Product Details

• Actors: Rhonda Byrne, Bob Proctor, Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith, Neale Donald Walsch, Jack Canfield
• Directors: Drew Heriot, Sean Byrne, Damian McLindon, Marc Goldenfein
• Format: Full length, Subtitled, NTSC, Dolby
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: TS Production LLC
• DVD Release Date: October 1, 2006
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,987 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000K8LV1O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #3 in Movies & TV > DVD > Special Interests
• For more information about "The Secret (Extended Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Not really a movie or documentary, The Secret is more of a video seminar, a presentation featuring a series of authors, philosophers, doctors, quantum physicists, entrepreneurs, and spiritual practitioners expounding on the powers of The Secret (probably the most well-known of the presenters is Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Success Principles). What is The Secret, exactly? "That principle can be summed up in three simple words: thoughts become things," proclaims writer Mike Dooley, author of Notes from the Universe. Put it another way, it’s The Power of Positive Thinking and how it can be applied to attracting more money, better health, and relationships; in short, happiness. (There is a rundown of topics on the DVD Chapters menu).

Most of the material here is given in a straightforward manner, with the presenters simply talking into the camera to address the audience directly, which is good because it avoids the trap of pretense. On the other hand, the quick edits between presenters (would it hurt to let them say more than one sentence at a time?) don't help because it reduces many of their points to palatable sound bites and aphorisms. To many viewers, this may make the program come across as a series of nice ideas not rooted in reality. Plus it's somewhat spurious to claim that The Secret was well understood and practiced by specific individuals like Plato or Shakespeare (it's well known that some of the historical figures noted didn't exactly live happy or even prosperous lives, despite their achievements). But still, the primary message is one of positivity and hope for everyone. So what to make of it? In the end, programs like this generally find an audience that is open to the message, and many will probably find it to be a source of inspiration. Others will approach it with a good deal of skepticism or dismiss it as another way of marketing happiness the masses. It simply won’t resonate with everyone, but if it resonates with you, you're likely to enjoy it and get a lot out of it. Those looking for more on The Secret might want to check out the companion book by Rhonda Byrne. --Daniel Vancini

Product Description

ABOUT THE MOVIE: The new "extended edition" of this ground-breaking feature length movie presentation reveals The Great Secret of the universe. It has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries... to reach you. This is The Secret to everything - the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted. In this astonishing program are ALL the resources you will ever need to understand and live The Secret. For the first time in history, the world's leading scientists, authors, and philosophers will reveal The Secret that utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew it... Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein. Now YOU will know The Secret. And it can change your life forever.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

394 of 442 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing ... Over-Rated ... Superficial in Content, February 28, 2007

By 

Denise Corcoran "High Performance Business Co... (Burlingame, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret (Extended Edition) (DVD)

With all the hype about The Secret, I was eager to find out what everyone was talking about. I bought both the DVD and the CD set and watched with great anticipation.

Perhaps because I have studied and utilized for over 2 decades some of the most powerful mindset tools, processes and technologies for creating what you want, my expectations may have been skewed compared to those who have never heard of or applied such concepts as the law of attraction.

That is not to say the DVD/CD does not have value. I am sure there are people whose lives have been changed by it. I think they did an outstanding marketing job. An outstanding "packaging" job in creating The Secret. The attraction principles do work, and they provided a great introduction to those who have not been exposed to them before.

For me personally, my first disappointment was the fact that what was dramatically (and cleverly) built up as "a secret" - which to me something you know that I don't - was hardly a secret. These principles have been around for centuries, have been mainstream for decades, with thousands of books, seminars, etc. covering the same principles. I don't appreciate books, tapes, etc. that overpromise and under deliver. So, to me, hardly a secret.

My second disappointment was the lack of depth around the subject matter. If you want more in-dpeth and leading edge info about how our thoughts create our reality, invest in the DVD "What the Bleep?" It offers fascinating leading edge quantum physics principles, along with great animation explaining in simple layman terms, why and how we create our realities. In fact, some of the scientists on The Secret *first* appeared in "What the Bleep?" I almost felt when I was watching The Secret, that they copied "What the Bleep?" in many respects, although at a more superficial level.

My third disappointment/concern is how some Secret followers will interpret the messagge in the movie. Again my perspective may be slightly skewed because I trained in and work with NLP (Neurolinguistic Programmming) which works drectly with the subconscious mind for helping people create accelerated breakthroughs in their lives. The suggestions, recommmended processes, etc. in The Secret work primarily with the conscious mind. Yet it is our subconscious mind that drives 80% of our behaviors and outcomes in life.

