GALVESTON — Veteran Miguel Hughes is not a big fan of President Bush. But he is proud of his county’s military.
Because of this, his reactions to “Fahrenheit 9/11,” Michael Moore’s controversial documentary that opened at Galveston Premier Cinema on Friday, were mixed.
“I don’t like the way he portrayed the military, but other than that it was cool,” said Hughes, 34, who went to see the 1:50 p.m. showing with Rory Ashton, 24, of Houston.
“Fahrenheit 9/11” opened in Galveston just over a week after it hit New York City and Washington, D.C., theaters. Only limited copies of the movie were made at first. Getting the film to a small market like Galveston so early in the game was a big feat, said theater manager Lori Picken-Roach.
Turnout for the Friday afternoon showings was decent, but things picked up by that night. The 7:15 p.m. showing sold out.
Picken-Roach said the reaction from the audience have been mixed so far.
“A lot of people have come out saying it’s great and we’ve had some people coming out shaking their heads and saying it’s propaganda,” she said. “A lot of people are just glad it was brought to the island.”
Ashton and Hughes said most of the audience members watching the film with them clapped at the end. But one person booed — loudly, they said.
Moore has said he hopes more people vote in the 2004 election because of his movie, which is critical of the Bush administration. Bush will face presumed democratic nominee John Kerry.
Capitalizing on the political aspects of the film, two local residents set up a voter registration booth at the Premier Cinema during the evening showings.
Hughes, who claims he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, said people should see the movie regardless of their political persuasions.
“I think everyone should see it for its entertainment value,” he said. “I would hope you take all the facts and not just one movie when you form your views.”
