Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1,028 of 1,318 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Go See It. Go. Right Now., May 30, 2006
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.
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638 of 856 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring and captivating, May 28, 2006
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.
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22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trying to be a good steward of the earth..., December 6, 2006
I thought the documentary was great. I still have questions - like why were there next to no hurricanes in 2006 and why are the oceans not boiling due to the current CO2 levels in the atmosphere? Although I believe the information presented in the film to be largely true, I also believe the earth to be at least as complex as the human body - created just as wonderfully and intricately. That said there are just unknowns about how the earth copes with stress (or doesn't cope) as there are with how the body heals (or doesn't).
So I will set my questions aside for this reason - what does it hurt to be a good steward of our planet? It takes a few extra minutes to put my recycling in the bin. Even if global warming is a hoax, who wants landfills? I do a little more research when I buy a car. But isn't that smart anyway? And doesn't it benefit me financially to drive a car with higher gas mileage/lower emissions? I spend an extra 10 cents on yogurt manufactured by a company that offsets 100% of its CO2 emissions. But that yogurt also has no artificial sweeteners and no chemicals - isn't that better for me anyway? I walk my kids to school. Hello, heard of childhood obesity? I reuse plastic grocery bags (and paper ones too, for that matter). Isn't this just being frugal, thrifty and smart? I buy "green" electricity from my power company - don't I want to step outside and breathe good, non-polluted air?
The message here is that it is NOT DIFFICULT and NOT A HARDHSIP to be an environmentalist - or don't call yourself an environmentalist - say you are protecting the earth, helping to create a clean home for your family or being a steward of our greatest natural resource - the pale blue dot. Each of us can do little things that take less time cumulatively than getting a haircut every 6 weeks, cost us very little and are directly beneficial. In this age of instant gratification, it makes no sense to me why someone would not want the immediate effects of earth stewardship - they are practical and instantly beneficial. Even if you don't believe the long-term gloom and doom, don't you want the immediate good parts of the environmental movement - less landfill, sweet-smelling air, exercise, decreased fuel costs, and health? Shame on you if you don't.
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