Control Room
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Movie Reviews of Control Room
Movie Review: Fair and Balanced
Summary: 5 Stars
I used to wonder why Al Jazeera gave airtime to Osama bin Laden and terrorists threatening hostages with beheading. I thought tensions in the region would probably be considerably reduced if such hate mongers couldn't get heard.
After viewing the DVD however I have a different perspective. Al Jazeera may be one of the only "pure" news organizations on the planet. They apparently do not feel a responsibility to 'spin' the news or filter what they show in order to support any viewpoint, even if the content is disturbing. With them all information is news, regardless of viewpoint or origin. They have invited American commanders to speak on the air, as well as Iraqi defense ministers. Madmen as well as the reasonable. To them it's all news.
In so doing, they have angered both the US administration and their own Arabic audience because they refuse to bow to pressure from either side to draw conclusions or make value judgments. They simply present the available facts and let the audience make up their own minds.
Isn't it ironic that our own media doesn't have that faith in their viewers.
Movie Review: a usefull alternative perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
I think Control Room is vitally important because it demonstrates that all virtually all media is slanted in one way or another. al-Jazeera catches so much flak from right wingers in this country, but it's clear that what the U.S. media does isn't that much different in that it presents a product for its customers.
I've shown this documentary in entry-level classes to mostly college freshman and most seem to come away with a greater understanding of what type of media they consume. I've received comments that suggests to me this film can have a profound impact on those who watch it. For that, this film is very valuable. Most people, I think would benefit from watching it.
The most optimistic part of the film includes the portions with a young U.S. soldier that appeared to be working behind the lines in some administrative function. You get to listen to his conversations with Arab journalists and hear how the two sides interact. It's a vastly positive exchange. It makes me feel more hopeful that things will eventually be ok in Iraq. Watch this film and try be more like the young soldier.
Movie Review: * What We Don't See *
Summary: 5 Stars
Control Room is an excellent documentary about the Arab news organization Al Jazeera which has become the dominant news organization in the Arab world. I'm really glad I saw this because we are constantly being told by our media how uncredible and antagonistic Al Jazeera is -- -- not true! I saw valid Iraq footage in this documentary that I have never seen in American main stream media and I watch all kinds of news all day long! The journalists who run this network (as you will see in the footage) are professional, balanced, intelligent and are showing the reality of what is going on in the Arab world and in Iraq. Its really too bad that we don't get the same information that most of the free world gets ... perhaps if we had we either may never have gone to war in the first place or perhaps we would no longer be occupying a foreign land now.
See this. Its important. And like the second review says "it is more important than Farenheit 9/11" ... and I never thought I'd think or say that.
Movie Review: ** What We Don't See **
Summary: 5 Stars
Control Room is an excellent documentary about the Arab news organization Al Jazeera which has become the dominant news organization in the Arab world. I'm really glad I saw this because we are constantly being told by our media how uncredible and antagonistic Al Jazeera is -- -- not true! I saw valid Iraq footage in this documentary that I have never seen in American main stream media and I watch all kinds of news all day long! The journalists who run this network (as you will see in the footage) are professional, balanced, intelligent and are showing the reality of what is going on in the Arab world and in Iraq. Its really too bad that we don't get the same information that most of the free world gets ... perhaps if we had we either may never have gone to war in the first place or perhaps we would no longer be occupying a foreign land now.
See this. Its important. And like the second review says "it is more important than Farenheit 9/11" ... and I never thought I'd think or say that.
Movie Review: This is a gem
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I saw this movie and were blown away by it. In many ways it is low-key but that just makes its impact greater. Compared to the part of "Farenheight 9/11" that dealt with the Iraq war this is much better - better made, better at giving the viewer a feel for the reality of it all, better at seeing into the hearts of real people. Unfortunately "Control Room" won't have the impact that it should have, because it isn't distributed by a "major" and thus will mostly be in repertory, experimental, art & dinner theatres. I understand that the "majors" have also declined to distribute a video, and that the very human US Marine officer featured prominantly in the movie has been disciplined and will resign his commission. It makes one wonder about the freedoms we are supposedly defending against terrorists by invading Iraq, and are determined to impose on the Iraqis whether they like it or not. I hope that many people buy this movie and see it that way.