Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: January 20, 2006
7.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings
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20
Mixed:
3
Negative:
3
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5
RirenFeb 3, 2007
This documentary is unfortunately highly biased and tries to coerce rather than inform, a trend in modern documentary. It does not even come close to answering the sociological question of violence in America, or even the U.S.'s reasons This documentary is unfortunately highly biased and tries to coerce rather than inform, a trend in modern documentary. It does not even come close to answering the sociological question of violence in America, or even the U.S.'s reasons for going to war throughout so much of its history. However, it is very informative about the military industrial complex - indeed, if 45 minutes were cut off the film, it could be repackaged as a documentary about just that, though then the film wouldn't be as sensational. It employs the tired, old propoganda tricks, like quotes taken out of context, a few anonymous quotes used to indicate the minds of millions, and musical montages that don't technically state an opinion but still beat you over the head with it. The film's real answer to why we fight is that there is a vast organization of businesses that profit off of war, and that they have infected politics to make sure they keep raking in the billions. This is a disturbing part of the answer, but unfortunately it is only a part - and the rest isn't that U.S. citizens are all dumb and none of the politicians care. Don't get me wrong, it's a great question. Hopefully a better documentary will try to answer it someday. Expand
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5
AlbertR.May 14, 2006
I went expecting to learn something but I didn't learn anything new, so I'd say this documentary is best for those who need to catch up on US military industrial complex inluences and history, especially in relation to the current I went expecting to learn something but I didn't learn anything new, so I'd say this documentary is best for those who need to catch up on US military industrial complex inluences and history, especially in relation to the current war in Iraq. Even so, the approach is too scattershot. I found the film understimulating, a bit tedious. There are some good elements--some of the interviews are surprising, especially a retired female colonel who worked in the Pentagon. I agree that the retired cop is another effective bit. What this film brough home to me is that writing and directing both effective and entertaining documentaries are extremely difficult to pull off. Michael Moore does it but he makes no pretense at evenhanded treatment, which Jarecki seems to want to do. So, see this if you need education on these themes; if you don;t, you can do without it. Unfortunately, I think that the audience for a film like this is more likely to be the latter. Expand
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