As someone who's been interested in & involved with the sustainability movement for a long time now Mike Reynolds (the "hero" of this documentary) is the type of individual I wish I could have crossed paths with, worked with & learned from in person! This film documents his evolutionary journey from his first buildings in the New Mexico desert to his entrance into the legal arena facing an uphill battle to pass a bill that would allow architects the freedom to experiment with building designs in a controlled environment, to make mistakes & learn from them. Michael presents a compelling case, both to stodgy legislators as well as the audience that this is not only a good idea but absolutely necessary. The essence of his message is that we must redesign society (not just the building codes) to be able to adapt forcefully & gracefully to rapid change. It's a story about unexpected obstacles and the power of an adaptable & persistent spirit in overcoming them. The film takes us to India's Andaman Islands where Mr. Reynolds uses his unconventional building technique to rebuild a community devastated by tsunami and demonstrates how swift positive change can be when not hampered by ideological resistance and red tape. The pacing & flow of the movie are perfect, the musical score is great as well, complimentary to the action & powerful without being overwhelming (or overdramatic). It is even humorous at times like the "romantic" tune playing while Mike's newfound ally (a converted knight for his cause from within the system) works her way through a sea of resistant & skeptical senators to help try to get his bill passed.
Garbage Warrior will not give you the latest cutting edge information about sustainable design (though it certainly is a great primer), nor is it a full biography of Mr. Reynolds (though it covers the period of his life relevant to the film superbly) or of the ins, outs & tangents of the Earthship movement. What it did do, for me, is whet my appetite for more & reminded me why I am interested in this type of thing to begin with. This movie is pure inspiration, what you do with it & where you take it is up to you!