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Product Description
An investigation of disaster capitalism, based on Naomi Klein's proposition that neo-liberal capitalism feeds on natural disasters, war and terror to establish its dominance.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Naomi Klein's controversial best-selling book which explores how both natural and man-made disasters are used to force disadvantageous political and economic changes on unwilling governments is brought to the screen in this documentary from filmmakers Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Sundance Film Festival, ...The Shock Doctrine ( A Doutrina de Choque )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Takes the core elements of Naomi Kleins book and vividly illustrates their major impacts on the lives of ordinary people in countries all over the world. How rich political and corporate elites benefit from natural and man-made disasters to push through an economic ideology that ensures power and wealth remains in the hands of the few in each society. Politics has become the handmaiden of greed and power, of corporate interests. The theme that emerges as the narrative unfolds is that disaster capitalism can be challenged, as we become aware of a different history to that which we are expected to docilely accept
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good attempt at a synopsis of Klein's disaster capitalism argument but reading the book still essential
26 April 2011
By AK
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
For anyone who has already read Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, the documentary will not come as a surprise but more a shortened, summarised version of it. As such it works reasonably well - it will remind you of the main thrust of the argument, bring up the main examples and show some of the less savoury ones in graphical form - giving them more of a shock power than words alone can.
Where I felt the documentary worked less well is that the book's content - primarily the presentation of the arguments, and then the last part (on a possible shock resistance developing) - needed to be cut down quite a bit in order to fit into the timeframe given. This will not really matter much, if the viewer is already convinced of the merits of Klein's position. If that is not the case, however, it is unlikely to sway someone more sceptical, as it could well be perceived as treating the topic a bit too superficially. While I understand that the documentary format will not be able to completely replicate a book, an added 15 minutes could very well account for this point (and it is not like it drags on as is, so an extra 15 minutes would not make it unbearably long).
In the end, if you liked the book, the documentary will not bring any surprises and it may be a good way of refreshing your memory in a shorter time than re-reading the book. If you want to know, what the argument is really all about, I find you will be much better served by delving into the book first, as the documentary tackles a lot of the arguments in a headline, rather than in-depth manner.
Where I felt the documentary worked less well is that the book's content - primarily the presentation of the arguments, and then the last part (on a possible shock resistance developing) - needed to be cut down quite a bit in order to fit into the timeframe given. This will not really matter much, if the viewer is already convinced of the merits of Klein's position. If that is not the case, however, it is unlikely to sway someone more sceptical, as it could well be perceived as treating the topic a bit too superficially. While I understand that the documentary format will not be able to completely replicate a book, an added 15 minutes could very well account for this point (and it is not like it drags on as is, so an extra 15 minutes would not make it unbearably long).
In the end, if you liked the book, the documentary will not bring any surprises and it may be a good way of refreshing your memory in a shorter time than re-reading the book. If you want to know, what the argument is really all about, I find you will be much better served by delving into the book first, as the documentary tackles a lot of the arguments in a headline, rather than in-depth manner.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Naomi Klein's book was one of the best non-fiction books of recent years, a masterwork of history, economics and politics, melded to a coherent narrative thrust. It was detailed, accurate and compelling. Unfortunately, this documentary interpretation is pretty lightweight in comparison.
In the liner notes, director Michael Winterbottom writes that this film was made with his eighteen year old daughter in mind - that is, that the film was designed to be easily consumed by somebody with no prior knowledge of the events being discussed (the collapse of the Berlin wall and the Soviet Union, the Dirty Wars of Central and South America, the kidnap and torture of those deemed enemies of the (Western) states, the miner's strike, the 2008 economic collapse). That ambition is admirable but because this film is so short (just over eighty minutes), there is no way that any of these events can be discussed beyond the superficial; to both discuss those events and present the thesis of the shock doctrine itself and how it relates to this history, is simply not possible in the time allowed.
This filmed version of the Shock Doctrine can be considered as a brief introduction to the general ideas contained in the book; if you want to know more (in the words of Starship Troopers), then reading the book is essential. For those who have read Klein's great book, this film presents some archive footage intercut with her public lectures and as such, is valuable only as visual reference material.
In the liner notes, director Michael Winterbottom writes that this film was made with his eighteen year old daughter in mind - that is, that the film was designed to be easily consumed by somebody with no prior knowledge of the events being discussed (the collapse of the Berlin wall and the Soviet Union, the Dirty Wars of Central and South America, the kidnap and torture of those deemed enemies of the (Western) states, the miner's strike, the 2008 economic collapse). That ambition is admirable but because this film is so short (just over eighty minutes), there is no way that any of these events can be discussed beyond the superficial; to both discuss those events and present the thesis of the shock doctrine itself and how it relates to this history, is simply not possible in the time allowed.
This filmed version of the Shock Doctrine can be considered as a brief introduction to the general ideas contained in the book; if you want to know more (in the words of Starship Troopers), then reading the book is essential. For those who have read Klein's great book, this film presents some archive footage intercut with her public lectures and as such, is valuable only as visual reference material.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By MNJ
Format:DVD
Excellent, as I expected, even if more than just a little shocking. Should be compulsory viewing for us all - might open our eyes a little more and jolt us out of our fatal lethargy.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Evil Edd
Format:DVD
This may seem like a hard-hitting expose of capitalism's excesses - unless you've read the book. Seriously, the makers of this film have taken something electric, urgent and immediate, and neutered it for general consumption. There's no point sugar-coating the message of this book: capitalism is global poison. Don;t take my word for it; read the book, and you'll recognise the truth.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Iben
Format:DVD
A film worth watching for a different perspective on already well known world events (including a few shocks concerning the origin of CIA practices). Consider it a teaser for the book which is a must read!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By KS1
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great film for those who can't be bothered to read the book; tells you most of what you need to know about Klein's theory.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By James Watson
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This DVD really impressed me, it is a marvelous introduction to the book itself, which is essential reading. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to be informed and seeks the truth about the effects specific economic doctrines have had upon the the world.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
How we are manipulated
If you want to know what is happening to your freedoms this film is a must see. Ordinary working people are manipulated by corporations and the politicians to keep the one percent... Read more
Published 5 days ago by market 17
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shock Doctorine
Not quite what I was expecting. Very confronting film footage in places combined with, not surprising confronting issues; namely some things the US Govt would prefer you didn't... Read more
Published 2 months ago by B. Perham
5.0 out of 5 stars
shock doctrine
well worth watching if you want an insight into thereasons for the current problems in the world economy and how it happened
Published 5 months ago by rachel o'gorman
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent documentary
The shock doctrine is a shocking documentary...which gives a different view on various issues, such as why poverty is on the increase and the undelying philosophy of today's... Read more
Published 14 months ago by jackie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good point what is happening!
Very Good point what is happening these days! If you care about your future
and your children's future - not only watch this, but take some actions!
and your children's future - not only watch this, but take some actions!
Published 17 months ago by TMV
2.0 out of 5 stars
A single view expressed without a counter argument.
This was classified to me as a documentary, that is a lie. The Shock Doctrine is a left wing statement of case completely devoid of any form of counter argument. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jamie
5.0 out of 5 stars
SHOCKING!
This documentary is SHOCKING!
Extremely well constructed, explained and referenced
It explains and puts in a nut-shell the terrifying method governments, namely USA & UK,... Read more
Extremely well constructed, explained and referenced
It explains and puts in a nut-shell the terrifying method governments, namely USA & UK,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Pagan Ronnie
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