Revolution Movie Reviews

This is an excellent follow-up to a set of three movies entitled "Triumph of the Nerds", which details the development and successes of Microsoft, Apple, the Internet, IBM PCs, Altair, etc, but which came out in the mid-1990s, and doesn't mention much about Linux. Also, the mood of all these movies is similar. They belong together for a great summary of the development of personal computing since the 1970s, and all are full of interviews with the key players.

Being a geek, I bought this assuming it was going to be a dry documentary on the history of Linux, but I would enjoy it anyway. I was amazed at how well done this movie is. Not only does it document the general history of Open Source and Free Software issues, but it provides a great story of conflict between 'good' (Free Software and Open Source) and 'evil' (Proprietary Software). I watched this with my girlfriend who is a non-geek and she was able to follow along very easily and enjoyed the movie as much as I did. She even wanted to make the switch to Linux after watching.

The pace is quick, and one of the best aspects of the movie is the music. It helps keep the movie fun and light-hearted, yet provides an intelligent 'edge' at the same time. All of the interviewees have very unique and dynamic personalities; they are the type of thinkers you don't generally meet everyday. Richard Stallman in particular has some of the most convincing comments in the film, and by the end, I was quick to pop in the second disc to see the bonus interviews with him.

Overall, I think this is a film which anyone who uses a computer on a regular basis should watch. We need to not take Microsoft for granted and realize there are alternatives that don't try to control what we do.

This is one of the best movies I've seen.

It is not often when you find a truly amazing and intriguing documentary but this is it! True, it is about Linux and it's history, but that does not mean you have to be a computer "geek" to enjoy it, although I'll admit it would help you understand it more. Everything is so well done, from the interviews, to the cinematography, and even to the research that went into the movie. I had know idea that Linux was even that big or part of this phenomenal computer movement, but know I feel completely versed about it! This is a must see for anyone, especially if you have an interest in computers.

I am a black West Indian who had been fortunate enough to see this documentary before I bought the DVD....it is fantastic and moving and emotional and awe inspiring! I looked at it thorugh a veil of tears! Every individual alive regardless of race needs to purchase this DVD and take a good long repeated look at this documentary which chronicles the resilience of the human spirit....I felt inspired to stand on principle and proud to be alive after looking at the documentary. It was REAL...Nothing put on for the cameras...the pride the people felt for their songs and for their leaders and the strength to keep up the fight was palpable throughout...Hugh Masakela, Myriam Makeba and the other performers who faced racism and hatred everyday still loved their country and that was obvious throughout...from the travesty that was Aparthied we now fortunately have a glimpse into one aspect of what it took to keep South African victims of apartheid motivated to fight the power! AMANDLA!

Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony, was directed by Lee Hirsch, who sold all his possessions and dropped out of college to make the film. That's the level of commitment and passion exhibited by the creators, but it has nothing on the people starring in this documentary, which focuses on the role music and dance played in the downfall of the Apartheid system in South Africa. I cried at the atrocities committed by the government, and nearly danced for joy myself near the end when Nelson Mandela was shown finally released from prison. The most inspiring aspect of the music in this film is that despite the suffering, there isn't a single "sad" song to be found. The soundtrack is unbelievable, featuring performances and interviews by dynamic and influential artists/activists such as Miriam Makeba, Vusi Mahlasela, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Hugh Masekela.

this movie was amazing--breath taking--enough said.

I was one of the few people to see this film in theatres upon it's limited threatrical release, and i am glad to now be able to purchase the dvd. Basically, this is a hyper realistic thriller about a man who is beset by mental illness - or is he? I have never heard of Michael Risley before, but his performance here, the restaint and intensity, makes a lot of celebrity actors look like children. spalding gray is hilarious as usual. i highly recommend this beautifully photographed indie film to anyone who would like a dose of anti-hollywood filmmaking at it's finest.

Some of the best musical entertainment you could ever watch! Takanori Nishikawa gives an exciting, upbeat performance. The first DVD is filled with great concert clips, while the second DVD contains backstage footage. The DVDs come with romanji lyrics of the songs performed on the DVDs. Great buy for any music lover! ^_^

Words cannot describe this DVD. The first disc, which consists of 90% concert footage is a spectacular masterpiece of camera work. And the performance itself is unbelievable. Takanori Nishikawa is a born performer, and his music makes you want to jump up and sing and dance.

The 2nd disc, which is 90% backstage and documentary footage shows what a carefree and absolutely charming person he is personally. I love this DVD, and I hope people enjoy it as much as I do.

This is one of the best freestyle dvds i've ever seen. A must have for any serious fan.

My wife and I love Impressionism. We have several art books on the topic, and we saw the massive exhibit in Washington, D.C., in 1986 (from which we're still recovering!), and a more recent one at the Kimball (sp?) Art Museum in Fort Worth.

