From: utzoo!decvax!duke!mcnc!unc!bch
Newsgroups: net.movies
Title: Re: Special Bulletin
Article-I.D.: unc.4820
Posted: Wed Mar 23 14:24:37 1983
Received: Thu Mar 24 20:12:10 1983
References: princeto.129

Despite the predictable aspects of plot and characterization, I thought
the drama did a good job in portraying a situation in which familiar,
institutionalized, reactions of the media and the government no longer
make any sense.  The straightfaced "we're in control" attitude of the
White House and the network newscasters contrasted with the kind of
collective, very much out-of-control, insanity aboard the terrorist ship
to make a point about the nature of public events.  Even the viewer is
sucked in to the drama as an impotent observer of a process which seems
to take place without coherency or logic.  There you are, sitting in
the comfort of your own home watching events taking place in some
never-never land.  Do you really care about them?  Does it matter?

I suspect Charleston was chosen precisely because it is not a generally
familiar city.  It is also a city with the innocence of the deep south
surrounded by enough military hardware to start World War III.  More
important, the reporters in the area would not be used to covering large
scale crises hence their emotionalism and inability to make sense of
their situation.