I'm seeing a repeat from 20 years ago... ("Path To 9-11" thread)

[Archae]

About 20 years ago, right-wingers put this totally horrid miniseries on TV, about the US after it's conquered by Russia.

It was called "Amerika."

It was the right-wingers' "answer" to the TV movie "The Day After."

Suffice to say, "The Day After" is still being sold on DVD, while "Amerika" has been long-forgotten.
And this "Path To 9-11" bullshit movie will die the same way.

[sakabatou]

1. Hopefully it will.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Why I don't think so...

Amerika was a work of fantasy based on an extremely dubious premise. Much like science fiction among non-SF fans, it was something so out of all likelihood that few would be interested in wasting several hours of their time exploring a premise they doubted could ever happen.

The Path to 9/11, OTOH, is about an event that was all-too-real, and that most people feel strongly as part of their own history. Therefore, it's not going to be so easily brushed-off.

Imagine if, just before the 1968 election, one of the networks had created a made-for-TV film about the assassination of President Kennedy. Suppose that it had not only presented the assassination as the work of right-wing Cubans with ties to the CIA, but that it had noted that Richard Nixon had been in Dallas the day before, and included a pivotal scene where Nixon overhears the plot against the President and decides not to notify the authorities. Don't you think that the fact that it was based on an event so close and important to the average American would have given it the sort of viewership and influence that might have decided the presidential election that year?

[greenman3610]

2. ultimately, this has merit

the movie is supposedly devoid of artistic impact.

(what do you expect from a zombified Christianized director?)

[EFerrari]

3. I don't even remember "Amerika" but I remember going to school

on Monday (?) after the airing of "The Day After". My English teacher refused to talk about it -- lol, that's how much it was on everyone's mind. :)

[Kutjara]

4. Your post reminded me of another howler.

Remember "Red Dawn"? A bunch of plucky American kids defeat the Soviet Army when it invades the US. Classicly bad filmaking at its finest.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/

[Archae]

7. That one gets remembered...

Because of the "camp" factor.

It's so lousy it's actually funny.
"Amerika" was simply lousy.

I saw about 10 minutes of it, and face it, a High School drama club could have done a better job.
From what I have seen of this "9-11" movie, it's even worse.

[papau]

17. But Red Dawn was popular here and overseas - when I hosted a half

dozen Russian students back in the 80's the first thing they wanted to do was watch Red Dawn.

[yurbud]

20. that's funny. too bad no one made one when where we invaded Russia

although economically, that's kind of what happened after the fall of communism.

Corrupt, inefficient bureaucrats were replaced by ruthless, efficient gangsters who charged a lot more and the standard of living actually dropped.

[papau]

23. ruthless, efficient gangsters"-yep, there are those in the corporate world

:-(

[jayctravis]

5. Is this the one with the teacher who cuts up the flag?

"Shouldn't everyone have a piece of it?"

And she has the students pray to god for candy and none appears, but then when they pray to "our Leader" she puts candy on their desks while their eyes are closed?

[wickerwoman]

12. Was that a scene in "Europa, Europa"?

The main character is in a Soviet orphanage and the teacher tells the students to pray to God and they get bupkis. Then they ask Stalin and candy falls out of the ceiling.

[jayctravis]

18. I know I haven't seen that movie.

This was definitely a made for TV thing.

[NanceGreggs]

6. I think you're so right.

I haven't seen "Path to 9/11", nor do I intend to. But the reviews I've seen from people who got the 'pre-release' copies are that it's a total yawn, really boring.

What will be interesting to see is how many people watch Part I, and don't bother to tune-in to Part II.

Perfect outcome: After all of the legal wrangling, threats of boycotts, etc., it winds up ABC/Disney put themselves through all of this for something nobody winds up watching ...

[EFerrari]

8. The Right are Jacobean in their overreaching. Here they've constructed

this incredibly elaborate coup against the CLINTONs and, Lol, no one may yet notice!