BUT ... we learned so much in this DVD set (which I gave to my wife as a Christmas present) that we had not read/learned anywhere else: there is a lot of information about the artists' personal lives, family problems, quarrels with each other, their failing health and deaths, etc., that is almost as fascinating as the paintings themselves -- which are simply LUMINOUS in this presentation.

The only disappointment is the limited "extras" and the limited number of paintings in the gallery extra -- perhaps a reason to downrate this to 4 stars. But ... I'll keep it at 5.

I love this movie. I think that it is hysterical. I do not own it, but I have rented the DVD. The DVD falls very short. Almost no special features, except for a commentary track. Also, the film itself was injured. The aspect ratio used for the DVD is a matted format, while the film itself was shot in anamorphic. There is an anamorphic version shown on AMC, but why this was not used for the DVD escapes me. I still love this movie though, and I hope plans are made to correct this problem.

I have loved this movie from the first time I saw it and repeated viewings over the years have not diminished it at all. In fact, it seems funnier every time I watch it. The DVD presentation is good and the commentary soundtrack by Wilder, Sutherland and Yorkin is worth hearing for any fan of the film. As funny as anything produced by Monty Python, Mel Brooks or Mystery Science Theater, the comedy is dense and unending. Every opportunity for humor is used to great extent, visually, verbally, and physically. The supporting cast is strong (Billie Whitelaw, Hugh Griffith and more greats) and there are many LOL (laugh out loud) scenes. Thank goodness you can watch this DVD, so it's always "still 1789"!

I saw this movie about five years ago, and I still love it. I have seen it millions and millions of times, and it is still as funny as the first. If you are in for a good laugh, this is your movie!!! The only thing that I have against it is the tiny bit of nudity.

P.S. I like your shoes!!! (Watch the movie to get the joke)

This is an excellent and exhaustive documentary. The perfect primer for learning the social topography of our increasingly important neighbors to the East.

But it's not a complete masterpiece. It relies primarily on archival footage. And though many of these films are rare, they are almost entirely gleaned from propaganda films. The directors fill in the gaps through interviews, some quite striking for youthful appearence of the elderly intervewees.

It is remarkable for the way it concisely summarizes a complex and brutal history in 360 minutes. But what it lacks is investigative prowess and graphic brilliance.

Granted, China is not the easiest country to conduct an investigation or shoot a documentary in. But I'm left with the feeling that in 5 years, with further liberalization, a 5 star version of this documentary could be made.

Until then, this documentary comes highly recommended.

This is a wonderfully unbiased documentary on the 20th century history of China. It begins with the fall of an Empire and rise of Sun Yat Sen in 1911, and moves onto Chiang Kai Shek and Chairman Mao who are portrayed as leaders who participated in some of the most significant events that define the Cultural Revolution.

I remember Secondary School curriculae that portrays the Nationalist Chiang as the 'good-guy', and Chairman Mao as the 'bad-guy' of chinese 20th century history. However, this documentary remains ambivalent on both of these matters, presenting the facts without bias by the producers. They expertly weave a history with evenhandedness making it impartial and objective to the sometimes very subjective matter that is The Cultural Revolution. The entire six hour documentary spans approximately 70 years, from 1911 (Sun Yat Sen) through to the rule and capitalistic tendencies of Deng Xiao Peng.

While the objectivity of the documentary is laudable, the treatment of the subject matter is nothing short of exceptional. The intention of the documentary is to serve as an overview within a six hour time-frame. It is NOT intended as an in-depth political study of the times! Subsequently, the documentary does not getted bogged-down in too much detail, but simultaneously manages to adequately portray the events that defined 20th century China.

On the whole this documentary is highly watchable, offering historical footage and interviews with those who participated in the Cultural Revolution in one form or another. Any curriculum study of 20th century China would be greatly enhanced by including this documentary. The documentary also serves as a great introduction to China for anyone interested in the country and how it has arrived at being the country it is today.

Wow.

This series consists of six one-hour episodes, and takes you through the beginning of the 20th century up until the present. The story that it tells is so incredibly bizarre and tragic and thought-provoking that at times it was difficult to believe it was all true. The 2nd DVD in particular, which focuses on the reign of Mao, really made me realize how different the Chinese culture is from my own (USA) and what a traumatic history they've had in the past 100 years.

One of the things I really appreciated about this series was how non-judgmental it was. At no point did I feel that the editor or producers had a political agenda. The point was not to demonize the Communists and also not to glorify them. Instead, it simply let you watch the events unfold and let you listen to the people who lived it as they attempt to explain to you (and to themselves) how all of these unbelievable things happened and how it felt to be in the middle of it all.

You could really understand why, after living through Chiang Kai-shek's corrupt Nationalist rule, the people were so eager to follow Mao and to embrace his idealistic vision of a Communist State built of equality and justice. And, too, you could see how the whole thing slowly went off-kilter. As Mao became more and more removed from the day-to-day reality of the peasants, his ideas became increasingly demented. In a sense, he reminded me of Marlon Brando's character in "Apocalypse Now," except that Mao was real and was in the position of leadership of almost one billion people.

