The following review reflects my opinions closely, so I am forwarding it. For those in Marin, the film is still playing at The Rafael, but is being held over only for a limited time. Don\'t wait!
Ken
Along with the new slew of powerful educational, political, historical documentaries like FAHRENHEIT 9-11, THE CONTROL ROOM, SUPERSIZE ME, etc., I highly recommend you see THE CORPORATION.
It is intense, fantastic, brilliant, timely and timeless. It is a better documentary than FAHRENHEIT 9-11, in my opinion, and it is packed. It\'s so packed that the information and evidence contained in it are potentially more dangerous to the status quo and as effective as Michael Moore\'s famous film, which asks the public to vote this coming November against George W. Bush. Corporate America will not be able to argue against or disagree with THE CORPORATION like the Right Wing have with Michael Moore\'s project, but you can be sure that they will not allow this to air on any corporate sponsored television network.
THE CORPORATION fills the gaps and answers questions that Michael Moore\'s film leaves open. It identifies that cabal and not so secret, secret society, which conspiracy theorists tend to tout, but not explain as well. It possibly could explain what today\'s modern anti-Christ is. It directly points the finger at those who assisted the Nazis to take over Germany before World War II.
THE CORPORATION makes us realize in US law, a corporation is legally a \"person\" and has the same Constitutional rights of a human individual. The 14th amendment of the United States Constitution, which bestowed the rights of full citizens to slaves, was manipulated in the courts to extend even more individual, personal human rights to corporations.
It\'s just too bad that THE CORPORATION doesn\'t get the airplay of fanfare that Michael Moore received, but he is interviewed in the film along with greats like Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn. According to THE CORPORATION\'s website: \"Among the 40 interview subjects are CEOs and top-level executives from a range of industries: oil, pharmaceutical, computer, tire, manufacturing, public relations, branding, advertising and undercover marketing; in addition, a Nobel-prize winning economist, the first management guru, a corporate spy, and a range of academics, critics, historians and thinkers are interviewed.\"
Another interesting part of the film compares the corporation\'s psychological profile to that of a psychopath. This comparison is based on the actual diagnostic criteria used by the the World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association\'s DIAGNOSIC & STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS - IV, the standard diagnostic tool of psychiatrists and psychologists.
This film could leave the San Francisco Bay Area soon if not enough people continue to see it, but it is still showing and scheduled for release across the US and around the world. The international schedule is well listed on their website at: http://www.thecorporation.tv
In the UK, it has already started playing, but more cinemas there will see it on October 29th, 2004. However, if you miss it on the big screen, rent it after it\'s passed through or by your city. The two disc DVD set will be coming out early in 2005.
This documentary is based on Joel Bakan\'s book, THE CORPORATION: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. It\'s available from Penguin Canada and in the United States, by Simon & Schuster.
On the side, I also recommend you read Howard Zinn\'s book, A PEOPLE\'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Howard, of course, is in the film, but his history book definitely complements this movie. It\'s unlike any history book one ever read in school.
MARK ACHBAR is the producer/director; JENNIFER ABBOTT is the director/editor; and JOEL BAKAN is the writer/co-creator.
For even more detailed information on THE CORPORATION, go to: http://www.thecorporation.tv
Better yet, go see and support the film.
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