Customer Reviews

An Inconvenient Truth

5 star:		(795)
4 star:		(114)
3 star:		(48)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(187)

 

 

Ok, let me get this straight. They made a documentary about Al Gore giving a lecture? About global warming? Okay, I'm already asleep. Snore. Yawn. Why don't I just stay home and save the money I would spend to take a nap.

All kidding aside, if you know anything about Al Gore, you know this is a subject he is extremely committed to and passionate about. Very passionate. And after five years of some of the worst, most harmful environmental policy to ever come out of Washington, DC, there is no better time for "An Inconvenient Truth".

I know many consider Gore to be less than a captivating speaker. But in "An Inconvenient Truth" he comes across as a different man because he is so passionate and committed to the subject of global warming, he comes across as a different man. Informed, knowledgeable, conversational and persuasive, if he were like this during the election, there would be no Florida Recount in our history books. Okay, so that didn't happen. But the result is that Gore, much like Clinton and Carter, are trying to do something with their status to help better the world. Gore has long been an environmental advocate and it shows. He knows the facts inside and out; people have provided him with statistics, graphs, charts and more, and he uses them in this presentation.

As Gore states, he has given the lecture more than a thousand times around the globe. Because of this, he is extremely comfortable addressing large audiences, giving them a lot of scientific research to digest. Remarkably, he makes it easy to understand, pointing out key facts, walking us through some of the more difficult to understand ideas and problems. He also knows when the audience needs a break and interjects humor here and there. At one point, he shows a spoof of an educational film animated by the people at "The Simpsons". At others, he makes fun of himself and his political ambitions and woes.

Davis Guggenheim, the filmmaker, has apparently presented Gore's lecture virtually intact. As Gore moves around on a dais, clicking for the next slide, he makes persuasive points. But he also reaches a couple of key points. When this happens, the filmmakers smartly pull back from the lecture, giving us a portrait of a few key moments in Gore's life. The argument he makes in his lecture is persuasive, intelligent and well thought out, but because we learn more about the man making the presentation, these points have even more resonance. Not only do these moments give us more details about Gore, they also provide a respite from the scientific data, allowing us to absorb what we have learned.

At one point, Gore states that the data is irrefutable and it appears to be. Remarkably, the filmmakers show footage of various people attacking Gore, or claiming the data he is presenting is not based in fact. Yet, we can see it for ourselves, right in front of us. And I am sure Gore could easily provide a bibliography of resources for us to check out all of the facts he uses. What would drive some of these people to attack Gore and this data? Some of the clips are from Gore's days as a Senator and Vice President, so some of that can be contributed to political parties trying to one-up each other. But currently, Gore does not hold political office, yet the current administration seems intent on giving every break to the worst polluters in the country, allowing them to make as much money as possible while they pollute and pollute and pollute. Gore shows a slide about this argument. Apparently, there is the thought good environmental policy will impact the economy. How do these same people explain the relationship between Toyota, Honda, Ford and GM? Toyota and Honda manufacture vehicles with far better gas mileage than their competitors and are much more successful because of it. An argument Gore makes very convincingly.

Thankfully, Gore stays away from political bias. More or less. A couple of times, he makes funny remarks about his failed run for the presidency, or he makes a pointed comment about the current administration, but by and large his comments are directed at us and what we should do to save our planet. The film isn't void of bias, but there could certainly have been a lot more. The fact the filmmaker and Gore showed some restraint makes his presentation even more persuasive.

The film ends with a series of `calls to action' as the credits begin. Frankly, these aren't needed because Gore's arguments are so convincing. But they are effective. As one call to action states "Urge everyone you know to see this film." Well, folks, that's what I am doing. Go and see this film. We need to do something before it is too late to do anything. Hopefully, this film will one day be viewed as a historical document of the beginning of a great change and not as a horror film.

When I was a child, people clapped at the end of movies -- we knew that the filmmakers wouldn't actually hear us, but we showed our appreciation nonetheless. Over the years, it seems that tradition has died out. I don't think I've heard anyone clap at the end of a movie for twenty-odd years. Until, that is, this afternoon.

The entire audience clapped at the end of "An Inconvenient Truth".

