Reviews

Since "The Corporation" is out now on DVD, we decided to watch it last night. I thought that the 2.5 hours would be a drag, but the time went very quickly. About halfway through, I regretted that I was not taking notes. It is a bit like a college lecture, but better because they interviewed so many different people from so many walks of life, and used archival footage and old news reports to support the points they were making. It made us think again about the broader picture of society and the corporate influence on politics in a new light. (I read "The Military-Industrial complex" when I was in college in the 60's) I also was reminded of another book I read by the author Scott Peck called "The People of the Lie" in which he points out that the lack of accountability results in the lack of responsibility and the loss of compassion. The facts in the documentary (and there are facts, not just opinions) support that idea.

Some reviewers seem to think that the writer of the documentary was calling corporations evil. We were able to watch the extras included on the DVD which included interviews and questions and answers. In one interview the author of the book says specifically that he does not believe they are evil, but "they are amoral and dangerous" in their current structure and purpose as defined by legislation, rules and charters in each state. It is important that government, whose mandate is to oversee the public good, provide protections to the public from entities whose purpose is their own good. If this is not clear the way I am saying it, please check out the DVD.

This is an excellent conversation starter- lots of material for thoughtful people to discuss. The extras are as good or better than the documentary so take the time to look at some of those.

Just watched Bob Roberts and was amazed at how relevant it is today. The backdrop here is the former Gulf War. The format of the movie is documentary style following "Bob" who is running for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania. After getting used to that format, a parade of Hollywood stars appear in various roles, but my favorite is Alan Rickmann as Bob Roberts' campaign manager. (The Karl Rove character)

At times the movie gets preachy, at times it is clever, and at times I rewound the tape to get the words to the music that Tim Robbins helped compose for the movie. If you listen, the words are pretty scary.

At a time when the country seems divided between rural and city, between the heartland and water bordering states, between religious right and progressive, this movie is a fitting satire to the game of politics. Having seen it once, I don't need to see it again. The message is clear, no need for conjecture. If you like political movies this is a must see. I give it a 7 out of 10 stars.

This movie fascinated me from beginning to end. The reshaping of the stories was clever and, I too, was enthralled with the cinematography. The acting was above average and I felt like I got to know the characters so there was good development there. The choreography during the fight scenes was OK, and the pace was just right. I am a sucker for romance and it did the job for me.

But it's message was so right on if you can translate the motivations of the individuals in the movie to particular nations or groups of people today. For that reason alone, it deserves seeing. It really is a morality play.

All in all, I'd give it a 9 out of 10 score.

This is the most difficult movie I have ever seen...the emotional content is horrific, yet unforgetable. A woman who is accused of being a political activist is brought in for questioning. The whole movie revolves around her interrogation. Alan Rickman and Madeline Stowe have intense and powerful roles for which they deserve Oscars for their performances.