So it's finally out! Well, the release only came one day late, but I expected it to be 11 days ago. :D
it's 2h40m, so set some time aside and grab your popcorn. It's available just on dvd quality, so you might as well watch it on youtube instead of looking for torrents and such.
Before you and I go posting anything, let me say this:
Annoyingly, the last ZG topic got locked before this film was even available for viewing. I'm not a member of the Zeitgeist movement, just a fan of the excellent quality films it produces...and I was quite looking forward to seeing the AS crowd thoughts on this. I think the ZG topics until now have been great reading with lots of different, mostly really critical posters.
However the fervor with which people posted their arguements created an atmosphere that'll lead to lead to general bitterness and eventually flame wars. The mods don't appreciate that. So, I'd like this thread to be focused on reviewing the film. If you feel the need to correct others or extend a discussion to Zeitgeist as a whole, be nice about it or rather take it to PMs, please. I'd like most people to have a word before this topic gets locked as well.
Links:
The old Venus Project thread in all its flaming glory
The last thread for this film that got a bit heated and locked
Press conference after the release of this film with the minds behind it all
Now for my review.
Part one deals with human nature. It's the part that I liked the most, probably because I agree with it the most. The ZG views on this subject are scientifically sound, and this part presents well what is also my own reasoning for supporting enviromentalism. As in caring for the environment not only to protect the vitality of nature, but also that of ourselves.
However for this subject, there are more detailed works. I can recommend this documentary. It's more in-depth and not in the framework of any agenda like ZG.
Part two is criticism on the current monetary system. If you've seen the last ZG film, then you have seen this before and could pretty much skip this part. The difference would be that this time the judgement is even harsher. But still, I have to painstakingly agree to these things.
Part three is actually the second half of the film, and I actually don't like it that much. It goes far overhead with the Venus Project visions of the future. The nature of the film kinda suddenly changes, from being scientific to being science fiction. From rational to stroking the viewer's heartstrings.
We're supposed to arrive to the Resource-Based Economy vision based on the criticisms presented in parts one and two, but the logic of "Money isn't working out for us, so this is how we must do things" just doesn't hold. Also, the vision itself is crude and really lacking in integrity. It can still be interpreted as just a central planned economy, except the issue of leadership is evaded. Instead there's this overwhelming trust for science to take care of things, and blind trust for the rationality, empathy and capabilities of humanity.
There's clearly a conflict here between presenting things solidly like a documentary, and creating a good film. Towards the end, it heavily slides to the latter side. It's altogether audiovisually stimulating, and the ending is like something out of a hollywood drama...almost made me cry. :( And the effort done to produce and spread this work for literally no gain is admirable. The idea of a balanced, open, and evolving society without the incentive of profit or violence-based governance is beautiful and worth striving for.
Still, I'm also disappointed it wasn't made more like a documentary, and that there isn't any other proper Zeitgeist works like that. With the Opus Magnum of the movement being just a 180 minute film, it's no wonder people call it the Zeitgeist cult and get generally turned off by the science-fiction stuff. We're left to do a lot of thinking and research ourselves, which I encourage everyone to do...a film or two isn't enough to form a world view.
it's 2h40m, so set some time aside and grab your popcorn. It's available just on dvd quality, so you might as well watch it on youtube instead of looking for torrents and such.
Before you and I go posting anything, let me say this:
Annoyingly, the last ZG topic got locked before this film was even available for viewing. I'm not a member of the Zeitgeist movement, just a fan of the excellent quality films it produces...and I was quite looking forward to seeing the AS crowd thoughts on this. I think the ZG topics until now have been great reading with lots of different, mostly really critical posters.
However the fervor with which people posted their arguements created an atmosphere that'll lead to lead to general bitterness and eventually flame wars. The mods don't appreciate that. So, I'd like this thread to be focused on reviewing the film. If you feel the need to correct others or extend a discussion to Zeitgeist as a whole, be nice about it or rather take it to PMs, please. I'd like most people to have a word before this topic gets locked as well.
Links:
The old Venus Project thread in all its flaming glory
The last thread for this film that got a bit heated and locked
Press conference after the release of this film with the minds behind it all
Now for my review.
Part one deals with human nature. It's the part that I liked the most, probably because I agree with it the most. The ZG views on this subject are scientifically sound, and this part presents well what is also my own reasoning for supporting enviromentalism. As in caring for the environment not only to protect the vitality of nature, but also that of ourselves.
However for this subject, there are more detailed works. I can recommend this documentary. It's more in-depth and not in the framework of any agenda like ZG.
Part two is criticism on the current monetary system. If you've seen the last ZG film, then you have seen this before and could pretty much skip this part. The difference would be that this time the judgement is even harsher. But still, I have to painstakingly agree to these things.
Part three is actually the second half of the film, and I actually don't like it that much. It goes far overhead with the Venus Project visions of the future. The nature of the film kinda suddenly changes, from being scientific to being science fiction. From rational to stroking the viewer's heartstrings.
We're supposed to arrive to the Resource-Based Economy vision based on the criticisms presented in parts one and two, but the logic of "Money isn't working out for us, so this is how we must do things" just doesn't hold. Also, the vision itself is crude and really lacking in integrity. It can still be interpreted as just a central planned economy, except the issue of leadership is evaded. Instead there's this overwhelming trust for science to take care of things, and blind trust for the rationality, empathy and capabilities of humanity.
There's clearly a conflict here between presenting things solidly like a documentary, and creating a good film. Towards the end, it heavily slides to the latter side. It's altogether audiovisually stimulating, and the ending is like something out of a hollywood drama...almost made me cry. :( And the effort done to produce and spread this work for literally no gain is admirable. The idea of a balanced, open, and evolving society without the incentive of profit or violence-based governance is beautiful and worth striving for.
Still, I'm also disappointed it wasn't made more like a documentary, and that there isn't any other proper Zeitgeist works like that. With the Opus Magnum of the movement being just a 180 minute film, it's no wonder people call it the Zeitgeist cult and get generally turned off by the science-fiction stuff. We're left to do a lot of thinking and research ourselves, which I encourage everyone to do...a film or two isn't enough to form a world view.