By the time the documentary got to the Cultural Revolution (the fourth of the six episodes), it's like you're watching some insane Monty Python-esque satire about revolutions within revolutions. Everyone was overthrowing everyone else, and all in the name of Mao.

Watching this series will do far more than teach you some fascinating history; it will also make you re-examine all your most basic assumptions about how humans think and function. There's one woman interviewed who talks about an old man who was beaten to death shortly before her arrival, because a crowd of youths decided he was a Capitalist. She says at the end of the story that she still can't say for sure if she would have helped in beating him to death or not, had she arrived in time to do so. And this isn't some crazy woman saying this. It's someone perfectly sane and normal who simply got swept up in the times she was living in.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough.

A real find. The film starts out as a broad satire (perhaps just a bit too broad), then sharpens to a steely point in the second half.Judy Davis has never been more ferocious (and that's really saying something). A romp, but one that leaves bruises. Grab it.

Children of the Revolution features a host of great actors -- Judy Davis, F. Murray Abraham, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh -- and two extremely moving low-key performances by Geoffrey Rush and Rachel Griffiths. Just that cast alone can sustain a hell of a lot, and Children of the Revolution isn't shy about pitting them against one another.

The beginning and middle of the movie are deft blends of socio-political satire and personal drama, laughter and emotion. It's too bad that in the second half of Act 2 it takes a turn for melodrama. Given the calibre of the acting, it works (Griffiths plays especially nicely against Davis, and Rush -- his character increasingly isolated in the story -- is bewitching), but I wish there could've been more of a mix of the comic and the tragic near the end of the movie. The comedy wasn't so much forgotten (the "Ronald McDonald" bit, and the last interview with "Joe Welch" still hit the funny bone) as underweighted in the final parts of the story. The film deserves credit, nonetheless, for even aiming towards this complicated mix in the first place and succeeding 90% of the time. And the setups and subplots are brilliant -- Anna's Latvian background weaving into the Dave-Joan relationship; Welch's jealousy of Stalin; Joe's eventual megalomania; the cellmate and future assassin; even the final hilarious reveal about Anna and Dave was set up.

A small but bright gem, not easy to discover (the eye-popping video cover helped), but well worth the hunt.

This is an extremely original and well made farce. the film is generally comical but there are some tragic overtones throughout. The story of the idealist leader of the Australian communists earns a trip to meet Stalin in Moscow. The visit provides the setting for some of the funniest moments in the film. The idea of Stalin dancing and singing is funny in itself, imagine watching it realized on screen. But this comical interlude provides the crucial elemnt of the plot, the conception of Stalin's son. His identity is kept secret by his mother, but through a series of fortuitous circumstances Joe (thta's his name palyed by Roxburgh) becomes a union leader and organizes the police force. Hints are given throughout his childhood, he loves handcuffs for instance - leading to a steamy scene with a seduced policewoman. as a result of an 'accident' he has to grow a moustache and discovers his true personality after this event. There is sadness also, but I felt it beyond the plot or film itself. The mockery is certainly funny but it's undeniable that many idealists were betrayed by Stalin and his unbound evil. Communism in the Soviet union (and elsewhere) might have developed differently had Stalin not hijacked it. Now we're left with no alternatives and embarking on a dangerous course of increasing inequality. The film ironizes and does an excellent job (Judy Davis' excellent acting apart) of showing the demoralization of an idealist who has to face the sad reality and the poor 'loves' of the past. I saw the film twice and remember it with an ironic smile. Highly recommended

This is a pretty interesting look at the history and possible future of hemp. The movie itself is of pretty marginal quality, it's pretty much a low budget documentary, but it has a lot of good content.

There are some interesting facts about hemp and some interesting speculation about why it was outlawed after playing such a vital role in the foundation of this country. It's a little on the "Hemp will save us" side, but a nice balance to something like Reefer Madness which compares hemp to the devil.

I would say watch both movies and eat some Ben & Jerry's!

If I could only recommend one video ever again this would be it. This video clearly explains the truth about the cannabis plant. It includes the history of cannabis prohibition (how and why it began), the plants many extremely beneficial uses (paper, fuel, medicine, food, pesticide-free clothing...) that can save our environment from the destruction caused by industries that care more about profit then the effects of their actions. This very well made documentary clearly shows how cannabis can end all pollution as we know it, deforestation, feed the starving, and heal the sick from many different fatal diseases and ailments. And for consumption it is one of the safest substances know to man, the stories of brain damage, addiction,etc. are a continuation of the lies that began with the "reefer madness" propaganda at the beginning of prohibition in the 1930's. This video contains the information that has been suppressed by the petroleum oil, logging, and pharmaceutical industries and our federal government, who have become economically bound to these companies that would lose billions in profit or even collapse if this plant was free to be used again. You don't believe it? Watch this video, research the facts, and then decide for yourself. . Lend this video to everyone you know and speak out against the lies that continue to be told to our children.

this movie is cool if you do smoke, if you don't you probably won't understand it.