The Corporation

Amazon.com

An epic in length and breadth, this documentary aims at nothing less than a full-scale portrait of the most dominant institution on the planet Earth in our lifetime--a phenomenon all the more remarkable, if not downright frightening, when you consider that the corporation as we know it has been around for only about 150 years. It used to be that corporations were, by definition, short-lived and finite in agenda. If a town needed a bridge built, a corporation was set up to finance and complete the project; when the bridge was an accomplished fact, the corporation ceased to be. Then came the 19th-century robber barons, and the courts were prevailed upon to define corporations not as get-the-job-done mechanisms but as persons under the 14th Amendment with full civil rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (i.e., power and profit)--ad infinitum.

The Corporation defines this endlessly mutating life-form in exhaustive detail, measuring the many ways it has not only come to dominate but to deform our reality. The movie performs a running psychoanalysis of this entity with the characteristics of a prototypical psychopath: a callous unconcern for the feelings and safety of others, an incapacity to experience guilt, an ingrained habit of lying for profit, etc. We are swept away on a demented odyssey through an altered cosmos, in which artificial chemicals are created for profit and incidentally contribute to a cancer epidemic; in which the folks who brought us Agent Orange devise a milk-increasing drug for a world in which there is already a glut of milk; in which an American computer company leased its systems to the Nazis--and serviced them on a monthly basis--so that the Holocaust could go forward as an orderly process.

The movie goes on too long, circles too many points obsessively and redundantly, and risks preaching-to-the-choir reductiveness by calling on the usual talking-head suspects--Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Michael Moore. And except for an endlessly receding tracking shot in an infinite patents archive, there's scarcely an image worth recalling. Still, it maps the new reality. This is our world--welcome to it. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

In this acclaimed documentary from the co-director of MANUFACTURING CONSENT: Noam Chomksy and the Media, 40 corporate insiders and critics—including Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky, NO LOGO author Naomi Klein and Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman—explore the nature and spectacular rise of the most pervasive institution of our time. Combining analysis with footage from advertising, television news and industrial films, THE CORPORATION is an entertaining and provocative look at the inner workings, curious history, controversial impacts and possible futures of the modern global conglomerate. This Two-Disc Special Edition features more than 8 hours of additional material.

Customer Reviews:

Frankenstein, Inc. - "It's the science of exploitation".......2007-09-06

I was once having coffee with an old friend who, before his retirement, had spent his career as a major player in major corporations (principally international banks). Our conversation had turned to business and he said to me, "You know what a corporation is, right, John? It's a being without a soul." The Corporation begins by pointing out that while intended to protect the legal personhood of former black slaves, the Fourteenth Ammendment became the legal basis for granting legal personhood to corporations.

Narrator: "Having acquired the legal rights and protections of a person, the question arises: What kind of person is the corporation? We can analyze [a corporation] like a psychiatrist would a patient. We can even formulate a diagnosis on the basis of typical case histories of harm it has inflicted on others, selected from a universe of corporate activity."

Methodically examining typical case histories of corporate activity, the film presents the following assessment of "what kind of person" a corporation is:

PERSONALITY DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST/WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ICD-10/MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS DSM-IV:

* Callous unconcern for the feelings of others
* Incapacity to maintain enduring relationships
* Reckless disregard for the safety of others
* Deceitfulness: Repeated lying and conning others for profit
* Incapacity to experience guilt
* Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors

Subject: The Corporation
Diagnosis of Personality Disorder: PSYCHOPATH

As my friend said, in its creation of the corporation, the West has created the ideal golem.

Robert Monks, Corporate Governance Advisor: "And it was more or less as if we had created a doom machine. In our search for wealth and prosperity we created something that is going to destroy us."

The Corporation is elegant, informative, and filled with fine interviews: Milton Friedman, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky, scientists, psychologists, investigative journalists, former CEOs, et alia. "A winner of 25 international awards, 10 international audience choice awards, and Canada's most popular documentary." Highly recommended.

Very important, needs to be seen.......2007-09-03

We seem to assume these days that development of the corporation is another dimension of "progress," and that it developed naturally, kind of like acne on a teen's complexion. Among the lessons of this film is that no such natural development occured. Rather, the corporation started out as a sort of association dedicated to one project or another. So, history is one development the DVD covers.

The film is divided into sections, and that keeps one able to watch it, and continue to be mesmerized. Beyond history, the issues of corporate power are covered, and especially globalization. Indeed, I was thinking that a more appropriate title to the DVD might be corporate globalization rather than just "The Corporation." Examples of that include the representatives of an organization who scrutinizes sweat shops. He's going over various clothing items, stating what those who make them are paid and what we're paying for them. (In Central America, Korean corporate bureaucrats deny him the right to enter the factory. "This is private property!")

In one particularly heart wrenching segment, that person describes the mud hut of a woman working 120 hour weeks in Bangladesh at somethint like 3 cents an hour, making clothes that we in the West pay a fortune for.

There are many, many dimensions of the corporation covered, and each has a speaker or two with many of whom I'm familiar, e.g., Noam Chomksy and Micheal Moore. Covered also are the health dimensions of corporate products (one in two men and one in three women will get cancer!) and what might be done about it. Kathy Lee Gifford apologized for her products oppressive nature--then the corporation responsible for that oppression continued to do what it had always done...

I wish I could go into more detail, but, rather, you really should see this important documentary.

Oh, and the speakers in the film have sections of their own on the second DVD, and a great means of searching out their statements by subject. But that, believe it or not, leads me to my objection to the film: I've always been a Micheal Moore fan. But he says in this film something with which he entititled one of his books: that the corporations are run by white men, and that's what makes them evil. That's far, far too "post-modernist" for me. Face it, Michael, as far as that goes, race is irrelevant. I speak from the perspective of one the absolute worst manager of whom was a woman, and arguably the second worst was a black woman. The issue is one of hierarchy, of "authority," and that the corporations are run largly by white, male, heterosexuals is of no consequence. Mark my word, if they were run by black, lesbians, they'd be run just as ruthlessly, or worse.

