TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away from Keyboard

I really enjoyed this documentary because the people being filmed were the ones who told the story. There was no narration, no script, just the wit, humor, and emotion of those involved with the case

For me, the main message this documentary portrays is the absolute inability of the legal systems and the content industries themselves to see what the world is demanding right now, at this very point in time. The way the world wants, and is, consuming content is far different to how the major studios want the world to consume content. It is blindingly obvious, and it is at their peril that they continue to ignore what the world wants.

If I'm honest, the founders of The Pirate Bay are a bit loony - the documentary doesn't try to disguise this at all, but I have nothing but the utmost respect for them as people, for what they have been through, what they will continue to go through, but most importantly, for what they stand for. My life is far more enriched and satisfying because these three guys had the guts to stand up on behalf of the world.

The 20th Century has been and gone. Now it's the 21st Century. It's time to see some 21st Century thinking, ideas, business models, and solutions from the content industry to give the world what it wants. However it seems like it's up to the rest of the world to force their hand by costing them more and more money through piracy. Maybe when their earnings actually do start to drop - and we see some proof of that drop - then things will change

Time will tell. Maybe a good first step would be for 20th Century Fox to change its name to 21st Century Fox. It lessens that stone age first impression that you get when you hear the name

Plot

An intellectual freedoms documentary based around the interpersonal triumphs, and defeats of the three main characters against the largest industry in the known universe. The media industry.

Cast

Not familiar with the creators.

Verdict

The story of the Pirate Bay is a well documented one, not only other documentaries but it's been international mainstream news multiple times so most folks already know at least the basics.

This pulls back the veil, tells the story again and to its credit isn't overly bias in its approach, after all piracy is an issue most have a strong opinion of one way or another.

The trouble is as I was watching TPB AFK I felt an overwhelming state of deja-vu. Seen this, know this, what else is new? Oh wait here come the credits.

If you know the story this is a waste of 85 minutes.

Rants

My opinion on piracy varies. You pirate a movie that's out at the cinema, that's one thing but what about pirating a 30 year old video game that you couldn't buy even if you wanted to? Then you have the issue of exclusivity on streaming platforms. How many are there now? Countless, you have to pay for each and the movie you want to see could be an exclusive on any of them? That could get expensive real quick, or absurd bouncing back and forth. They talk about the cost of piracy on the industry but then every year the budgets of movies get higher and new record profits are recorded. Something isn't right, say what you want about piracy but it's not as black and white as people often try to make out.

Breakdown

Fairly well made Feels recycled Not overly engaging.

The film is excellent at portraying how corrupt large corporations are especially the Media, they will stop at nothing to squeeze every penny they can out of your pockets and Piratebay are liberators, they allow us to download the movie then decide if we want to pay for it or not it's a truly fair system, I bought Avatar, Batman, Saw series, Harry Potter etc. Disappointing films like the Skyline will not see a penny from my pocket.

A Big thank out to the creators of the Piratebay, you have truly changed the world!

Max

This movie is simply Breathtaking.

It's a must watched movie from anyone that call himself political- activated and also a Pirate. The documentary contain everything that we must know about the founders, the crew, the story, the enemy and the pirates(peers). Learn about the role of Hollywood, Swedish government, people and File-Sharing's future! All The story behind the curtains of a Huge historical Ship, its captains and all of us; its pirates!

The movie will motivated you to continue support of the ship and its founders.By the way, it will definitely make you smile/cry in the end!

I think enough said. . . .

TPB - AFK is a documentary structured like a political thriller and vice versa. It employs traditional film-making conventions (irony, drama, fact presentation) although the means by which it is produced, shot and distributed, are highly unconventional. It chronicles the persecution of the founding members of The Pirate Bay by members an objectively corrupt force. The film remains open-ended which is not only the right choice (dramatically) but also a realistic choice, as the ghosts of copyright infringement will probably haunt us longer than the war on drugs or terror. So, watch this first and pay later (or don't) if you like it, which is a far better deal than most cultural objects require from their audience nowadays...