I saw The Manchurian Candidate earlier today starring...

[whistle]

...Dansiell Washington and others. It was pretty good. I saw the first version about 15 years ago on TV and although I found that earlier version disturbing, it lacked plausibility and also smacked of cold war propaganda. I found this new version is equally disturbing and far more plausible. It is still whirling around in my head. These kinds of films are what I like to buy when they come out on DVD, so I can watch them over and over. I recommend it, especially the closing scene of the movie. I also suggest that if you see it and decide you really liked it, at some point go get the 1962 original in video and watch it also.

<link to trailer of 2004 version> http://www.manchuriancandidatemovie.com/whoisthemanchuriancandidate.html

<link to 1962 version> http://www.filmsite.org/manc.html

[MasonJar]

1. I have not gotten to this one yet, but the earlier Frank Sinatra/

Angela Lansberry version is a film classic. The time it was released was as time of political unrest just like now. After all we are all being brainwashed by this current bunch of fascists.

[searchingforlight]

2. Saw it a couple of days ago.

Did Meryl Streep's character make you think of Barbara Bush? I couldn't get the resemblance in personality out of my mind.

[lottie244]

3. I didn't like it. Too much of Rethug theme against Kerry in my mind

The plot makes Kerry lying about his Viet Nam heroism plausible. This movie will put it in a lot of minds that Kerry staged his heroics and that his Viet Nam buddies have been brainwashed. I am sure this is how the Rethugs will think of it.

[walldude]

4. Am seeing it tonight

will re-post my thoughts here later.. Managed to see Outfoxed last night, it was brilliant...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I didn't get that from it at all.

The arch-villain Manchurian Global is clearly Halliburton, and if you look closely at the map of red and blue states in the background during the election scene toward the end, it's pretty evident which party the evil Senator Shaw belongs to. Also, the "news" broadcasts that keep running through it are Faux to a tee, with all its fearmongering. The Republicans are complaining about this movie and its allegedly liberal spin, so it has to be doing something right. And Meryl Streep said her character was based on Karen Hughes and Peggy Noonan! LOL!

[Alex146]

7. They talk about a company

called Voter Fraud Inc. or something like that which makes voting machines.

[whistle]

10. Did Meryl Streep say that, hahahah, well she may be trying to...

...popularize those two gals, LOL

[Booster]

11. I thought the movie was a bit tedious, but the acting

was great. Meryl Streep definitely made me think of Karen Hughes, but I thought the Manchurian Global was clearly the Carlyle Group, but I agree that if it makes Repugs worried, then that's great. The ending bothered me a bit because in a true world, Washington's character would have been arrested and tried even for doing the world a favor, but just my opinion.

[whistle]

9. Well it has the under current of that, but the evil corporation...

...sounded just like the Carlyle Group, the military's involvement and cover-up clearly makes this a movie for everyone, if you just suspend reality and enjoy the show. As for the technology, that is very believable and I can accept that it is a real possibility that such technology exists right now. Why, just look at the behavior of most freepers and neo-cons, how else do you explain their blind obedience?

[pop goes the weasel]

6. no, no

Babs is Angela Lansbury.

[whistle]

8. I've never heard Barbara Bush speak informally like on a ...

...talk-show, so I did not make that connection. It was strange that they made the Streep character a senator. That was different I believe from the original. Her insestuous attractions were almost more than I could tolerate. Pluus her dress and attire kind of made me think of the first lady, Laura Bush, who I have seen in more personal situations on TV and when Laura talks informally, she sends a shiver down my back when I listen to her.

[Used and Abused]

12. I did feel that it was taking jabs at Kerry

At first! There were many similarities, including an older guy choosing a young attractive guy to be VP. However, looking back, I see clearly that the only Manchurian Candidate is Bush. That guy is corporate owned, and his father is pulling his strings.

[Kitka]

13. Halliburton... computer voting... war on terror... family empires....

key-word patriotism... Yeah, it was a modern political commentary within a remake, and I enjoyed it.

[Kitka]

14. Also.... the theme that most hit home with me was....

the theme of being one who sees what's going on while everyone around you thinks you're a nutjob conspiracy theorist. Being very openly liberal in an ultra-conservative town, that hits home.