All right, maybe Michael claims that for rhetorical effect, but we need to focus on what the problem is and not shoot ourselves in the foot by creating hostilities where they barely exist, if at all.

Among the bottom lines is that the corporation is completely indifferent to your needs or mine. Their bottom line is--the bottom line--profit. As Chomsky has pointed out for years, their goal is to make us mindless consumers with no connection with each other. They seem to have succeeded!

Aside from that, see this fine DVD, and show it to your classes to get students challenging the things they take for granted, especially consumption.

Happy Birthday..........2007-08-26

Before I say anything, I will begin by saying "Noam Chomsky." That is all. I adore him and have since my first linguistics course in college. He features largely in this documentary, along with some other wonderful beings.

No newsflash that Big Brother is attempting to take over everything. I was grateful for the initial historic introduction to corporations in the US, detailing that they were largely created to give groups of people with a common financial interest coverage by the Bill of Rights. The documentary moved very slowly, which is a death knell for any self-respecting documentary that wants to hold anyone's attention. That said, I had to watch it in two sittings, cos I can only absorb so much at a time. Anyhoo, the things that stood out to me that I did not know were that what also occurred at the same time that the Bill of Rights was jostled to cover corporations, is when it also was written to include supporting the rights of freed slaves. However, in the first year or so (I forget the given timeframe) after this change 200 appeals indicating that one's rights had been violated were filed. Nineteen of them were filed by African Americans, the rest by corporations. I didn't realize it started that long ago, but I'm naive. The other thing I did not know was that AOL/Time Warner owns the copyright to "Happy Birthday" and anytime it is featured in a film or recorded feature AOL/TW is paid a royalty.

Ones I did know: IBM (a US-based branch) created the machines and punch cards that were used in various concentration camps in Nazi Germany, one of which was Dachau. Also, patents on microorganisms have been issued (ie on basic life forms, human genome, etc), including the gene for breast cancer. The company that owns it doesn't allow anyone to test potential drugs to cure it without paying an assload of fees first, which if a drug company can't afford to pay must be astronomical.

I guess the documentary was well-done. It definitely got bogged down in places, but the way it presented the info kept me engaged.

Useless.......2007-08-09

this film is really full of false information which makes it really useless and actually dangerous. The film takes advantage of people who believe what they see in media without questioning or looking at the other side. It's unfortunate that the makers of this film are so dishonest.

fine documentary about the corporation and the monster that it morphed into..........2007-08-01

The Corporation uses historic footage and modern day interviews with famous thinkers like Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore to document first the evolution of the corporation and then how the corporation grew into something the earliest corporation founders never could have envisioned. These days, the corporation is a gigantic, sprawling, powerful, crushing force that creates wants in humans for items they don't need, encourages slave labor in third world countries and successfully obtains patents on life forms.

The movie, as many people have stated, is rather long. However, I personally liked it much more than I thought I would. I learned a lot about corporations and the pace at which it moves along held my attention.

The movie begins by showing us the birth of the corporation. Corporations were initially small entities created by small groups to get one goal accomplished and then disband. Unfortunately, trouble starts about a century ago when the Supreme Court rules that a corporation has the rights of a human being. From there on in things begin to happen that boggle the mind and shock even some of the conservative people in the audience.

We learn about the growth of corporations through the use of advertising to create wants for both children and adults for things they don't truly need; and then make stunning profits off those items. In one very shocking example, we see how one clothing line pays only 74 cents for a ladies' jacket that runs about $170 retail. Ouch! The corporation becomes a bully entering into third world countries to give ridiculously low paying jobs to people too poor and unskilled to do anything except take those jobs.

Other examples of the bullying that corporations do, as we learn, involve patenting life forms; putting dangerous chemicals into cows so that the milk we drink is unhealthy for us; and polluting rivers at a pace that would make even the most evil Spiderman villain blush.

On the bright side, we see people fighting back legally--sometimes winning, sometimes losing--but the message is that corporations aren't quite as powerful as they were about 15 years ago.

DVD extras include deleted scenes and The Majority Report interview with Joel Bakan. There is also a talk with Katherine Dodds on grassroots marketing. Noam Chomsky stars in a short trailer, too. Great!

Many people will tell you that this film is preaching to the choir--and, most unfortunately, they are correct. Most people will read the general synopsis of the film before choosing to buy it and if they are not in agreement with persons like Michael Moore and Noam Chomsky then they'll never see it. At least, however, the movie can try to rally the troops to do something to become more alert to the bigger picture about how corporations bully and pollute our world every day.

Overall, this is a fine documentary and a tool to educate people about corporations--I learned a great deal. People who like sociology and psychology will enjoy this even more; and I highly recommend this film for persons with an active social conscience who want to make this world a better place in which to live.

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous and Stunning
Music video or feature film?
very, very disappointing... and bad
Amazing.
Very disappointing end to the series

Naqoyqatsi
Starring: Greg Louganis , Bill Clinton , Elton John , Marlon Brando , and Dalai Lama
Director: Godfrey Reggio
Manufacturer: Miramax
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ASIN: B00005JLIA
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Amazon.com

