Zeitgeist: The Movie
Dir: Peter Joseph
2007
*****
This film seems to have upset a lot of people. I'm not sure how it can be accused of being biased/unbalanced though. It is challenging what many believe as truth but it points out exactly what the reasoning's are behind every statement it makes, not that it actually makes that many statements, as it generally and quite fairly encourages the audience to research and make up it's own mind. Many will and many won't, but this is the first time I've ever seen a documentary that comes with a comprehensive companion guide. The truths can be harsh, reality often is though, to shy away from it is to neglect ourselves and our fellow man. This film was preaching to the converted as far as I was concerned in some respects - question everything - but it did so better than Loose Change did regarding 9/11 and consolidated what I've read from the likes of Richard Dawkins etc pretty conclusively. For anything it misses out my only answer is that being a film, there is always going to be limited time, hence the companion guide and sequels. It does annoy me though the way people use the term 'Conspiracy Theory' in a negative way. By definition, the plot supposedly orchestrated by Osama bin Laden is a conspiracy theory, I challenge anyone to say the have absolute evidence to say he was responsible. Manipulation is a scary thing. Maybe the world has gone beyond that point of reasoning or self-though, maybe the governments or the powers that be have already won, if someone (anyone) can get away with 9/11 maybe you can get away with anything, maybe the public just don't want to know but for me (and hopefully others) the words of Howard Beale ring true 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore'. Seriously though, do you 100% believe everything the American Government and the world media tell you? Peter Joseph gives plenty of evidence as to why we shouldn't. Comparing this film to other 'conspiracy theorists' who talk of Alien landings and Elvis sightings are only showing their own ignorance. Question everything, question your president, question your prime minister, question your teachers, parents, governments, authors and friends, question me and get in touch, debate is what separates us from the animals. I've argued with people regarding this subject a fair bit, before you accuse people who agree with and might have had their opinions changed by this film of being weak minded or gullible, we're not the ones who believe in virgin birth/resurrection/the fact that 4 airplanes can be hijacked with nail scissors/anything that W. Bush says/everything the Media says/buildings that were never hit falling down anyway, among many other issues. Maybe if we were given believable answers (or any answers at all at some point) we'd be complacent and would go away. Anyway, rant over - at least give this film a try, for what it's worth I think it's a compelling and credible argument, stranger things have happened.