Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers

This is without doubt one of the most convincing and impressive documentaries I have ever seen. It is very in-your-face and not subtle, and you might not agree with the message (consumerism is bad), but anyone would have to admit that this film is very, very well made.

It's form is highly original. For example, there's a quick montage of the world's leaders (Bush, Blair, Poetin, Chirac etc.), who's voices have been erased, and replaced by a new one, literally 'putting words in their mouths'. Great!

And I should mention the editing, which is in accordance with the images and music. The whole film playes like a musical piece, with repeting themes, set-ups and climaxes.

For the original form alone, you should see this when you have the chance. Even when you think capitalism is okay.

A very unusual documentary about consumerism. I prefer

statistics-filled, dry, just-throw-the-facts-at-me types of

documentaries. I find most of Michael Moore's humor distracting to his

main points, for example. This film uses a variety of techniques to

appeal to emotions.

For instance, it uses a sometimes annoying, sometimes surprisingly

effective tactic of repeating sound bites. The footage ranges from

protests to interviews. Footage includes a Cuban teen's reactions to

visiting McDonalds, to European homeless people, to Microsoft's Steve

Ballmer dancing around screaming to motivate Windows programmers at a

conference. It's truly unusual, but despite my preference for "drier"

more fact-oriented documentaries, I found this unusual emotion-appeal

film quite enjoyable and effective. That surprised me; perhaps it will

you too?

I watched this valuable piece of film many times. It isn't the usual type of documentary you see everyday. It mixes music (most electrical style) and short comments and speeches about the western consume nature and capitalism. It is somehow enjoyable to watch which makes the information easier to understand and remember. One peak is the satiric presentation of the "G8 World shop". You will see some video pieces of the worlds politicians remixed, edited and cut to a background comment. Very funny and very serious at the same time.

Besides the documentary "The Corporation" from Michael Moore, it's the most accessible documentary regarding this Problem which affects us all. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

10/10

It is very important to understand, that the makers of this documentary does not idealize the alternatives of western consumerism. Vice versa, they show it very clearly that the "alternatives" of such consuming madness are the same - madness. The idea of this documentary is not the communist propaganda. As a matter of fact, it is impossible to show this documentary in Cuba. It is too critical for them too. The idea of this film is to show the hopelessness of the situation, where we live. In documentary Zerzan says, that he does not think that the destroying and burning are solutions, but there are simply nothing more to do. This film declares, that we have no solutions nor alternatives. This is not the propaganda of violence, but the tragic conclusion, that it is more ethical (bu only more) to burn and to destroy, than to consume and to conform from day to day.

It was quite a good movie actually, very well put together visually. I would have liked to see more dialogue and maybe a bit more debate going down. Basically what it was a depiction of John Zerzan's claim for a huge dismantling project of consumerism and everything that goes with it. In a way Zerzan (who you can gather is an anarchist, or has anarchist tendencies) is a bit idealistic, he wants us to return to a hunter/gatherer society where everyone lives in peace and happiness.

The doccy has images of loads of speeches (Bush after 9/11, mike Balmer (Microsoft), Blair, Fidel Castro, and loads of others). and includes one (my favourite) where bush goes: "We must not let the terrorists scare people... to the extent where they don't shop." it's brilliantly cut with music and other visuals.

The movie has a bit of a music video feel to it, but that makes it even more "enjoyable", it makes it a bit more accessible to some people who don't really know about protests and wat-have-you. One memorable part was where you have the head of Adbusters speaking, and the visuals are all the hot shot corporates and presidents who are "synched" to his words, brilliantly done!

Another striking thing was where you had Fidel Castro speaking, and he is going on about how Cubans are free and have true democracy and true choice and then they cut to a scene in a shop where there are only about 3 different kinds of shoes and how they ration food and this one chick who went to Europe who was blown away by the bright lights, big city and fast food.

Then it swings back to Zerzan who goes justifies the use of violence at protests infused with images of protests outside G8 meetings. Visually, a brilliant movie, and although I don't agree with a few of Zerzan's means or ends, I do agree the problem(s) he highlights. Politically, also brilliant as it makes the problems easily accessible to the average person who might not know that much about stuff, while I never felt "oh yeah, I know that s***, yawn" even if you don't feel like checking it as a "message movie", the part where they interview sex doll manufacturers is quite funny.

I'd definitely recommend surplus.