Whether your intellect is completely engaged or passively detached, any viewing of Naqoyqatsi is likely to provoke a fascinating response. You can view it as a magnificent, visually stimulating music video (as critic Roger Ebert suggested you should), or in context as the third and most unsettling film in director Godfrey Reggio's "qatsi" trilogy, each titled from the Hopi language, and preceded by Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi ("Life out of Balance" and "Life in Transformation," respectively). "Life as War" is the translation of this film's title, and Reggio's theme is not one of conventional warfare, but of daily life as warfare in the age of rapidly evolving technology. The entire trilogy views humankind as a blight on the pristine nature of Earth, but here the theme is taken to its inevitable extreme: a constant flow of new and archival images--manipulated with solarization, digital enhancements, thermal effects, 2-D and 3-D animation, etc.--combine to convey athletic and military regimentation, culminating in the doomsday flowering of missiles, rockets, and all varieties of nuclear weaponry. The cumulative effect, when combined with Philip Glass's mesmerizing score (his best of the trilogy, with cello solos by Yo-Yo Ma) is one of doom-laden portent, but, as Stephen Holden observed in the New York Times, the film is also arrestingly beautiful as it weaves its hypnotic, apocalyptic spell. For those who wish to delve further, Reggio, Glass, and editor/visual designer Jon Kane provide valuable insight in a bonus panel discussion. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Miramax Home Entertainment and Oscar(R)-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Best Director, TRAFFIC, 2000) present NAQOYQATSI ("Life As War"), from filmmaker Godfrey Reggio, in collaboration with composer Phillip Glass, whose original score features renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In this cinematic concert -- the concluding film of the Qatsi Trilogy preceded by the critically acclaimed KOYAANISQATSI ("Life Out Of Balance"), and POWAQQATSI ("Life In Transformation") -- mesmerizing images reanimated from everyday reality, then visually altered with state-of-the-art digital techniques, chronicle the shift from a world organized by the principles of nature to one dominated by technology, the synthetic, and the virtual. Extremes of intimacy and spectacle, tragedy and hope, fuse in a tidal wave of visuals and music, giving rise to a unique artistic experience that reflects Reggio's visions of a brave new globalized world.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous and Stunning.......2007-08-19

Loved it, even though I'm still not sure what the message is!

Koyaanis was straightforward, simple and impactful. Strongest entry in the series.

Powaq was too esoteric. Unless you knew intimately what the locations, cultures, rituals and routines the film depicted were, you were missing the point, as I always have.

Naqoy returns to the subject of the USA, but I'm not sure what Reggio is saying. I expected something immediate and impactful, as Koyaanis had been, but instead I'm puzzled and feel the meaning to be very vague.

Maybe it's a matter of cracking the code. I hate to say it, but the film needs a commentary track by Reggio in which he deliniates what the images mean to him and why he chose them!

For all that, it's still a deep, beautiful, and confounding film. It certainly twists my mind around, but in a way too ineffable to understand.

Music video or feature film?.......2007-05-18

Having read some other reviews here, I have to agree with their basic criticism. Then again, perhaps this film should not so much be critisised as a feature film, but as a music video, or in fact a video installation that took the wrong door. Watching this as a feature film is unbearable for anyone with a sense of plot. Also, it has so many flashy effects that there should be a seizure warning on the package. But the film certainly goes well as a background for Phil Glass' very enjoyable music, or for running it in the background during a weird, geeky party you are having in an abandoned Detroit warehouse...

very, very disappointing... and bad.......2007-01-23

The first film in this trilogy, Koyaanisqatsi, is a classic.
The second, Powaqatsi, is not as good but still worth watching.

Naqoyaqaatsi, to quote some other reviewers, is just 'a mishmash of computer-treated footage, signifying nothing'... 'all quite forgettable'... except that the feeling of disillusionment and disappointment is hard to forget... The absence of Ron Fricke and his incredible cinematography that mad the other films so great stops this from even being interesting.
Don't waste your time.

Amazing........2007-01-12

If you have not watched this yet and have any inclination to, PLEASE DO. It is not a "movie with a plot" so to speak, but a film/documentation of society and culture. I love it. (But watch Kooyanisqatsi first. ) In comparison, it is what Kooyannisqatsi would have been had it been made 20 years later. I think it's brilliant.

Very disappointing end to the series.......2006-12-13

The first film in this trilogy, Koyaanisqatsi, is a classic, and features what is possibly the best score Philip Glass ever wrote for anything.

The second, Powaqatsi, is not as good but still worth watching.

This third installment offers none of the thought-provoking imagery of the first two films. It's just a mishmash of computer-treated footage, signifying nothing, and all quite forgettable. I wonder what went wrong?

Don't waste your time.

Average customer rating:

THE Speech that Changed History
Lessons Learned of a great man - Dr. MLK
Vedio History
Good Context for, Presentation of an Exemplary Speech
Excellent speech.

Martin Luther King Jr. - I Have a Dream
Starring: Martin Luther King Jr.
Manufacturer: MPI Home Video
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ASIN: B00069FLAY
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Amazon.com

One of the greatest and most memorable moments in the civil rights movement occurred when 200,000 people marched on Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. Not only was the gathering of so many united people extraordinary, but that day Martin Luther King Jr. stood before the marchers and delivered his most eloquent and inspiring speech. This video offers the "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety, as well as footage of the opposition the protesters faced, such as the fire hoses the police in Alabama used to disperse the crowds. The narrator explains that the hoses shot 700 pounds of pressure, enough to strip the bark off a tree. However, the grimness of this era is not the only focus in this video. Dr. King had so much hope and faith in the success of the civil rights movement, and the greatest demonstration of this is in the famous speech. He uses modern metaphors and poetry to get his message out clearly, as when he describes the capitol as having given blacks a check marked "insufficient funds," but he reminds us that they will refuse to believe the bank of justice is bankrupt, that they will cash their check for riches of freedom and security of justice. Throughout the speech he emphasizes his mission: nonviolence as a method of overcoming ("Soul force against militant force") and the importance of walking together as a unified group, and never walking alone. Although the video ends with his death, it still leaves the viewer feeling uplifted with Robert Kennedy's memorial address, pleading with Americans to hold on to Dr. King's views and adopt them as their own. A concise video with one of the greatest speeches of our time. --Samantha Allen Storey

Description

"I have a dream today." On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King spoke these words as he addressed a crowd of more than 200,000 civil rights protesters gathered at The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Two months earlier, President John Kennedy had sent a civil rights bill to Congress, but it was struck down. Although Kennedy was concerned about the possibility of widespread violence during this protest, he realized he was powerless to stop it and embraced the movement instead. Known as the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom," the country expected to hear King deliver strong words to his opponents. Instead, his "I Have a Dream" speech was one of heartfelt passion and poetic eloquence that still echoes in our memory.

