An Opinion -- The Documentary Maker Who Wasn't There

[nongrata]

The worst production in the history of videography is now available for viewing: "The God Who Wasn't There."
Buy it, rent it, allow yourself to be influenced by the false hype that appears on ads such as the one posted daily on the DU home page, see how you glad you are to have expended your valuable time and money on an amusing, though annoying, jumble of blather. One thing you will gradually learn while subjecting your brain to the ultra-cheap drivel is that the apparent producer/director/cameraman/interviewer/whatnot (a no-talent loner going by the name of Brian Flemming) has used what little resources he has to vent in the most clumsy manner possible toward his former religious school. He reveals to us, though perhaps not to himself, that the source of his disturbance is, in the opinion of this observer, a maladjustment manifested in part by a rather obvious jungle of emotional tensions apparently developed through a certain segment of his youth as a misguided spirit that is missing any "soul." One could reasonably infer that Flemming's effort is only the result of a psycholgical challenge the movie maker apparently never faced in therapy. Summary: A juvenile and immature exercise in misdirected energy channeled superficially through the twists, turns, fragmented emotions and surface mental associations of an angry guy with a camcorder. Congratulations, though, on having made a living from this. (No, we did not mean to say "honest" living.)

[truedelphi]

1. Why is this documentary upsetting you? I think this documentary shows

How little mental ability certain types of Christians put forth in terms of being able to explain
the idea of God.

As a nation, we need to have those who do not think critically exposed for those manners of confidences they adhere to yet explain in fantastic terms.

I don't mind Christians who say, "I believe in God and it is a matter of faith. Period." After all, believing in God is a matter of faith. Pointing me toward a big black book and saying that the reason I don't yet believe in God is because I haven't read the big black book that God wrote is more than circular reasoning, it's pathetic. (And of course, then there is that other worrisome fact - I have read the Big Black Book. I know more about it than most church-going fundamentalists.)

And when these believers attack my skepticism with erroneous statement, confused syllogisms etc, I end up shaking my head.

This lack of critical thinking is especially bad during this era - as the same ministers that help these people construct their circular reasoning-based arguments also put forth many other dangerous beliefs. Such as the rightness of the "Christians'" desires to hate homosexuals, and to fear and hate Muslims -- all of this on equally flimsy rational grounds.

Last but not least - Armageddon can indeed come about. We now have some of the Fundamentalist lunatics in positions of power. If they believe that World War III will bring forth the rapture, they might be seriously mistaken, but unfortunately they can ruin this planet and all six billion of us along with their blowing up their own ill conceived thought fantasies.

[nongrata]

2. Good points, logical, thoughtful, and no false agenda.

I agree with your comments, truedelphi. You would probably produce a much better documentary. To answer your question, I'm not upset, but as mentioned in the review, amused and admittedly annoyed while watching it because of the grossly false hype and the less than honest approach of the movie maker. I stand by the observations and opinions about the quality of Flemming's production. I didn't review from the point of view of a Christian. Thanks for the reply.

[truedelphi]

3. I accept your compliments but want to point out that

IF Saturday afternoon's use of the camera indicates anything abt my film making prowess, it illustrates how I can only attempt documentaries entitled, "The side of my Thumb" or alternately, "The Back of the Camera Strap"

[nongrata]

4. But you are a very good writer, arent' you.

So you write the script and I'll point the camera.

[truedelphi]

5. I think I'm in love!

I'd love to do a very intricate but low budget film, mystery thriller.

Though the right topic for a documentary might work for me too

[nongrata]

8. An independent mystery thriller

would be great to do. We could get to work on a screenplay. At present I have two very low budget projects under way. One of them I could summarize as a few days in the life of a New York hermit. It's a documentary, but not the traditional thing.

[nongrata]

9. My subject for the film is

a poet. To earn money he buys used merchandise at estate sales, flea markets, tag sales, etc and resells it. He has done pretty well at it. Owns a house in Chappaqua not far from Bill and Hillary and has managed to keep his exaggerated eccentricities intact.

[truedelphi]

10. That is way kuhl.

I appreciate the story idea you generated. When will it be finished? How will you distribute it?

If you need some music, I have music that could be offered cheaply.

I'll PM you.

[nongrata]

11. I'll watch out

for your PM

[truedelphi]

12. I'm told that you cannot be contacted PM-wise -- that you are too new a user with too few posts.

Feel free to email me with your email address at
carol_dagg3 AT yahoo.com

[nongrata]

13. @

verizon.net

[FiveGoodMen]

6. A lot of ad hominem without much point there!

(Meaning you, not the movie)

[nongrata]

7. You got it, wittingly or unwittingly!

Yours is a far more succinct critique of the movie than mine! I also feel your critique is partly fair as it relates to my comments about the movie. There are some ad hominems there. Some "point" too, though. Come on now, admit it.