An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

Would have been better if it was more like the first one - like a straight up lecture full of evidence. The subject matter is very important, of course; however the editing of the film is sloppy and all over the place up until the final 20 minutes or so when then start showing how India more or less held the world hostage and got advanced solar technology patent rights out of it. In a funny twist of fate, after this movie was released India went back to going full Industrial and has beaten China when it comes to smog. Lol, this world is doomed.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

A decade on from his award winning, socially impacting environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth was released, former presidential candidate Al Gore has chosen to make a follow up film, further highlighting the plight of worldwide climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. He shows how the irresponsibility of certain, advanced nations is having a detrimental impact on the lives of those in smaller, more disadvantaged nations, and even closer to home, and re-ignites his worldwide call for change and accountability, as President Donald Trump removes America from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Ten years is a perfect time for evaluation, if you are trying to achieve something. When a period of time has advanced to double digits, it's time to look back and observe what progress has been made, and what significant changes for the better have occurred that something you were so passionate about and devoted yourself to promoting have resulted in. It would seem, from Truth to Power's existence, that Al Gore was not sufficiently impressed with what had changed in the ten years since the predecessor to this film was released, and so he has once again made a documentary about his worldwide efforts for change.

This time around, it's a far less personal account, with Gore having already divulged his family background and motivations for being so powered up about the environment in the last film, and so we delve headfirst in with him this time around, as he travels to Paris to show support from the USA for the climate cause, and gets caught up in the tragic terror attacks toward the end of the year, as well as to one of the one of the world's biggest polluters, India, to try and get them to find alternatives to coal burning. His sincerity towards the cause is never in doubt, obviously not something he just does to grab votes by exploiting a popular cause, and at times the passion cracks through his voice, as he propels his crusade.

In a time when international terror (not unwisely) seems to be at the top of everyone's concerns, the dour voiced Gore has powered up that slovenly drawl of his once again to make sure we don't forget about a crisis that has every bit as much catastrophic potential. ****

2/25/18. Not as ground-breaking as its predecessor but necessary. That's because one would think that since 2006 we would have seen some progress towards a more global addressing of what is basically a fact of life. Yes, there is the 2015 Paris Agreement in which only ONE country has not joined the rest of the world's countries to address this issue. That's good progress. This sequel just adds more statistical evidence that climate change will have serious effects on the environment that will affect mankind as well. See 2006's "An Inconvenient Truth."

I thought "The Inconvenient Truth" was well done and stuck to the point. It came at the problem of Global Warming ... or Planetary Hotboxing, like I call it from a logical and scientific direction.

This movie ... I don't know what is was, but it put my girlfriend to sleep in less than 5 minutes. I had trouble staying awake and even making it through this long monotonous, aimless and pointless reminder of the first movie.

What I will remember from this movie is not any facts, or images, or important strategies ... but so many, many scenes of Al Gore's bloated body in all kinds of places. Gore waddling through airports, his whiny, dronying, irritating voice, but mostly all of these shots where Gore is getting make up for the camera.

What kind of an idiot thought this was an important image to include ... ugly old Al Gore sitting there saying nothing while some person applies makeup to his face? The whole movie was putatively about Global Warming, but mostly it seems to be about subliminally showing ugly negative and pointless scenes in the middle of a very tame, bland and old discussion of climate change.

This movie doesn't deserve a 1 ... but it also doesn't deserve much higher. I give it a 2/10 because it is serious and should be about something important.

The Oscar winning An Inconvenient Truth created a huge stir around the world upon its release in 2006.

Unleashed upon the movie going public at a time where Climate Change/Global Warming was just starting to gain everyday notice, should've been president and one time vice-president Al Gore's film was an insightful and debate raising documentary that appeared at the right place and the right time.

Fast-forward to 2017 and this sequel, that perhaps wasn't exactly being cried out for or demanded hit our screens and now home viewing arenas to mixed results, both financially and critically but despite not carrying the same power or drive as Gore's first call to arms, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is still a thought provoking experience even if it lacks a real central driver.

At times feeling a bit aimless in its nature, its key that Gore is still such a captivating and inspiring figure, as whenever he is on screen this documentary rides off the back of the great public speaker whose passion and commitment to making a difference is to be commended and a cause you can easily respect no matter your views on the topic he is preaching around the world.

No matter where Gore is on stage or where he is intervening, the one-time big-wig of American politics is a captivating figure.

If there was a real true driver to this film that is more a fly on the wall experience as we journey with Gore and his team from various locations, delivering the climate change message, it's the key part Gore played in the 2016 climate change summit in Paris and how the well-respected figure used his clout and contacts to help make things happen at the summit that may never have come to fruition without his help and guidance.

Final Say -

While unquestionably lacking the power of the original, An Inconvenient Sequel is still a stark reminder of how our planet is heading towards some hugely important moments in existence and a further reminder to the United States on what they missed out on when George W. Bush was first elected in 2000.

3 ½ wading boots out of 5