Drugs and Alcohol Movie Reviews

This documentary offers a vivid portrait of the Netherlands' permissive social landscape. Interviewing prostitutes, judges, political leaders, coffeehouse owners, and regular Dutch citizens, filmmaker Jonathan Blank makes the case that decriminalizing "soft" drugs and prostitution can advance the public good by freeing government to spend more time on education, prevention, and public health efforts. Blank ties the film together by presenting excerpts from the Dutch constitution, which frames individual liberties very differently than does the U.S. Constitution. These excerpts make clear why the Dutch government does not have the authority to legislate morality. The only flaw in the documentary is that it cheerleads for its political message and fails to document any negatives to the Dutch social arrangement. It must also be said that this documentary is not for the close-minded or easily offended; be prepared for graphic nudity during the section on pornography and live sex shows.

The bonus features on the DVD are excellent. Far more amusing than the actual documentary is the black and white film "Reefer Madness," an unintentionally hilarious cautionary tale about how marijuana is sure to transform good citizens into maniacal, murderous thugs. There's also "Hemp for Victory," a short produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture during World War II to convince farmers that it was their patriotic duty to convert a portion of their land to hemp production. These two features alone are worth the price of the DVD.

I felt a pull to go to the video store, and this is the video that called me there.

It is a warm and fuzzy video about true (brotherly) love. It shows how the wisdom that was started out of America made its way only to the Netherlands. Out of the whole, ENTIRE world, perhaps the Netherlands is the only place where the Dalai Lama wouldn't mind living.

I almost cried while watching. The prostitutes are cared for and treated like human beings. Women are taught how to box, and their championship boxer (female) says, "I always box with men. They're pretty good." :-D

--But the most touching thing I saw in it was that people (the govt.) actually drive around, handing out clean needles to addicts. --Wow! What love! I have never heard of such a mature society before!

As the Dutch say repeatedly in the movie, "If you ignore the problem, it's only going to get worse. These people are going to die."

Kishan

I first saw Sex Drugs and Democracy 6 years ago, in Canada, upon it's initial release. When it was over I wondered how quickly I could get from the movie theatre to the airport. Six years later, after watching the film for the second time, my wife and I wondered how quickly we could get to the airport from our bedroom. This is a movie about FREEDOM. This is a movie about FREEDOM and CIVILIZATION and RESPONSIBILITY and FEARLESSNESS. And WISDOM. It is wisdom born out of a common sense notion about what human beings need to reach their individual and communal potential, as well as a refreshing trust in their ability to acheive that potential without creating chaos. In the USA we give freedom lip service. In Holland Freedom is a solid thing to be touched by all. This movie is REVOLUTIONARY. After watching it you'll know why Blockbuster doesn't carry it. And, after you have watched it, been turned on by it, you too will ask: Why am I still here?

I've seen a great deal of these films and consider myself a buff. This selection is very weak! Most of the films are of the film strip variety, where there's music and there are still images that change, rather than the piece being a movie. Some of the films are unpardonably boring! There's so much great stuff out there, but not on this DVD. If you must see it, rent it.

I remember watching the sony bono one way back when, and at the time, as I still do, saw it more as a "pro" pot film and thought and still think that Sony HAD to do this film and I truly belive he had a couple puffs before doing this. My Mom remembers the it's wonderful being a girl segemant, and we both giggled and laughed at the early attempts at explaing "womanhood"

I started laughing about halfway through the LSD one and stopped when it ended. I know full well it was supposed to be educational and taken seriously, but how many of you guys out there would have taken it that way, or know how many kids today would pay attetion? =)

I worked in Antarctica for seven months, and for some reason we had this dvd in our library at the station. We watched it about once a week. It's a riot. "Trainables" is one of the oddest pieces of "film" I have ever seen. Why have the huge close-ups of the presenter when he's got a horribly pock-marked face?

It's a fun ride. Good to see some early Kevin Teague before Emergency and Road House.

