Bag It

Bag It is a documentary clearly in the style of Michael Moore's filmmaking. With humor and charm, Jeb Berrier investigates the path taken by plastic bags as they journey from the market where a clerk puts our groceries in them to the air, ocean, creeks and shipping containers where they become a source of suffering and ugliness.

Cut to cheerful Mr. Berrier walking through a supermarket, holding up other examples of plastic packaging. He manages in a moment to make these items appear ridiculous as he looks into the camera and asks why we need all this plastic. Does it really serve a purpose? If so, then why do we throw it away? Not just a little bit of it, but collectively millions of tons each year.

I confess that I have been one of the millions of people who, though I know better, have continued to shop without bothering to bring a bag. I justified my sloth by telling myself that the bags get recycled, so what does it matter? After seeing Bag It I can no longer think this way. Bag It is an important movie that I believe will have important consequences, both for those who see it and for the environment.

But most important of all, Berrier, like Michael Moore, pulls off the coup of making his point while making us enjoy watching him. See it to be entertained, informed and enlightened.

This movie drastically changed my life. I was already a reusable bag-user, but it altered my perception on all of the other plastic things in our lives.

It was shocking how much of the side effects/destruction plastic is doing we don't all know, and that's what really inspired me to make a change.

Plastic is SO detrimental, I wish it just wasn't even invented.

I recommend this film to all viewers.

It's not just some hippie documentary, but for all people of all races, classes, age, sex, etc.

Raises awareness, overall slightly lacks analytical perspective. There are only a few, but considerably weird bits with sexual jokes and some gender panic.

Has a lot of information that is at once provocative to even the dullest mind.

There can be no doubting the importance of this kind of media coverage.

Plastic bags = self destruction.

The data and imagery, the accuracy, it is all blindingly serious.

There is a slight absurdity about it all and this is well suited to the topic which is easily argued as the purest form of absurdity.

There is none more insane then our destruction of what we have and are, self sabotage while ignorance is bliss.

Its good that it has a global slant despite forcing the U.S condition.

I recommend this movie for all people. Hippies and non hippies alike. It should be essential educational material.

Good overview of the problems of plastic- from product use, transportation, composition and recycling. Covers issues around the world as well. Documentary is thoughtful, and entertaining.

The author was not really interested in the topic until his town had a contest- he then starts thinking about all the ways plastic affects our lives, and its affect on the planet, sea life, the oceans and eventually right back to us. It shows the truth about recycling- which is not what people picture. There is the problems of people being unclear about what we can recycle, and also how towns who have tried to fight the chemical companies are largely out-funded.

A very good overview overall, presented with some bits of humor- though a couple jokes may be over the top.