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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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"Unplanned" delivers a powerful message

Uploaded: Apr 4, 2019
When we walked into the cinema Monday afternoon, the gentleman checking our tickets remarked, “it’s a powerful message.”

He was right. “Unplanned” delivers a powerful message in a compelling way. It’s controversial, particularly in the liberal/progressive coastal cities because of its pro-life, anti-abortion message. For backers of abortion at any stage in a pregnancy, I challenge them to watch the film and maintain that position.

It tells the story of Abby Johnson, the youngest clinic director in the history of Planned Parenthood. It was produced without the cooperation or consultation with Planned Parenthood as is noted at the end of the movie.
A&s
The storyline traces Johnson’s life from her days as a Texas A&M coed where she started to volunteer at the Bryan, TX clinic to her joining the staff as a counselor (the person talking with the pregnant women and “closing the deal” according to the film) and then being promoted to clinic director.

The film documents Johnson’s two abortions as well as her commitment to her job despite the opposition of her parents and her husband. Her career and life turned around, after eight years at Planned Parenthood, when she witnessed an ultra-sound guided abortion and saw the baby struggling in the womb as the suction tube went into the uterus. It’s graphic, with the bloody aftermath, and the reason the Motion Picture Association of America gave it an R rating.

The producers rightly pushed back, citing the violence, language and sex scenes that the Motion Picture Association allows for a PG rating. The irony is that a 16-year-old young woman would need her parents’ permission to see the movie, but could obtain an abortion at 16 without the permission of her parents.

Advertising for the movie was rejected by many outlets including the Christian radio network KLOVE (Fox accepted it) and major music studios rejected requests to use sound tracks. Despite the obstacles and the expected low attendance in Hollywood and New York, first weekend box office nearly tripled expectations.

As one who has worked over the years with pro-life pregnancy centers, I was struck by how effectively the movie portrayed the scared, young women seeking abortions. The panic they felt came across in the movie. So did the attitudes of the Planned Parenthood providers—the organization won’t be sending the movie to its donors.

The movie cites some of those leading donors: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Warren Buffett and George Soros—all multi-million dollar donations. I checked it out and there’s numerous articles reporting their donations.

The movie starts with Johnson’s emotional breakdown after witnessing the abortion and then flashes back to take views through nine-plus years of her life until she resigns and leaves Planned Parenthood. She now runs an organization helping women working in the abortion industry leave and find new jobs.

It was produced and directed by Cory Solomon and Chuck Konzelman (directors of “God isn’t Dead”) and distributed by Pure Flix, which also has distributed other faith-based movies.

For me, scenes from the movie continue to be in my mind—it was that powerful and memorable.

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Comments

Posted by James Michael, a resident of Val Vista,
on Apr 4, 2019 at 9:46 am

James Michael is a registered user.

True and shocking. But what is more shocking is that this movie would even be shown in the Bay Area at all.


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 4, 2019 at 12:10 pm

Is this movie arguing specifically against late-term abortions, or against all abortions, period? Except for the relatively small percentage of people who are against all abortions under any circumstances, the question has always been where to draw the line.


Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Apr 4, 2019 at 5:59 pm

The line has been drawn.
There is no question about it.

"Women's right to choose".

Everyone and everything else butt out!


Posted by 192.168.1.254, a resident of Carlton Oaks,
on Apr 5, 2019 at 7:51 am

192.168.1.254 is a registered user.

found a lot of useful information, glad to join your community


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 5, 2019 at 10:13 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Tim,

I plan on seeing this movie. The reviews have been great and its a highly interesting, true story.

If it ever comes out on DVD or in Streaming, you might want to catch "Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer". I caught it in the theaters when it was on limited release. My wife would not come because she thought it was going to be gory. It wasn't at all.

It told the story of Kermit Gosnell, an abortionist in Philadelphia, and the horrendous conditions and procedures he used in performing his crimes. Powerful and sad but redeeming at the end.

At the end of the picture, fellow viewers were visibly stunned by his callousness and cruelty. All those poor babies he killed.

Did you know that not ONE media outlet attended his trial. NOT ONE. What a disgusting tribute to reportage.

Anyway, I encourage you to watch it when you can.

Dan


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 9:44 am

“I plan on seeing this movie. The reviews have been great...."

The reviews of this movie (“Unplanned") have been hardly “great". More like “awful" to most reviewers:
- - - - - - - -
“Abortion is a serious topic. This movie is ridiculous." - The Guardian

“Writer-directors Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon spend more time making their talking points than developing their characters, who exist merely to make their arguments.". - LA Times

“One wonders why Unplanned, which resembles a basic cable television movie in its mediocre production values and subpar performances, was made." - Hollywood Reporter

“It's strictly set up to rally its base." - Detroit News

“Unplanned" preaches to the pro-life choir, and it does so by making a case against abortion that's absolutist and extreme, at certain points twisting "facts" into a narrative of conspiracy." - Variety

- - - - - - - -

If the purpose of this movie was to preach to its base, then it succeeded. If the purpose of this movie was to convince others of its views, then it looks like it failed. As an independent voter who is ambivalent about the issue of abortion, I don't think that this movie has anything to offer to me. I'm not a member of the choir that it is preaching to.