I've seen a great deal of these films and consider myself a buff. This selection is very weak! Most of the films are of the film strip variety, where there's music and there are still images that change, rather than the piece being a movie. Some of the films are unpardonably boring! There's so much great stuff out there, but not on this DVD. If you must see it, rent it.

I remember watching the sony bono one way back when, and at the time, as I still do, saw it more as a "pro" pot film and thought and still think that Sony HAD to do this film and I truly belive he had a couple puffs before doing this. My Mom remembers the it's wonderful being a girl segemant, and we both giggled and laughed at the early attempts at explaing "womanhood"

I started laughing about halfway through the LSD one and stopped when it ended. I know full well it was supposed to be educational and taken seriously, but how many of you guys out there would have taken it that way, or know how many kids today would pay attetion? =)

I worked in Antarctica for seven months, and for some reason we had this dvd in our library at the station. We watched it about once a week. It's a riot. "Trainables" is one of the oddest pieces of "film" I have ever seen. Why have the huge close-ups of the presenter when he's got a horribly pock-marked face?

It's a fun ride. Good to see some early Kevin Teague before Emergency and Road House.

The people at Moonshine are obviously not in touch with the scene and just looking for another way in which to make a dollar on the basis that consumers do not know any better. I purchased the dvd regretfully and I was ashamed and disappointed. I let it go as a used title at the local record shop for 5 bucks. The dvd gives a very pathetic description and insight at the rave scene through their eyes and accounts and does very little for the people who truly know what music and the party scene is really about and what it represents. I think more thought and better selection of content would have made for a much better dvd and a representation of what party people and the music is all about. If you enjoy seeing young kids misrepresenting parties and the false advertisements on drugs/music/the like then this is your dvd. I could have compiled a better narrative and take on the activities myself from my own experiences. No disrespect to the artist involved but the production/Moonshine should be giving this away not selling it--especially for the asking price.

By looking at the cover, one would expect some of those big 'massive' events could be injected in this movie. However, i found this movie pretty boring and dull and only dj's that are just remembering the good old days and complaining about the tough police action against the scene. sorry but we all know that.
Keoki? Frankie Bones? oh...come on. By just looking at them i can see why the rave scene in U.S died...
Moonshine is a label that produces mediocre electronic music. The only good thing they came up was DJ Dan's Funk the System. anything else is pretty much garbage, along with Drum & Bass and happy hardcore dungs...

I must first start by saying I am a huge electronica fan (mostly Trance and Happy Hardcore), and own many CDs on the moonshine label. I also have gone to my fare share of raves.

This DVD is just plain boring though. They have interviews with some very interesting DJs, but it is basically just a PSA trying to say raves aren't about drugs. The entire point of this movie is to try to convince you that raves aren't about the drugs. This is a good point, but it doesn't warrant a []DVD. There is no real coverage of the rave scene, and the people that go to raves.

Thanks so much to all the reviewers that wasted their money on this DVD. I am not going to buy this cd thanks to you all. I thought this would be awesome because I am craving something new from Axl or any of the boys, but this really has nothing to do with them. Thanks again because I think I can hear about "Alex" from an idiot on the street.

This DVD doesn't even deserve one star. If there was a way to put a negative in front of this star I would.

I'm a huge Guns N' Roses fan, and after watching the first five minutes of the DVD and seeing that interviews were being conducted with ditsy girls, and random people from the streets I suddenly realized that I had wasted my money.

I had no idea that there wouldn't be any exclusive interviews or music from Guns N' Roses. In January I found out this DVD was coming out, and picked it up in April when it was finally released. I was excited because it was the first Guns N' Roses DVD ever.

If I knew it was going to be that bad, as avid of a fan as I am, I would have never bought it. This DVD is just going to take up space on my DVD tower, never to be watched again. It was a major disappiontment.

the dvd is pretty good. short. no interviews with the band and no music but the dvd is not that bad. If your a gnr fan buy it and add it to your gnr collection.