Customer Reviews:

THE Speech that Changed History.......2007-07-20

This is THE speech that changed history. When a quarter million civil rights activists marched at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 they heard one of the most heart felt, sapless speeches in history. Martin Luther King had a dream that one day people would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. You'll be surprised at how modern the 60s was; it was similar to the 90s- right here right now. He was shot in a conspiracy that once you realize this is the only life you are going to get, things don't become so serious and you approach life in a wants and needs matter. I say, what I can I do right here right now to help my needy birthplace? Think about it.

Lessons Learned of a great man - Dr. MLK.......2007-03-13

Our Diversity Council has started a Lunch and Learn series reviewing cultural presentations. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's speech - I Have A Dream was well received and many of the participants left the session with a renewed sense of appreciation for the role he played in bringing the nation together. You could tell his message came from his heart as he rarely looked down at his written speech. This gentle man touched the hearts of many then - and he continues to make an impact today. What a comparison it was to hear Dr. King's speech and then to hear Jesse Jackson's speech 20 years later. I would strongly recommend this movie.

Vedio History.......2007-02-08

There are literal scorces of footage of the modern Civil Rights movement. None, however, expect for short scenes and excerpts, has ever recorded the entire speech delivered by Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech" at the March on Washington in August, 1963. This is an invaluable DVD simply for that reason along. Teachers, students, groups and others can well benefit having a copy of this vedio history.

Good Context for, Presentation of an Exemplary Speech.......2007-01-24

Great presentation of MLK's incredible speech. Newsreel footage of "The Big March" provides context and takes you back in time.

A young Peter Jennings narrates the beginning of the first selection on the DVD.

Excellent speech........2007-01-14

I'm living in germany.
This is a speech which is surely one of the best ever spoken.

It is a combination of excellent speech and a lesson of history.

Something you should have in your collection.

The quality of the DVD and material is not the most important thing. A text of the speech is not included for interested non US buyers, but you can get it in the internet.

Regards,
Lutz H.

Average customer rating:

Frankenstein, Inc. - "It's the science of exploitation"
Very important, needs to be seen
Happy Birthday...
Useless
fine documentary about the corporation and the monster that it morphed into...

The Corporation
Starring: Mikela J. Mikael , Maude Barlow , Pope John XXIII , Martha Stewart (II) , and Kofi Annan
Director: Jennifer Abbott , and Mark Achbar
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ASIN: B0007LEMQ0

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Frankenstein, Inc. - "It's the science of exploitation".......2007-09-06

Very important, needs to be seen.......2007-09-03

Happy Birthday..........2007-08-26

Useless.......2007-08-09

fine documentary about the corporation and the monster that it morphed into..........2007-08-01

Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films

Average customer rating:

I LOVE YOU MICHAEL, FOREVER...
Slightly Disappointed, but i still love Michael
Outstanding
A great Michael Jackson compilation
Bloated, overstylized videos with more money than soul.

Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films
Starring: Naomi Campbell , Adolf Hitler , Michael Jackson , James Earl Jones , and Martin Luther King
Director: Michael Jackson , John Landis , John Singleton , Billy DiCicco , and David Fincher
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005A1T0
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Description

Songs: Black or White, Heal The World (Super Bowl version), Remeber the Time, Will You Be There, In the Closet, Gone Too Soon, Jam, Heal the World, Give In to Me, Who Is It, Dangerous. 112 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE YOU MICHAEL, FOREVER..........2006-02-25

ANY REAL FAN OF MICHAEL'S SHOULD OWN THIS. YOU WON'T REGRET IT. I PROMISE.

Slightly Disappointed, but i still love Michael.......2005-08-03

i was so exited to get this DVD, but i guess i didn't read the Amazon reviews carefully enough, because i didn't know that there wasnt a real video for Dangerous, but it was only the song with clips behind it. this dvd would be better if it wasnt consisted of so much clips, and tearful speeches by michael. it should have been more videos. real videos, not clips. it was still good. i really enjoyed "In the Closet". thats basically the highlight of the dvd. i'm just glad i didnt have to spend more than 11.43$ for this half-ass tape! hope this helps.

Outstanding.......2005-07-08

This set of videos is a must for any MJ fan, and is not likely to fail to impress those less familiar with his work with "Dangerous". This set of films contains some of his most high-energy and star-studded videos. Eddie Murphy and Naiomi Campbell are among those featured. Michael continues to amaze with innovative dance moves and technologically advanced effects, even by today's standards. Most videos are a feast for the eye, and Michael uses these videos to test the bounds of physical expression. My personal favorites from this set are Black or White, Give In To Me, Remember the time, and In The Closet. Give In To Me is an all-out rocking ballad featuring Slash as lead guitarist. MJ shows his versatility of being able to go from pop and R&B to rock, as he did previously on "Bad" with "Dirty Diana". "In The Closet" is a sensuous song that departs from the typical MJ video which features extravagant sets and background dancers. The video is simple, the only other person in it being Naomi Campbell, and Michael sports a more puerile appearance than in his other works. The way Michael dances and moves to the beat of this song is astounding. This was a powerful video. Pretty much all of us have seen Black or White, famous for the morphing scene at the end. This dvd allows you to see the full version, complete with the then controversial "panther" scene at the end, where Michael does some spectacular dancing in the middle of the street. Remember The Time is set in Ancient Egypt. MJ is an entertainer for the Pharoah (Eddie Murphy), but he ends up sweeping the Queen (Iman) off her feet. There is a very good dance scene complete with background dancers, and Michael shows off his one of a kind voice when he goes a capella during this dance set. At the end, when the Pharoah's guards are closing in on him, he does one of his signature spins and is reduced to a pile of dust, which the wind wisps away. Though those are my favorites from this set, all of the films are very well done, and the music of course is excellent. More than just a singer or songwriter, Michael is above all else a performer. Having done some of the biggest tours of all time, he can electrify an audience like none other. The concert footage on this dvd shows why whether you love him or hate him, when he takes over a stage, one cannot help but watch.

