intnsred

A very unusual documentary about consumerism. I prefer

statistics-filled, dry, just-throw-the-facts-at-me types of

documentaries. I find most of Michael Moore's humor distracting to his

main points, for example. This film uses a variety of techniques to

appeal to emotions.

For instance, it uses a sometimes annoying, sometimes surprisingly

effective tactic of repeating sound bites. The footage ranges from

protests to interviews. Footage includes a Cuban teen's reactions to

visiting McDonalds, to European homeless people, to Microsoft's Steve

Ballmer dancing around screaming to motivate Windows programmers at a

conference. It's truly unusual, but despite my preference for "drier"

more fact-oriented documentaries, I found this unusual emotion-appeal

film quite enjoyable and effective. That surprised me; perhaps it will

you too?

This is a superb 3-part BBC documentary about how gov'ts overblow

threats to create "nightmares" which can then be used for domestic

purposes/control. It traces the US neo-cons back to the Cold War days

and examines how both the neo-cons and Islamic fundamentalists falsely

claim credit for destroying the overblown threat of the USSR. The film

then examines the so-called War on Terror (WoT). It includes

outstanding "evidence" of the terrorist "sleeper cell" trials in the US

(you have to watch and see this evidence to believe it!!). This is an

extremely well done, insightful look at the post-9/11 reactions by the

US and UK and will challenge propaganda about the WoT (e.g. the US

gov't named Al Queda not Bin Laden; nuclear scientists and the Pentagon

both say a "dirty bomb" would most likely not kill anyone) with

reasoned and well-sourced logic and arguments.

For more information, see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stm

The first episode is not the most exciting, since it does the

historical background to set up the last two episodes. (You can get

the gist of the entire documentary just by watching the last two.

Viewing the BBC's link above will give some add'l info.) Few can claim

to know about the clash of the US/west versus Muslim fundamentalism and

the interaction of US politics in that clash without seeing this video

-- it's that good!

This flick will educate you on the inevitable outcry following the 2004

election (no matter who wins).

This film examines the botched 2000 elections in as an objective manner

that I've seen, doing so in a non-ranting, tell-me-the-facts manner.

It clearly documents that the election was not over "hanging chads" and

delves into its seemier aspects. It cites Jeb Bush and Katherine

Harris for their various acts of malfeasance, knocks Gore for things

like only seeking recounts in 4 democratic-leaning counties, and even

points out the blatant conflicts of interest of Supreme Court justices

with interviews with the individuals in question. Greg Palast of the

BBC explains his investigative reports (something very few Americans

are aware of) very well. While the film is from 2002, it is not dated

and it also includes a bit on potential problems of electronic voting.

As a former high school civics teacher the 2000 election particularly

disgusted me, not only because of the inevitable warping process that

the undemocratic electoral college inflicts on our presidential

elections, but because I saw it as a clear indication that the concept

of "fair play" had gone out the window. This film makes that crystal

clear, citing the facts to back up that opinion. It will be an

education for most any citizen.