I had planned on taking Friday off and trying to make one of the afternoon matinee showings of Fahrenheit 9/11. Unfortunately, I had to go into work and by the time I got home, I had to take a really long nap. This is more a sign that I should have gotten more sleep on Thursday night than anything else. But an old friend was in town and she wanted to see the movie, so a few of us went downtown on Friday night to see a late night showing of the Michael Moore opus. Unfortunately, it was sold out.

There are only three screens in Albuquerque showing this movie. It opened in close to 800 across the country, but compared to every other major movie opening, this is a relatively small amount of screens. The others were in an average of more than 2000.

There's a movie called The Notebook about some old couple trying to remember the early turmoil and love of their relationship. It looks like it should be showing on a chocolate box near you. Do more people want to see this movie than Fahrenheit 911? Probably not, but it's safe and an alternative anyone could choose if they end up at the multi-plex trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday night.

A few months ago The Passion of the Christ set box office records and made Mel Gibson a ton of money. He's actually suing a few theater chains for more money (he says they didn't pay the right percentage of the grosses--he may be right, but is this what Jesus would do?). Millions of people who never go to the movies went to see Jesus suffer and get beaten and stabbed and hung up on a cross. The movie was told in ancient languages 99.9% of the people going to the movie did not understand. So, while all the blood-letting occurred, viewers had to read whatever it was the characters were saying. I didn't see this movie--mostly because I know the story, and I don't need to see it again. Here's my question: if this is about spreading the good word of Jesus, why didn't we actually get to understand the good word of Jesus?

So now, this summer, the anti-Passion has been released. Or, as some people hope, it's The Passion of the Bush. The final stab in the side of a sitting President. I'm not sure if that's going to happen, but I love the mass audience attempt at dissent. People on the other side of the religious and political spectrum have their own little movie that could to flock to. I'd guess there is maybe, at most, a 15% cross-over audience for these two movies. And I'd actually be more comfortable with about 5%, if I was a betting man.

Everyone is debating this movie, and most of us haven't seen it yet. It'll be a few weeks before everyone who wants to see it will actually get into a theater to satisfy their curiosity. I actually plan to try and see it after I write this column, although I'm not confident I'm going to be able to get in.

Is this movie going to change anyone's mind about the President and the war in Iraq? I don't know. It seems like people's minds are starting to change, movie or not. For the first time since the beginning of the war, over half of the people in the country (according to polls) are now saying the war was a bad idea. Considering I was part of a meager 10% or so thinking this way over a year ago, it's kind of nice to see everyone jump on the bandwagon. But I don't think it has anything to do with critical thinking about this war. This is about the cost, both in money and blood, that this conflict has inflicted on our own country. Was it worth $200 billion and counting to get Saddam (who was, in all respects, contained before the war began) out of the picture? Was it worth almost 850 and counting US military deaths? Was it worth thousands of US military injured? Was it worth thousands of dead Iraqis? Was it worth all of this?

And so while everyone debates the facts and fiction in Michael Moore's flick, I only have that one question to ask.

This movie is a cultural event, much like Bowling For Columbine was. Much like The Passion of the Christ was. It enables people to have conversations and express opinions about things they've been wanting to talk about for a while. It gives people a starting point to think about things they've been trying to keep out of their minds while the rest of life goes on.

I'm not going to support anyone's views on this, except that I will see this movie. I've only seen one summer movie this season--The Stepford Wives--and that was mostly because I just wanted to see a movie. There's been a lot of crap in the theaters this summer, so it's kind of cool to be a little excited about seeing something. I like movies, and I've been denying my fix for a while.

But I don't think this is really going to change anyone's minds. Much like The Passion didn't make anyone suddenly believe in Christianity or hate Jews or somehow wonder about the soul of Pontius Pilate.

The answer to the impact of this movie and everything else in this political season will come in early November. And I do want to find out the ending to that story.

Matt Worley hates it when Michael Moore shouts at office buildings with a bullhorn.