A great Michael Jackson compilation.......2005-04-28

This is a great Michael Jackson compilation and if you have the CD, you should definately go out and buy this too! It includes 11 of the best videos of all time, some of which are either very rare or unreleased. Only 4 of the 11 videos here were singles (including 2 versions of Heal The World), and 7 of them were from the album Dangerous but not released as singles, which makes this a treat for any MJ fans. The picture and sound quality for this DVD are amazing and indeed, Michael is a great performer and dancer in these videos!

What's not to like?! 2 versions of Heal The World, The full video for Black Or White, the great video for Remember The Time (one of my favourite Michael Jackson videos!), the version of Dangerous from the world tour, In The Closet which features Naomi Campbell plus more great videos!! The DVD also includes Discography and Behind The Scenes Footage!!! This will definately keep you entertained, especially if you are a MJ fan!

Bloated, overstylized videos with more money than soul........2005-01-07

Dangerous was the project on which Michael Jackson began to lose sight of reality -- not just physical, but artistic grasp of reality.

"Smooth Criminal" is in my estimation the last great video he'd made, but even on that classic, you can see two incongruous personae emerging in Jackson's music-video approach. The celebrated nightclub dance sequence is understandably considered a landmark in the art of music video, but if we jog our memory, we'd also remember there's a long, boring, glitzed-up, and utterly foolish sci-fi plot built up around that sequence. (Joe Pesci as a drug villain and Michael Jackson the giant robot, anybody?)

Well, on the videos from Dangerous, Jackson let his love of Steven Spielberg and fantasy filmmaking take over, and lost sight of the musician and performer. There are some moments in these videos that are entertaining and remind us of vintage Michael Jackson videos, but these moments are never the centerpiece. Eddie Murphy and "Magic" Johnson hamming it up delightfully in "Remember the Time", Naomi Campbell's sensuous writhe in "In the Closet", and the ripping hard-rock performance by Slash, Gilby Clarke and Muzz Skillings in "Give In to Me" are great -- but they are also always pushed to the back by other far less interesting elements. The worst part is, there isn't a single video on here that uses Jackson's greatest visual gift, which is dance. Not a single precision-choreographed dance sequence (as seen in "Beat It", "Smooth Criminal", "Thriller", "Bad"...) among these videos, just utter chaos with fifty people each doing something different in the muddled, cacophonous dance "scenes" in "Black or White", "Remember the Time" and "Jam". Was there even a choreographer? And did s/he actually work with the director to figure out the moves and angles? These videos pale alongside Janet Jackson's videos from Rhythm Nation: 1814, just a couple of years prior.

Jackson also seems to acquire a kind of visual ADD in these videos, pulling together elements that don't mesh at all. The intro to "Black or White", while amusing in a juvenile way, has nothing to do with the song; the special effects in "Remember the Time" look cheesy, and "Jam" is nothing but a bunch of amusing cameos (Heavy D, Michael Jordan, Kris Kross) and mashed-together shots with no method to the madness. And let's not forget that utterly moronic "panther" ending to "Black or White"...if the sequence actually had something to do with Jackson's message and the song, I believe the controversy over that segment might have been less pronounced. Looking at it over a decade later, this sequence remains what it seemed, gratuitous destruction and lewd, aimless, undisciplined dance moves aimed to shock, and with no narrative, musical or thematic context whatsoever.

The only self-contained and coherent videos here are "Who Is It" and "Give In to Me". The former, though opaque in its imagery, at least achieves stylistic unity, while the latter is a straight-ahead rock performance video. Poor editing spoiled its rock-out impact, though -- it makes you yearn for "Dirty Diana". And in the end, the only lasting moment of transcendence here, and the only piece up to the par of Jackson's Thriller and Bad videos, is the famous "morphing" sequence in "Black or White". It's visually attractive, fun, and helps get across the message of the song. Something most of these videos fail to do; it's little wonder that Jackson's later DVD collections tend to include very few of the Dangerous videos. They really are the nadir of his music-video oeuvre.

And after having bought four Michael Jackson music-video DVDs (not even counting the concert DVD that came with the Ultimate Collection boxed set, and my old VHS copies of Moonwalker and The Legend Continues), I'm compelled to slam those fascistic "Brace Yourself" intros that Jackson always slaps at the beginning of his video collections. Wagner-sized vocal chants, marching death squads, and hysterical masses? Who does that remind us of? That same megalomania, which makes Jackson constantly bombard us with messages of how great he is, is what had eventually sunk his music and videos to such pathetic levels as we've seen in the last 10 years. He never rediscovered the joy of music as we'd heard on Off the Wall and Thriller, and with the way his career is going now, it's not likely we ever will again.

Average customer rating:

Great!
Excellent kids' movie about Martin Luther King Jr.!
A great elementary school video about a great man
I watched this in elementary!
Great pick for MLK day

Our Friend, Martin
Starring: Edward Asner , Angela Bassett , Lucas Black (II) , Theodore Borders , and LeVar Burton
Director: Rob Smiley , and Vincenzo Trippetti
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000TPAHY
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

This animated time-travel adventure features a stellar cast and is a delight for kids and adults alike. When Matt, a black teenager, has to go on a class field trip to the museum of Martin Luther King Jr., he thinks that he'd rather play baseball. But the trip turns into an exciting adventure when he and his best friend, Randy, who's white, are sent back in time to meet Dr. King.

The story is also remarkably moving, as Matt and Randy learn what Dr. King did for humanity, and come to see him as a real person, not a historical figure. Matt and Randy experience segregation firsthand when they aren't allowed to eat on a train together. Together, they witness the bus boycott, the Birmingham riots, and the "I Have a Dream" speech. They discuss the theme of "non-violent resistance" with their new friend Martin and the work of Ghandi in India. As King tells Matt, "We must meet hate with love. It will take time, but somebody's got to start." Authentic historical footage blended with animation make this an excellent choice for teaching kids about the legacy of Dr. King. --Elisabeth Keating

Description

What begins as a routine class project for a diverse group of sixth-graders turns into a magical, time-traveling adventure they'll never forget! Authentic historical footage of Martin Luther King Jr. is blended with colorful animation as the students learn about - and actually meet - the civil rights leader who challenged all Americans to turn his dream of freedom into reality. Produced in association with the King family, "Our Friend, Martin" features an unprecedented all-star voice cast and a hot hit soundtrack with music performed by top contemporary artists and classic Motown greats. It's a fun, new way for your family to share Dr. King's inspiring message of hope and courage that changed the course of our nation's history.