Posted by James Michael, a resident of Val Vista,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 12:10 pm

James Michael is a registered user.

"...absolutist and extreme..." That is something that the pro-abortion folks could never be accused of because, after all, they do claim the moral high ground.


Posted by James Michael, a resident of Val Vista,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 12:17 pm

James Michael is a registered user.

And ..."an independent voter who is ambivalent about the issue of abortion" wouldn't have bothered to comment.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 3:23 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Doug,

Amongst thousands of sources for reviews you picked exactly...5, and all from liberal sources.

Congrats dude, your string of ridiculous comments continues unabated.

Well done.

ps, how about the Russians, eh? The internet is forever.

LOL!


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 6:05 pm

@DKHSK

Dan, I would have thought that a guy who is as smart as you apparently think that you are would have taken a hint from the fact that multiple PW Town Square forums were closed by the editors shortly after you posted personal attacks on me and others, and that your offending posts were deleted in part or in whole because of your penchant for engaging in personal attacks rather than sticking to the discussion topic.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 6:27 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Doug,

Yes, you would have though I'd have taken the hint, but you would be wrong...again.

Freedom feels good. I say what I want and if Gina or Tim want to censor it, so be it. No harm no foul. I don't hold it against them in any way.

To each his own, Doug...

Think about that for a second.


Posted by Vic-tah, a resident of Mission Park,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 10:14 pm

Oh boy. Look this is an emotional, medical, etc.issue. It has been decided. It's her choice. If you don't like abortion don't have one.


Posted by Woman, a resident of Canyon Meadows,
on Apr 6, 2019 at 10:23 pm

Thanks, dude for your opinion on what I and my fellow females should do with our bodies.
This is the closest you and your old cronies will get to restricting our rights. And it will never happen in California.
Nobody wants an abortion and nobody is pro-abortion so stop being stupid and saying that. Access to birth control, high-quality sex education, and abortion actually save the lives of women and children.
How about this, you are against abortion, don't have one.

Next.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 7, 2019 at 8:28 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Woman,

No. How about I do what I want and you just live with it?


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 7, 2019 at 8:45 am

@DKHSK

You do realize that you're just basically echoing and agreeing with her sentiment with your last comment, don't you?


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 7, 2019 at 1:04 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Doug,

Since you asked, I'll say to you:

How about I do and say what I want, and you just live with it.

Dan


Posted by Woman, a resident of Canyon Meadows,
on Apr 9, 2019 at 11:42 pm

Dan,

Woman have been living with men doing and saying what they want for far too long. I suspect the reason that you are so uncomfortable with us doing and saying what we want and you just living with it is because you really enjoy controlling women.

Your time is up buddy.

Thanks for the fun chat.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:01 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Woman,

I won't apologize for not wanting babies to be killed.

Don't like that opinion? Tough.

Dan


Posted by 192.168.1.1, a resident of Carlton Oaks,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:58 am

192.168.1.1 is a registered user.

I commend your hard work on this and thank you for this information


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 7:03 am

@DKHSK

Your exchange with “Woman" reads like you're arguing with a female copy of yourself! LOL!

DKHSK, how about she just does what she wants with her own body and “you just live with it"?


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 8:20 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

"DKHSK, how about she just does what she wants with her own body and “you just live with it"?"

Oh, are we talking about her body or a baby that is in her body that she would prefer to kill?

Nah bro...I don't accept your attempt at moral equivalence.

Someone MUST advocate for the baby.


Posted by Doug, a resident of Birdland,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 9:51 am

@DKHSK :"Oh, are we talking about her body or a baby that is in her body that she would prefer to kill?"

Baby? Do you think that an object which may not have a heart beat, a brain, an active nervous system, or any identifiable organs associated with human beings is "a baby"?

And how would one kill such an object? By stopping its heart beat? Oh, wait. Can't do that since it doesn't have one. Suffocating it? Oops. No, it doesn't breathe or even have lungs. Well, at least we can check to see that it's not 'brain dead' by checking for brain activity and.... Oh, wait....


Posted by Woman, a resident of Canyon Meadows,
on Apr 10, 2019 at 7:19 pm

Men,

If the being can not live without my body then it is my decision. I will not be forced to carry a fetus despite the fact that it makes you uncomfortable. If you are so worried about abortion please focus on the forced sterilization of your own kind since that too would decrease abortions.

You could also take your energy and put it into supporting Planned Parenthood and other organizations that educate and care for women so that unexpected pregnancies are less common. You can also get behind the effort to provide birth control to all women, young and old. While you are at it, because you care so much for the children, we have plenty of children who are currently alive and independent of a woman's uterus and who are living in poverty. You could help them because life in poverty is certain to contribute to their early death and a multitude of problems prior to death which will make their living time a misery. Or you could just continue to bloviate from behind your keyboards and tell us all how you know best.

For those slow to learn I will repeat that no woman is pro-abortion. We are pro complex decision making. I'll admit, from what I've observed that's hard for some to understand.


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