It is all too rare to see people act out of idealism and ethics. Those qualities shine throughout this film -- Al Gore has noticed a problem -- a BIG problem -- and he has learned about it, and is trying to solve it. The "news" media gives us little 15-second soundbites instead of news and arguments, believing that we, the American public, are too stupid to comprehend any non-trivial ideas. Gore, on the other hand, clearly has faith in us to UNDERSTAND, to do the right thing, and, above all, to CARE.

See it.

The environmental movement as it was previously known has been placed in the out of sight out of mind mentality. This film needs to be seen by all who want to be open minded enough to view the evidence and see for oneself what is or is not occuring. It is irresponsible to comment on global warming with conviction unless this film is included in ones basis of knowledge about the subject. Decide for yourself, see this side of history and you will be informed and make the choice that you feel is best!!!!! I am confident it will empower you to make the judgement of what will be our future.

Please put aside any previous notions about Al Gore/politics/activists and see the film for your information to decide what choices you will make about your future?

I saw it on the Fourth of July, 2006. The documentary and its narrator Vice President Al Gore are totally credible ... and over the past few days several major scientists have endorsed the movies conclusions as accurate, and the facts irrefutable. Moreover, no scientific opposition has been recorded to date.

The only vocal criticism has come from vested interests who see the documentary as an attack on their monetary profits...and from the talking-heads whom they pay to spew catchy one-liners like, "Global Warming is merely a THEORY"....

NOW, WE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND THE DOCUMENTARY AND DESIGN STRATEGIES TO MAKE THIS SUBJECT THE CENTER-PIECE OF THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. Candidates for every elective office from Dog-catcher to President should be required to link their promises to the environmental issues relevant to the offices they seek...and, there ARE issues relevant to every elective office!

The concluding credits of the documentary summarize the MANY, MANY ways in which we can act...personal actions as well as national policy. If you have not seen the movie, you will be short changing yourself if you start to walk out when the credits roll. This is a very cleverly designed summary, and has many practical follow up steps from personal action to national strategy. Please sit through and tell others to wait and read the concluding comments...

My only negative comment is that while the movie-makers incorporated the summary very cleverly and artfully in the closing credits, they wrongly presumed that movie-goers will stay and watch. They missed the fact that Americans normally run out of the theater as soon as credits start to roll!

No matter what Al Gore's motivations may have been in making this movie, it is a carefully crafted, well-articulated, science-based, superbly visual presentation of what almost all respected and Nobel Prize-winning scientists have been saying for some time, that we are going through a period of global warming that is caused by greenhouse emission in the atmosphere.

His style is relaxed, articulate and sincere as he explains the threat of increased carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. He explains this in such a way that he can hold an intelligent audience while still explaining things for those who may need more time to understand. He manages to make his message without losing anyone.

This is made easier by his colorful and effective use of graphics that invite comparisons and trends. Vice President Gore always remains the focus of attention and uses the visuals to support his message. It is a very persuasive documentation.

The one part I did not care for was Mr. Gore discussing his family's prior income from tobacco and his sister's death from lung cancer caused by smoking. While he may have been very close to her in life, I think grief should be more private, so I found this a bit heavy-handed. Thus, four stars.

I admit to having read some of the one-star tirades, and could address them, but I think it is better to ignore them. I hope you will too, and buy the DVD. Maybe you will invite one of them over to watch it with you!

One more thing, I never looked at my watch.

I am a conservative (though not a Republican). I am also a skeptic. There have been--and are--several aspects of "environmentalism" about which I have been, and remain, skeptical or even hostile. For instance, I believe that recycling efforts tend to use more energy than they produce. Also, I believe that the discouragement of the use of D.D.T., worldwide, may have had disasterous consequences given the spread of malaria in those areas that did not undergo massive D.D.T. spraying; malaria has been virtually eliminated in the United States and Europe, where D.D.T. was used in large amounts, but continues to kill on the order of millions in Africa where it was hardly used at all. Also, I question the abridgment of human liberties in the name of certain causes, such as the protection of one species or another or the maintenance of some "pristine" environment.

That said, Al Gore, in An Inconvenient Truth, makes a clear and compelling case that 1) Global Warming is real, 2) We are responsible for it, 3) It will have disasterous consequences on our environment, and thus ourselves, if left unchecked.