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2007-03-08

My kindergardener watched this in class and loved it. He begged the teacher to play it on multiple days. I purchased this for him and he watched it twice in one night. A great way to help children learn! What a great all-star cast!

Excellent kids' movie about Martin Luther King Jr.! .......2007-02-17

I borrowed this movie from a colleague at work to show to my class of special needs students. After viewing it with them, and seeing their reactions, I had to buy it. It teaches values that are so vital to humanity. The movie provides first hand accounts with actual footage and cartoon characters. I would recommend this item to share with any child to teach tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness, and to teach about the great Martin Luther King Jr. I would even recommend it to adults, who sadly, in the 21st century continue to be hateful.

A great elementary school video about a great man.......2007-01-13

This video was shown at my daughter's elementary school today. She enjoyed watching the cartoon version of this and thought the characters in the movie are cool. The challenge of making history seem real and meaningful to young people continues to be a big one. Even the greatest of names are difficult to bring to life when they aren't associated with someone who is living today.

In this fantastic story we have two friends, one black and one white, learn about King during a school field trip, and soon find themselves traveling through time to meet King in his youth and then follow him through history, up until the day he was killed in 1968. In the process, they learn a lot about racial segregation and King's role in working to bring down the barriers in the U.S. south. At times, the shift from cartoon to news footage seems a bit forced, but it works most of the time. Although the story lacks substance, this is not a major problem since King's own story is so compelling.

The cast of voices is impressive, with 16 recognizable names, including leading African American performers such as James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson and others. The film was made in co-operation with the King family, with Yolanda and Dexter also lending their voices to the production. While there's no attempt here to provide a complete picture of King's life, the major events of the civil rights movement are covered off quite well. The combination of animation and real footage was up to par and I recommend this movie to everyone.

I watched this in elementary!.......2006-09-19

I watched this movie every Martin Luther King Day in elementary. I started in 4th grade then ended up in 6th. Every year I was still engrossed in the message and the characters that were put forward. I, in highschool, am ordering this movie to show my little sister who hasn't seen it and hasn't appreciated MLK. It's a must for people OF ALL AGES to see the world through MLK's eyes and what it would be without him. It allows people to connect with MLK and to see what he really strove for. I love this movie, it will never grow old! I hope to show this to my kids one day.

Great pick for MLK day.......2006-03-27

As a first grade teacher it was hard to find a movie that the kids would enjoy and learn from. This movie was great for both of those needs. The kids love the movie and I also enjoyed watching it. It was a great pick for MLK day.

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Fascinating Look At Some Serious A**holes
YOU DO NEED A WEATHERMAN (PERSON) TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS
Interesting potrayal of indigenous revolutionaries
Spotlight on a Disturbing Era in History
Important that we remember

The Weather Underground
Starring: Charles Manson , Martin Luther King , Billy Ayers , Todd Gitlin , and Kathleen Cleaver
Director: Sam Green (II) , and Bill Siegel
Manufacturer: New Video Group
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ASIN: B0001LYFKO
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

The key players in the radical movement known as the Weather Underground are skillfully brought to life in this Oscar-nominated documentary. The Weathermen were born of sixties protest, but took their scheme to overthrow the U.S. government to especially violent extremes. Never a well-populated movement, the Underground petered out as its leaders aged during the seventies; by decade's end, weary of hiding, most of them had turned themselves over to the authorities. That journey, by which a fire-breathing revolutionary such as Bernadine Dohrn became a (still fiery) gray-haired wife and mother, is an intriguing one. This film, rich in period footage (and some unnecessary sensationalism) captures the era somewhat broadly. But the present-day interviews with the participants, contrasted with their radical selves, provides an exceptionally detailed look inside the organization itself. It's not a nostalgic look back, and the overall mood is sobering rather than celebratory. Lili Taylor provides the narration. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating Look At Some Serious A**holes.......2007-07-03

The Weather Underground is a well done documentary about the movement of the same name. It produces a somewhat sympathetic portrait of some really screwed up people who thought that terrorism was the way to justice. Probably a little too sympathetic; some other posters have noted the absence of several quotes by members of the group praising the Manson murders, for example.

What is really disturbing about this film is how completely unrepentant many of them are. Bernardine Dohrn in particular strikes me as someone who should to this day be considered very dangerous. For some of these folks, it is clear that the only 'regrets' that they had was that they didn't kill more people.

Despite that, the movie is worth watching. I loved some of the music, it gets very moody, and does a good job of documenting the implosion of the Student Left. You may come away from it thinking that they were very brave revolutionaries, or you may decide, like I did, that they are a truly pathetic bunch of malcontents who don't deserve any sympathy. But it's an eye-opening movie and highly recommended.

YOU DO NEED A WEATHERMAN (PERSON) TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS.......2007-06-26

In a time when I, among others, are questioning where the extra-parliamentary opposition to the Iraq War is going and why it has not made more of an impact on American society it was rather refreshing to view this documentary about the seemingly forgotten Weather Underground that as things got grimmer dramatically epitomized one aspect of opposition to the Vietnam War. If opposition to the Iraq war is the political fight of my old age Vietnam was the fight of my youth and in this film brought back very strong memories of why I fought tooth and nail against it. And the people portrayed in this film, the core of the Weather Underground, while not politically kindred spirits then or now, were certainly on the same page as I was- a no holds- barred fight against the American Empire. We lost that round, and there were reasons for that, but that kind of attitude is what it takes to bring down the monster. But a revolutionary strategy is needed. That is where we parted company.

