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| The Awful Truth - The Complete DVD Set (Seasons 1 & 2) | 
| Director: Tom Gianas
Actors: Gideon Evans, Jerry Minor, Bruce Brown (iii), M.j. Karmi, Katie Roberts
Studio: Docurama
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $23.99
You Save: $15.96 (40%)
New (25) from $23.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 15288
Format: Box Set, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Running Time: 600 minutes
Number Of Items: 4
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 2.5
MPN: D9541D
ISBN: 0767054032
UPC: 767685954133
EAN: 9780767054034
ASIN: B00008K76O
Theatrical Release Date: April 11, 1999
Release Date: April 29, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Michael Moore should win a nobel prize? November 10, 2004
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
After hearing so many bad things about Michael Moore, I was reluctant to watch this. After watching an episode with a friend, I bought the DVD set and was blown away by how good it was. I highly recommend buying this, it is too expensive - you can borrow it from a friend or buy the VHS (which is cheaper)/ or a used DVD.
This series is just too important to miss. I don't know why wonderful eye-opening shows like this aren't widely shown on our American networks.
Here are the benefits of the Awful Truth:
- You see what is going on with the world
- You can make a difference
- You laugh your head off
- This opens your mind
Since he bears a strong resemblance to Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. I think Moore should be nominated for a Nobel peace prize.
You don't know Michael Moore until you see this series October 28, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
I recently purchased this set because I had never seen the show in my area. Unlike many of Moore's more recent work, "The Awful Truth" is less partisian and more eloquently zeroes in on the issues that form the nucleus of Moore's agenda, which is about people and not parties. In fact, this series, most of which was produced while Clinton was in the White House, often targets the democrats and issues surrounding Clinton or the government's policy. Unlike his opponents, Michael Moore is not blindly allied to any political party as evidenced in this series.
That's not to say Moore doesn't have an agenda, or doesn't tackle controversial issues. He most certainly does. And he demonstrates how intelligent and creative he is in touching upon very sensitive issues, making people think, via humor.
The first episode of "The Awful Truth" is a great example. It consists of two segments. In the first one, Michael addresses the overblown Starr investigation against Clinton (which cost taxpayers $50+ million) and proposes that if the Republicans want a "witch hunt", he can do it cheaper and more efficiently, and that's exactly what he does. Hilarity ensues as Moore assembles a group of Salem-era "pilgrims" in period costume to parade across capital hill passing judgement on the plethora of hypocritical adulterous politicians. Do not drink any liquids while viewing this segment or they'll end up all over your living room -- you've been warned.
The second segment is even more powerful, and it's required watching for anyone who is prejudiced against Michael Moore. I showed this clip to a friend who "hates" Moore and at the end she was crying. Her opinion of the man will forever be changed. That's how powerful the segment is, where Michael Moore follows a young man who's HMO refused to pay for an operation he needs to save his life, and Michael and his people descend upon the corporate offices vowing to not give up until this young man gets the pancreas transplant he desperately needs. In the end, Michael wins, the young man's life is saved, and the HMO reverses their policy on this issue. It's clear evidence that Michael Moore has actually saved at least one man's life, and who knows how many others through his lobbying for humane healthcare policies. I challenge anyone to watch this segment and content that Michael Moore isn't one of the true people left who is really looking out for the common man. NOBODY who can malign the man could possibly have viewed this segment.
That's just the first two spots on this extensive DVD collection. And that's just the beginning... get this series and get it for all your friends - you won't be sorry.
Not the most subtile approach... October 21, 2004
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
But effective nonetheless. From the first episode you get the tone of the rest of the series, as Moore tries to get a dying man a needed transplant to save his live from an HMO that wouldn't cover the operation. Then he holds a rehersal funeral in front of the HMO's building. Other favorites include: running a ficus tree against an unopposed congressman, putting a webcam feed into the appartment of the lady that convinced Linda Tripp to tape her phone calls, and handing out day glow orange wallets to black people because there were reports that police shot a man reaching for his black wallet, ehrn they though it was a gun.
I'll admit, Moore's point gets lost easially as he makes a public display out of himself, but that's half the fun, making the show both entertaining and thought provoking. There are comments about him being socialist or comunist, and to them I say, "what's your point?" Hey, if you can look into the eyes of the above paitent and say to them "you have to die because I;m unwilling to alter my capitalist ideals" then there is little I can say to change your opinions and you can just label this review as not helpful and move on.
To the rest of us, sit back, enjoy, and then try to make the world a better place for everyone, if for no other reason than to save yourself in the long run. America was founded by revolution of the poor upon the monarchay in Europe, and now those that would rebel have semi-automatics, and are close enough to do some real damage.
The Truth is out there! October 2, 2004
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Talk to anyone and you will find a mixed bag of opinions on this radical filmmaker's work. Some will literally hate Michael Moore for expanding the truth and others will love him for uncovering it. No matter which you feel, we can all agree that Michael Moore has done one great thing ... he has changed the face of documentary filmmaking. He has kicked down the door for the possibility of others to release their "unfundable" projects that studios now see as moneymakers because of Moore's success. He has introduced documentaries back into the mainstream cinemas, and perhaps our world is ready for it. I get tired of watching cartoons on the screen, and cannot wait to get my hands around a juicy documentary whenever it is released.
That is why when this series was released on DVD I immediately ran to buy it. Not only do you get some great Michael Moore moments, but also you get to see avenues of our society that we do not take a moment and look at. There is a lot of wrong in this world, and especially in America. Those that are not honest sometimes use to media to change their image and therefore giving us a false sense of security. Moore, in his short lived series, takes random ideas and sets them in motion. One of my favorites is the FICA for Congress sketches. I think I enjoyed it so much because it showed America's reaction to his idea. He was not alone in this battle, and we knew it.
As I stated before, Moore is not for everyone. He is for the open-minded individual that is not afraid to ask the question "why". This was a beautiful series that has made me happy to see on DVD. For those that cannot stand his longer films, this would be the perfect venue to view his topics.
I do want to say that no matter how you feel about his work, you must first see it before you criticize. Never judge a book by its cover, and never judge a wealthy politician. While we will think that life is best here in America, sometimes it takes a lone voice to point out the obvious. Michael Moore has accepted the challenge, and is forcing Americans to look up instead of burying our faces in our day to day activities. We have the power to change everything ... let us do it!
Overall, this series was nothing short than Moore's brilliance in small snippets. I think this series should be on everyone's DVD must-see list.
Grade: ***** out of *****
Response to review by Timothy P Miller September 20, 2004
5 out of 13 found this review helpful
It's funny, but I feel the same way about George W. Bush.
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