For the most part, An Inconvenient Truth is the filming of a lecture that Gore delivers as a college seminar. We watch Gore as he provides study after study, statistic after statistic, to support his conclusions. He comes across as very well informed, reasonable, and sincere in his convictions.

The skeptic in me says that, there is probably "another side of the story." I hope--and I believe that Mr. Gore would hope as well--that this film inspires people to try to learn as much as they can about this topic in order to reach an informed opinion. I personally plan on investigating further, and also to seek out that "other side" to see if it has anything meaningful to contribute to the discussion, but this film seems to have strong evidence which will not be challenged easily, if at all.

The conservative in me says that, whatever the truth of Global Warming, it is still a difficult question as to whether or not individual liberties should be curtailed in order to address it. And yet, if we lose the very Earth, then what do we have left to fight for? It's a difficult question that every conservative of conscience will have to deal with, should the science presented here bear out.

It is possible, where this subject is concerned, that we must rethink the label "environmentalism" and relegating concerns of Global Warming to one political party or another. We share one planet and are all affected by the changes we make to it.

In short, this is a strong movie. It is important viewing and, whatever your political or philosophical stance going in, it presents some compelling arguments that must be addressed. Despite the fact that I am both a conservative and a skeptic, I am not unmoved by this film's message; the evidence is out, the conclusions seem clear, and we must respond.

One of the few documentaries that will really wake you up to this reality which our children will have to deal with. Highly recommended!

The title is no hype because if we don't change our way of doing things, there won't be a planet to live on. Well, the planet will be here, but humans won't if we continue adding to greenhouse gases, warming the planet beyond what the human body can sustain. This documentary is like a prophetic warning about what might occur if we continue business as usual.

When I saw this film in theaters (I even went for a second time, bringing a friend along, and then I went to the actual presentation by President Gore in person), it had the amazing effect of making me finally let go of my anger and outrage over the stolen election of 2000. This film's success proves that there are second acts in politics. While I still believe Gore would have been a great president and we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now if he was allowed to assume the presidency, I think what he's doing as a private citizen is far more important for our world than the mere presidency. He's a true statesman, speaking his passion, with the knowledge he's accumulated during his time in public service.

One of the most surprising facts presented in this film is that American automakers cannot sell cars in China because our cars don't meet their auto emissions standards! China is fast becoming the world's largest economy and for our auto companies to be shut out of that market is not helping our big three get out of the red, as they continue to shut down factories and laying off American workers. Yes, there is a better way of doing business. The future of business is green and Europe is well ahead of the game on that. What makes capitalism successful is innovation and competition for the best product at the lowest cost...yet here we have these bloated oil companies who don't want to grab onto new technologies until after the all the oil is consumed. By that point, it will be too late and our economy will suffer. Change needs to begin, like, yesterday!

When this film came out, so many reviewers asked where this funny, personable Gore was in 2000. What a wash! Though Gore did play it safe in 2000, he's still the same as he was in 2000. The media has their own amnesia going on, as Bush was the one who faked his way to the oval office. The media preferred to focus on the false scandals of analyzing every statement Gore made and playing it up as "lies" (case in point, Gore never claimed to invent the Internet, only that as Senator, he took the initiative in helping to bring the technology about so the private citizen can benefit from what was once a military/national security way of communicating). By their blind scrutiny of one candidate instead of another, it turns out the biggest liar got into the White House while the exaggerator had to find new work.

Though I am a huge supporter of Gore and wish he was the president, I'm not sure the success of this film is enough to rightfully bring him to the White House. Cleaning up Bush's mess will be a big part of the next administration and the surplus won't be there to make the kind of changes that a President Gore could have made in 2001-2009. I personally think his role is more important...that of statesmen, bringing this message and prophetic warning about global warming to mass consciousness in the world (not just in America). So, with that, please see this film and get everyone you know to see it. More importantly, please make lifestyle changes to lessen one's impact on our environment. After all, the Native Americans were on to something when they said that we don't pass on the environment to our children, we BORROW it from our grandchildren.

Even if you do not believe that global warming is here, you need to see this video. Politics aside, the ideas presented will make you think. This is an issue we all need to be very concerned with. It will change everything. We need to change as well.

An Inconvenient truth documents in detail and beyond any shadow of a doubt that our Country and our Government has ignored the most compelling issue of the Planet. There is still hope.