One of the political highlights of the film is centered on the 1969 Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Convention that was a watershed in the student anti-war protest movement. That was the genesis of the Weathermen but it was also the genesis of the Progressive Labor Party-led faction that wanted to bring the anti-war message to the working class by linking up the student movement with the fight against capitalism. In short, to get to those who were, or were to be, the rank and file soldiers in Vietnam or who worked in the factories. In either case the point that was missed , as the Old Left had argued all along and which we had previously dismissed out of hand, was that it was the masses of working people who were central to `bringing the war home' and the fight against capitalism. That task still confronts us today.

One of the paradoxical things about this film is that the Weather Underground survivors interviewed had only a vague notion about what went wrong. This was clearly detailed in the remarks of Mark Rudd, a central leader, when he stated that the Weathermen were trying to create a communist cadre. He also stated, however, that after going underground he realized that he was out of the loop as far as being politically effective. And that is the point. There is no virtue in underground activity if it is not necessary, romantic as that may be. To the extent that any of us read history in those days it was certainly not about the origins of the Russian revolutionary movement in the 19th century. If we had we would have found that the above-mentioned fight in 1969 was also fought out by that movement. Mass action vs. individual acts, heroic or otherwise, of terror. The Weather strategy of acting as the American component of the world-wide revolutionary movement to bring the Empire to its knees certainly had (and still does) have a very appealing quality. However, a moral gesture did not (and will not) bring this beast down. While the Weather Underground was made up a small group of very appealing subjective revolutionaries its political/moral strategy led to a dead end. The lesson to be learned; you most definitely do need weather people to know which way the winds blow. Start with Karl Marx.

Interesting potrayal of indigenous revolutionaries.......2007-05-24

Some fascinating facets of young revolutionaries - the collective emotion that makes them to act/ organize, the power they wield on the society to bring in the change (especially students), the problems in pursuing a unified objective and misinterpretation of these objectives by some, which eventually kills of the revoltion.
I also found it interesting that some of the struggles on the 60's and 70's continue to be the struggles of today's generation also.

Spotlight on a Disturbing Era in History.......2007-05-15

The Weather Underground were a symptom of the idealism of the 60's gone belly up. The peaceful protests and activism that was the hallmark of the 60's, in the views of the members of the Weather Underground were "ineffective" so they turned to violence and terrorism as a means to combat it and only ended up alienating people and causing destruction. That said, their history is a worthy topic, though it is more than a little unnerving to see them reminesce about the past without realizing the severity of their actions. The true voice of reason is this film, is Todd Gitlin who although still a strong liberal activist continues to condemn the Weather Underground for what they did. I can't say this film supports what they did but it tends to cast them in a more favorable light than they deserve and to see that some of them are now college professors didn't exactly thrill me. However, as a primer in how the campaign for social justice and equality in the 60's fell apart and divided into factions, this is an excellent film. There is archival footage, the most fascinating of which is a clip from Emile D'Antonio's "Underground" which captured the Weather Underground while they were still "active" and in hiding in the early 70's and brought the unwelcome attention of the FBI. That said, the "Weather Underground" whatever side one takes, might make some people take off their rose colored glasses as to some of the excesses of that era and its long term consequences.

Important that we remember.......2007-02-07

I was a relatively young part of the era to which this excellent documentary refers. I never got into the violent dimension of it--but nor do I claim to be a "pacifist." So there's lots to reflect on...

The Students for a Democratic Society was, as people from that era remember, a "radical" group during an era in which the United States was exterminating Vietnamese peasants while subjugating black activists at home. A faction of the SDS, the Weather Underground, unhappy with the glacial rate of change, in essence took over the organization and fostered violence.

The FBI kept tabs on them--for reasons not without some justification. Some of their leaders were constructing a bomb to be used at an officers club when a short circuit detonated the bomb. Those working on it were killed. Then the FBI knew they had a target.

Todd Gitlin, who'd been the president of the more "moderate" SDS, comments repeatedly throughout the film. Needless to say, he disapproved of the direction the Weather Underground was taking them. He argues that when they plot to bomb essentially innocent people, they become like, say, Hitler or Stalin. It becomes a "religious" cause that needs little more justification. (Yeah, there was the youth-culture dimension of it too, the rejection of monogamy, the "free sex," much of which was pretty naive.)

After the self-destruction of some of the Weathermen, the remaining faction decided that the bombing wasn't inappropriate, just the killing of the innocent was. So they bombed various institutions over the next few years to make their point--while making sure no one would be needlessly hurt. In the meantime, eloquent Black Panther leader Fred Hampton was murdered by the authorities, and the Weather Underground endeared that cause.

I should add what the film does: that later in "the era," there were activities that made the movement look bad, e.g., that Manson family and Altamont. I'm glad the producers didn't lose track of those tidbits on many of which we (mistakenly) reflect more than we do on the positive results of the era.

The Weather Underground members went truly underground to come out many years later.

All in all, this was a superb documentary. As one can imagine, those who were active in the movement then have "mixed feelings" about them now described best, perhaps, by Mark Rudd. Did they make mistakes? Of course they did. Do they proclaim that "all we did was wrong"? No! That's among the dimensions of their movement that I appreciate.

It's important to recognize how wrong the US foreign policy was in that era (something for which we'll be paying for decades if not centuries.) So something doubtless needed to be done.

I note too that, aside from one character, still in prison in NY for an event in which some were killed after his Weather affiliation, they are all employed in causes of many kinds, i.e., they didn't all become insurance company executives, which is the stereotype on which those who decry the 60s movements rely. And another very important dimension the film covers is that most of the Weather Underground were NOT prosecuted and jailed despite some of their activities. It seems the FBI had broken so many laws in tailing the activists that the bureau couldn't pursue a case against them! (There was coverage too of the group in Media, PA who broke into the FBI office there and exposed to the media the questionable and clearly illegal activities of the FBI. It should make one reflect on the surveillance that is being rationalized today ostensibly based on "terror" threats!)

