Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers

I watched this valuable piece of film many times. It isn't the usual type of documentary you see everyday. It mixes music (most electrical style) and short comments and speeches about the western consume nature and capitalism. It is somehow enjoyable to watch which makes the information easier to understand and remember. One peak is the satiric presentation of the "G8 World shop". You will see some video pieces of the worlds politicians remixed, edited and cut to a background comment. Very funny and very serious at the same time.

Besides the documentary "The Corporation" from Michael Moore, it's the most accessible documentary regarding this Problem which affects us all. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

10/10

This is without doubt one of the most convincing and impressive documentaries I have ever seen. It is very in-your-face and not subtle, and you might not agree with the message (consumerism is bad), but anyone would have to admit that this film is very, very well made.

It's form is highly original. For example, there's a quick montage of the world's leaders (Bush, Blair, Poetin, Chirac etc.), who's voices have been erased, and replaced by a new one, literally 'putting words in their mouths'. Great!

And I should mention the editing, which is in accordance with the images and music. The whole film playes like a musical piece, with repeting themes, set-ups and climaxes.

For the original form alone, you should see this when you have the chance. Even when you think capitalism is okay.

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?

Yes, it tries to deliver its message of anti-capitalism. But it does it by repeating scenes over and over again (it makes you wonder if they didn't film enough or had to pad the movie to extend it's run time because of a lack of money/footage or both). It feels more like the film is trying to force its message onto you until you say uncle.

Most of the scenes are un-narrated (and un-translated). This leaves the viewer lost and confused. Huh? What do these people in this segment have to do with anti-capitalism? The transitions between scenes could use some help here. The editing is horrible. The film goes from one scene to the next without any sort of explanation to the viewer. Okay, there are people rioting. Um, what is it that they're rioting over? Why are they rioting? In the end, the film's message of anti-capitalism is cluttered/muddled because of bad film editing/direction. The reason is never backed up by any sort of substance or fact. Thus, it makes this movie appear more like a propaganda film than a documentary about anti-capitalism.

It's awful. Don't waste your time on this film. Go watch the corporation documentary; it's much more informative and well made. I only give it a 3 because it is somewhat thought provoking (if you can get over the constant repeated scenes and repeated dialogues).

It was quite a good movie actually, very well put together visually. I would have liked to see more dialogue and maybe a bit more debate going down. Basically what it was a depiction of John Zerzan's claim for a huge dismantling project of consumerism and everything that goes with it. In a way Zerzan (who you can gather is an anarchist, or has anarchist tendencies) is a bit idealistic, he wants us to return to a hunter/gatherer society where everyone lives in peace and happiness.

The doccy has images of loads of speeches (Bush after 9/11, mike Balmer (Microsoft), Blair, Fidel Castro, and loads of others). and includes one (my favourite) where bush goes: "We must not let the terrorists scare people... to the extent where they don't shop." it's brilliantly cut with music and other visuals.

The movie has a bit of a music video feel to it, but that makes it even more "enjoyable", it makes it a bit more accessible to some people who don't really know about protests and wat-have-you. One memorable part was where you have the head of Adbusters speaking, and the visuals are all the hot shot corporates and presidents who are "synched" to his words, brilliantly done!

Another striking thing was where you had Fidel Castro speaking, and he is going on about how Cubans are free and have true democracy and true choice and then they cut to a scene in a shop where there are only about 3 different kinds of shoes and how they ration food and this one chick who went to Europe who was blown away by the bright lights, big city and fast food.

Then it swings back to Zerzan who goes justifies the use of violence at protests infused with images of protests outside G8 meetings. Visually, a brilliant movie, and although I don't agree with a few of Zerzan's means or ends, I do agree the problem(s) he highlights. Politically, also brilliant as it makes the problems easily accessible to the average person who might not know that much about stuff, while I never felt "oh yeah, I know that s***, yawn" even if you don't feel like checking it as a "message movie", the part where they interview sex doll manufacturers is quite funny.

I'd definitely recommend surplus.