Yes, if you practice their recommendations for months and months, the suggestions may eventually sink into our subconscious. However there are simpler, quicker ways to create what you want. The other piece of that, because the subconscious mind does drive our results, there are many blocks -- such as "secondary gains" for staying stuck, values conflicts, limited beliefs, etc. - below our conscious awareness that stops us from having what we want. Because the movie does not address the difference between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, and treats the whole topic superficially as why some people manifest and some don't, it creates the illusion that as long as you practice their suggestions, you will change your life. There is so much more than what is presented as to what are the differences that make the difference to creating what you want.

While I am glad that so many people are becoming more aware of these principles, I am concerned about the fallout as well. I am hearing people do potentially harmful things like go into deeper debt, making dramatic life changes with blind faith, because the DVD tells them they can have what they want if they just believe, etc.

I would suggest if you buy the DVD to take a few things that most resonated with you, and apply them to your life, as long as you don't sacrifice or overhaul other areas of your life without looking at the big picture. Sort out the glitz from the message. Also check what is not true for you and let go of it.

I would recommend the movie "what the bleep?" It goes hand in hand with The Secret, although more in depth and was the original movie that brought these concepts mainstream.

Third, I recommend that you check out book on NLP (as well as hypnosis which is a sister discipline). Out of all the mindset tools and technologies I have used in over 20 years, I have found they are by far the most powerful. One of the best "beginner" books is: "NLP: The New Technology of Achievement".

Good luck and may your journey be an abundant one!

116 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is something you know, but you may not know you know it., February 22, 2007

By 

L. Power "nlp trainer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secret (Extended Edition) (DVD)

As you go through life, the secret of life is hiding in plain sight, until one day the Law of Attraction tumbles into your awareness, as it did into my life about two years ago.

In my case I followed the Huna Philosophy, and one of the seven rules is energy flows where attention goes. In the Bible, and teachings of Buddha the principle is also contained. Mark 11.24 Whatsoever ye desire, believe that ye have it, and it is yours. So, I watched this movie featuring the eminent teachers of the LOA, not expecting to add much to my store of knowledge. Much to my surprise, I did learn a lot from this movie, and on that basis I highly recommend it.

Before watching this movie I knew that my thoughts created my reality. The missing link for me was the importance of feelings. When you feel good, good things tend to come to you, and when you feel bad, you attract bad things. So, it is important to have better ways of looking at situations, and then you will attract better situations. The other concept that impressed me was importance of gratitude. Gratitude rocks.

If you wish to buy a good book on the subject, I recommend The law of Attraction by Michael Losier, and, Ask and it is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. My favorite quote from the movie: 'What you think and feel, and what you manifest is always a match. Every single time. No exception' Esther Hicks. My other favorite quote: 'Your wish is my command.' The Universe.

My own insight from watching this movie came from the Gratitude segment, and also ties in with the Huna: To be grateful is to appreciate, to appreciate is to love, and to love is to be happy with.

82 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't Forget to Engage Your Brain!, February 6, 2007

By 

M. Levine (Dexter, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret (Extended Edition) (DVD)

Generally, and in my opinion, the overall message of the Secret (Extended) presents it's conclusion without the emphasis on doing. For example, the 3 Steps: Ask, Believe, Receive. A component of receiving, I believe, is not just sitting on your backside and waiting, but rather considering what else you can do to reach your goal and taking persistent action.

We do receive, or rather experience, what we focus on the most, and by focusing on a particular goal (material or spiritual) will help generate the momentum of thinking, feeling and most importantly DOING what we are inspired to do as a result.

None of the presenters in the secret received what they wanted without doing something in addition to Asking, Believing, and Receiving.

When they went on Larry King, they got paid and increased their wealth because they did something: wrote and sold a book or 50, created seminars, developed business plans, talked with other people in the "game" to understand how they did it, learned more through education, and etcetera.

While watching the DVD (a few times) it seems to me that it does imply the "doing" but it doesn't emphasise it. For reasons that are unclear the editors/producers chose to de-emphasise actions/doing in favour of a more "magical" cause-effect (ask and it shall be given).

As a practicing psychotherapist and life skills counseller I don't think emphasising anything "magical" really helps people. However emphasising the development of a positive mental framework of thinking and feeling will encourage behaviour that when followed up with persistent actions will help us achieve our goals, now that's something that people can use. Also, you cannot ignore your environment and it seems The Secret doesn't even go there, which is unfortunate.

I generally enjoy the message of the DVD but in my opinion it falls well short of the mark in a few of the areas mentioned. Yet, at the same time, I don't feel pesimistic about the "message", I simply hope that most rational thinking people will not take the entire message "as is" but instead use their own brains to do some critical thinking.