Middle East Movie Reviews

Related Subjects: Cognitive_Science
Family movie reviews for "Middle East" sorted by average review score:
Lifting the Fog - Intrigue in the Middle East
Released in DVD by Mpi Media Group (30 July, 2002)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Average review score:

Convoluted Arab Propaganda
This movie is a total distortion of the truth and a rewriting of history from the point of view of the Arab propaganda machine. Even though at first it had some "clout" of legitimacy, I soon realized that important facts about Jewish and Israeli history were purposefully omitted to suit the extremely anti-Israeli views of the producers. It is scary to realize how easy it is to transform perfectly legimate historical events into "atrocities" by omitting some "dismissible" facts. This is an example of brainwashing, not history, and it is a shame for the producers.

A Great Documentary
A great documentary about a very complex region. However this documentary is likely to distress unconditional supporters of Israel since it does not present the usual pro-Israeli propaganda.

Essential Information for Understanding Middle East Conflict
This video presents the historical facts that underlie not only the current Arab/Israel conflict, but sheds light on the problems the United States faces dealing with the whole Middle East. In contrast to the propaganda and Hollywood stereotypes that "fog" the truth, this film presents facts and photos that show BOTH sides of the current conflict. In addition, the scholars (both Jewish and Arab)in this film suggest, Western imperialism, ignorance, and bigotry are significant factors in the current political problems. Actually, this film illuminates the basic problems the U.S. faces not only in the Middle East, but also in South America, Asia, and Africa--anywhere 20th century imperialistic policies have created complex conflicts that threaten world peace today. A brave, accurate and honest report.

Travel the World by Train - Near & Middle East
Released in DVD by Pioneer Video (18 May, 1999)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Travel the World By Train
The Near and Middle East volume of the Travel the World by Train series takes one on a captivating journey to the cradle of civilization. We begin in Istanbul, Turkey: the entrance to the Islamic world. On the Marmara Express, Muslim faithful chant prayers on the train. In Efes, on the Aegean Sea, looms the colossal Artemision Temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Umayyade Mosque, the oldest in existence, can be seen in Damascus, Syria. Also in Syria is the island of Arwad, once home to the ancient Phoenicians. The Israel trip begins in Jerusalem with views of important sacred sites: the Muslim Golden Dome of the Rock, the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Jewish Wailing Wall. Tel Aviv's beaches and skyscrapers and the bustling Mediterranean port of Haifa highlight the Israeli trip. The train's tracks abruptly end; in more peaceful times they continued to Damascus.

Boarding in the capital, Teheran, the Iranian train traverses one of the globe's most arid regions, stopping in the astonishing ancient city of Esfahan. Travelers on India's Royal Orient Express from Delhi luxuriate aboard a gorgeous re-creation of a luxury steam train used by Maharajas. The exotic cross-India trip from Bombay chugs by sacred cave temples in Ellora and rice paddies on the Bay of Bengal before debarking in teeming Calcutta, where passengers bathe in the river outside the station. --Laura Mirsky

Average review score:

P R E J U D I C E!
I think the title of my review says it all..! I see this DVD is made to insult audience intelligence by degrading Middle East countries.

First, the train is rarely available and can be found in deserted poor areas of very few countries in the Middle East and is not available for transportation... which makes this DVD of weak value to cover up such a subject about the Middle East.

Second, a poor deserted side of a city or country can never represent a whole city or country.

Third, the Middle East region is very rich with agriculture, touristy sites, ancient monuments and a holy religious culture... but non-was mentioned in this DVD.

Fourth, the Middle East has major commercial trading areas but non-was covered.

Fifth, non of local people habits nor social activities were covered.

Sixth, the capital cities were not covered except as a train station area!

Seventh, there are so many beautiful natural sites either of hot yellow deserts, white snowy mountains, deep valleys, lakes or rivers... but non was mentioned nor covered!

This DVD covers nothing but the poor life of poor non-educated people in deserted areas at the borders of Turkey, Syria, Iran and India.

For any viewer who has visited this area, ever watched the news, read or saw a documentary would know that this DVD is of no value and a waste of both money and time!

S H A M E... and B A D!!!
This DVD could be one of the worst DVD's I ever bought! Since I live in the Middle East... You cannot take this DVD as documentary nor reality.

Here are my reasons:

1. It only covers areas in train and please advise that trains are only available in very limited and deserted areas. That is why it mostly transfers commodities not humans! Plus 90% of Middle East countries do not have nor use trains, simply because they do not have rail roads due to its frequent mountainous lands or isolated deserts!

2. The Middle East is so rich with Tourism sites, old Castles and Buildings and the three holy Religions' Civilization and Culture. But none was covered in this DVD!

3. This DVD covers 4 Middle East countries while the Middle East has more than 4 times this number of countries!

4. This DVD covers 1 country of the Far East - India - poorly while the Far East is more than ten times as much! And India itself is much more rich with culture than what is shown!

5. The facts mentioned/covered in this DVD are far away from the truth!

6. The sceneries covered in this DVD are very old and covers nothing but the poor deserted sides of the countries!

If you want to know about the Middle East or the Far East, this DVD is not what you need!

Good Coverage of Seldom Visited Rail Lines
I believe the low ratings given above on the basis of "prejudice" are way off the mark. This is a DVD about TRAINS, not a scenic travelog of the prettiest sights in the countries involved. If the trains are located in unsightly areas and patronized mostly by poor people, then the photographers had no choice but to portray them accordingly. It's not as if the producers had a choice between luxury trains and run-down railroads and chose only the latter. There are plenty of videos available showing the attractive and "touristy" sites in the Middle East; this one is intended for a different audience.

Crossroads: Middle East to Spain
Released in DVD by Dialogue Int'l (11 November, 2003)
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Average review score:
No reviews found.
Hidden Wars in the Middle East
Released in DVD by Terra Entertainment (07 January, 2003)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Audrey Brohy
Average review score:
No reviews found.
The Middle East
Released in DVD by 555 Productions (11 November, 2003)
MPAA Rating:
Average review score:
No reviews found.

Related Subjects: Cognitive_Science