[Archae]

9. Found the imdb.com listing for "Amerika."

Especially check out the horrible dialogue. :rofl:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092316/

[LunaSea]

11. Interesting

I too went over to IMDB to see which network aired "Amerika" (both titles in your post aired on ABC)
and was struck by some of the comments.
This one struck me as odd for some reason-

User Comments:

1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful:-
Fantastic mini series., 29 March 1999
Author: Nancy Magerl-Smith ([e-mail]) from Missouri, usa

I am one of the many of thousands who viewed the mini series Amerika and loved it. It was one of the most moving and realistic mini series I have ever seen, actually making one "believe" that we could be invaded by one of our enemies and how vunerable we all are. Since the initial viewing, I have been puzzled as to why it was never shown again, why it is not available in video stores and why half the population has never seen it.

Although parts of it are still vivid in my mind, I live to see it again. Many movies have been made but not with the power that this one relayed. Fantastic acting, realistic plot, awesome ending. It should be made available again, each and every year as with other mini series. I think any and all who have seen it would agree. I know my life stopped each night it aired as I lived in the film. My children were moved as any viewer had to be. We all needed to know that our country was as great as we believe it to be and it was. As a novelist, I believe the writers, as well as the actors all deserved to be nominated for an academy award.

___
Nancy had more gushing commentary later.

The last part of this comment was interesting-

3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Outdated but visionary, 29 March 2006
8/10
Author: belzanath from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Kind of dry in some parts. I felt they could have told the story in fewer episodes. There are some great monologues that make you think about your view of America. I was too young when this came out to remember the controversy, but after seeing especially the last episode I can see how some might have seen the Congress scene offensive.

What I find interesting is how a Democrat Senator from Massachusetts (Devin Milford) lost his bid for president to another guy who ultimately sold the country out, after a major terror disaster, to the UN and the Soviets in an effort to form a new world order and global peace. Remind you of someone? I wish this film wasn't blacklisted in the media, never to be shown or released again. It would be nice to see this released on a DVD with sound updates.
______

and this-

0 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
robert urich jobeth williams and sam neill in america, 10 February 2002
Author: COL. HASHISH RECORD IV (unemployedwritermcr1970) from stay away from foriegn military drug cults PRI for example

also christie lahti darlene fluegel and kris kristofferson. There was much edited out of this among which was more of a explanation of what happend when the CIA got corrupted and the nation fell apart. A interesting film, feels like awestern but also a modern incanration of a dicken classic or a dumas book or film. In the wake of a political cernobyl a hum drum police state arises which ultimately leads to a insurrection.

________

For some it would seem, "Amerika" was rather effective at conjuring up a mix of patriotism and fear in some viewers.
I never saw the series, but now I'd kinda like to.
What month in 87 did it air?

[wickerwoman]

14. OK! I am never going to stop laughing.

"a modern incanration of a dicken classic or a dumas book or film"

It's like someone gave Scooby Doo a keyboard.

[SoCalDem]

21. "...dumas book ...".. we know how freeps spell.. probably meant

dumb ass book :rofl:

[Archae]

22. Three words...

"Krisschun hoom skule." :D

[wickerwoman]

24. Forget "dumas book" I want to see some "dumas film"

considering he wrote 200 years before the invention of the camera, that's quite an accomplishment.

[Blackthorn]

26. And this nugget of wisdom

From the message boards. Not a member so all I have is the subject line.

"If Kerrey were elected president Amerika could have become a way of life."

Hmmmmmmmm.

[China_cat]

15. At least they list it in the proper category

Fantasy...instead of documentary.

[yurbud]

10. yep--that movie sucked. Red Dawn was good though.

Not because the invasion was plausible, but because the Americans reacted exactly the way Iraqis have and anyone else would.

[saigon68]

13. Yup it was a prototype for Gorilla (sic) warfare

Wolverines--LOL

[yurbud]

19. gorilla is right. Patrick Swazy looks evolution impaired.

Heavy brow ridge, big features--looks like a neanderthal.

[seabeyond]

25. i feel the same, though i dont have a clue about the movies of the

past