I recommend this for students today--many of whom are more sold on the Super Bowl than on Iraq--for people who want to recollect an era and its causes without all the fluff the pop media attach to it. There's always something to learn and this film offers a few dimensions of that learning and, again, much on which to reflect.

Average customer rating:

MUST SEE
Powerful Stuff boys and girls.
a must watch
Reflections on The N Word-Divided We Stand
Watch this movie and then start talking about it

The N Word - Divided We Stand
Starring: Paul Mooney , Laurence Fishburne , Bokeem Woodbine , Talib Kweli , and Whoopi Goldberg
Director: Todd Williams (VI)
Manufacturer: Urban Works
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ASIN: B000BF0DBK
Release Date: 2006-01-16

Description

Easily the most inflammatory, shocking and historic word in the English language, the N word has smoldered in the American psyche for over a century. It has morphed from a source of hate, degradation and embarrassment to a term of endearment used amongst the many races of young people. But is that OK? Surf the web or eavesdrop in the lunchroom and you will find the N word is alive. Has overuse removed its horrific origins; has it lost its power to insult and enrage? Given the word's continually shifting use, The N Word is a brave and bold confrontation of the taboo, exploring the history and relevance of the word and the social status within and between races. The N Word ignites the conversation. Let the debate begin!

Customer Reviews:

MUST SEE.......2007-07-26

This DVD really puts things into perspective. It is not for or against the use of the word, but a commentary among many african americans from all backgrounds that use it.

Powerful Stuff boys and girls........2006-08-05

Excellent and well thought out. I enjoyed this from start to finish, the poem by Saul Williams was mind blowing, the recitations by Jazmin Guy and others were deeply moving as well. sadly, most people that use the word were put on the spot in this DVD and were incredulos to the origin of the word. So that lesson on the origin alone is worth the price or rental. Why more African-Americans are not watching these types of flims is beyond me. Great job.

a must watch.......2006-04-26

this is the kind of film that will have a healthy discussion on the usuage of the word. it goes back through the history of time in the findings&usage of the word through the years&how it was used.Richard Pryor truly made it Powerful,but also he himself upon going on a trip to Africa den-nounced it.it never went away,but it got re-named&brought back.it has different meanings to different people depends on who you talk to.this film will have you talking&then you have to make up your mind where you stand on the use of the word. but this is the kind of film that is a must see for all people to me.

Reflections on The N Word-Divided We Stand .......2006-03-14

The film immediately bought me into a new and unique way to look at the profound and divisive effects of just one word. The film helped me to experience a set of painful feelings that I had previously not shared. The broad number of people saying the N word in such various context was a very creative way to help outsiders become insiders to the feelings caused by that word. Congratulations to the writer and director!

Watch this movie and then start talking about it.......2006-02-06

This is one of the best documentaries I've ever watched, and one of the most powerful. It is an exploration of the `N' word, and all the power, hurt, and connotations it has. Most of Hollywood and some of the music community offers their views on the word- when to use it, when not to, who to use it with. But this movie is so much more than that.

It sounds way to much like an after school special to say that this movie will open up a dialogue between you and anyone you watch it with, or explain it to. Yes, this is the case with this film. Once the subject is breeched- and this is the perfect icebreaker to do it with- then you and others can start talking about what this word means to them and how it has impacted them or those they love. Everyone has something to say about it. So listen and learn. It's powerful in a very magical way.

Just don't watch the film and expect easy answers on race or community issues, but do watch the movie and expect to have a very thought provoking experience.

Recommended for everyone, but parents might want to screen this movie before watching it with young children as it has adult subjects and language.

But watch this movie, then watch it with those you love. You'll be glad you did. Talking about these issues is the only way to solve anything.

Average customer rating:

The Revolution Will Be Dramatized.
The 1960s live on in this gripping documentary...
the soul of the 60s distilled
What America Is Really Like
Boring

Berkeley in the Sixties
Starring: John Searle (III) , Jackie Goldberg , Susan Griffin (II) , Jack Weinberg (II) , and Nancy Davis
Director: Mark Kitchell
Manufacturer: First Run Features
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ASIN: B00006JMQC
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Amazon.com

This outstanding documentary by Mark Kitchell, six years in the making, is a comprehensive and insightful story of campus and community activism as born at the University of California at Berkeley. Using extensive archival footage and bridging the distance between past and present with more recent interviews, Kitchell shows how a 1960 protest aimed at the House Un-American Activities Committee was the launching point for the Free Speech movement, which evolved into organized opposition against the Vietnam War, support for the Black Panther party, and the feminist movement. No simple valentine to student-demonstration days, the film brilliantly uses contemporary perspective to show how great legacies and inevitable failures were simultaneously born in a charged atmosphere. Not to be missed. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Revolution Will Be Dramatized........2007-07-25

This documentary is comprised of a series of interviews with a number of radicals over twenty years after their periods of action subsided. We see how that a movement which began legitimately--in the pursuit of civil rights and free speech--ended with a group of shallow, narcissistic, and self-righteous babyboomers on a crusade to acquire power, attention, and status by any means necessary.

The sixties began the slow rise of emotion over reason which has corrupted America and eroded our core American values. These students wanted to fight the power but it was not long before they became the power and brought socialism, conformity, and political correctness with them to our businesses, academies, and government. They railed against the establishment and now...they are the establishment. How great it would be if today's college students would "question authority" and stand up to the radicals of the sixties who attempt to indoctrinate them in the classrooms of our politicized universities.

The most hilarious moment in the film was when the students campaigning for free speech destroyed a sign that said that Mario Savio was a communist. They had no sense of irony because what they were advocating was free speech for me but not for thee. This act portended much of what would happen once the radicals took over our universities in the eighties.

The interviews conducted here are wholly confined to the drama queens that made up the counterculture with no contrary views being seen as fit to share the stage with them. These former campus storm troopers are self-laudatory and self-worshipful which is to be expected as their movement was so shallow that it actually took seriously the lyrics and presumed message of "Yellow Submarine."

The best parts of the film we