com/

• Preaching to the converted

  doug-6972007-09-13

  This is a documentary of the nationwide tour by Michael Moore to resurrect a failing Democratic election campaign. The intention of the tour was to get the people who normally don't (the "slackers") to get out and vote This is an entertaining and at times fascinating documentary, but whether you will enjoy it will entirely depend on whether you like Michael Moore. The documentary takes place not just during the final phase of the election, but when American emotions over the Iraq war were in flux. This documentary puts you in the middle of that emotion. Michael Moore said in the introducing this movie at the Toronto International Film Festival that he usually tries not to just preach to the converted, but with this movie he openly admits he did. So this is a documentary that has a one-dimensional viewpoint: Democrats are for free speech and care about the poor and Republications are religious fanatics. It is frightening to see in this documentary Americans, in supposedly the country that invented individual freedom, being perfectly happy to not allow or to even actively prevent any beliefs other than their own. And there is tremendous value exposing those people and Moore does it by simply letting them talk, which of course is what they would not allow him. However, the possibility that there are Democrats who may also be intolerant isn't considered here. I think this documentary also shows, unintentionally, why they ultimately failed. It ends by stating that their tour succeeded with young voters, but older voters went with Bush. Anti- Bush sentiment was largely due to the Iraq war and not other social issues. Rosanne Barr's rant at the end of the documentary might appeal to some, but it would have completely alienated older and middle-America. As with all Moore documentaries it's utterly watchable.