Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The time is now, 15 Mar 2009
I was fortunate to see a Preview Sreening of this film, described by The Guardian as: 'The first successful dramatisation of Climate Change to hit the big screen'. Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance? From an archive buliding containing some of the world's most precious art treasures, he shows us documentary footage of six contemporary characters - ranging from an 80 year old french mountain guide witnessing the shrinking of his beloved Alpine glaciers, to the belligerant head of an airline aspiring to be India's answer to Easy Jet. There are also stunning otherworldy animation scenes showing the devastated planet in 2055, and Monty Python style cartoon sequences delivering sobering stats on consumerism. All set to a cracking soundtrack from the likes of Depeche Mode and Radiohead. The science behind the film has been meticulously researched, but it's not all doom and gloom. The movie's real strength lies in its humour, and its hope. For it aims to turn every one of us into a Climate Change activist. There's still time to avert a global crisis of biblical proportions, but only if we act NOW.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time to act smart, 16 Mar 2009
The Age of Stupid sets out to show us what the Earth will look like if we don't tackle the enormous problem we have unwittingly created - climate change. Combining real news and documentary footage of the climate change effects we can already see with a fictional portrayal of those to come if we do nothing, the cast and crew have created a very powerful and watchable film which every Earth citizen should see.
Several real lives are on display here, from the Nigerian woman trying to earn enough money to go to medical school in a land torn apart by oil extraction to the middle class British family fighting to create a wind farm against local opposition. Most moving to me was the 80 year old mountain guide in the Alps - a man as tough as old boots - nearly in tears as he describes the rapid retreat of his beloved glaciers and the ever increasing lorry traffic through the previously peaceful Chamonix.
We can pat outselves on the back and imagine we're living in the Golden Age of humanity as we live our comfortable, oil-dependent lives. But if we do nothing against this threat then whatever history the human race gets to leave behind will show that we have been living in The Age of Stupid, staring our own demise in the face and doing nothing.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Age of Stupid, 1 April 2009
Age of Stupid is a definite must see film, from both the vital subject point of view and for appreciating the art of independent film maker, Franny Armstrong at writing and directing such an incredible, powerfully told drama doc, with hardly any money and (I believe) only 1% of the usual carbon footprint most cinematic films are made with.
Starring the wonderful Pete Postlethwaite as the only man alive in 2055, looking back at his archive from 2007/8 and asking the question, 'Why didn't we do something about climate change when we could have?' the non preachy true story unfolds by taking journeys to different parts of the world, visiting people whose lives are already affected by the power of climate change.
Whilst each story is in its self is compelling, having them all within a 90 minute film, far from egging the pudding, shows perhaps just how desensitised and complacent different parts of the world have become to situations outside of their own experience.
As far as I understand Franny Armstrong and most, if not all of the team, worked for just the minimum wage, or maybe even less/nothing, for 5 years in order to make the film. The film wasn't funded by grants or money from corporate investors, but from individuals who believed in her, took a risk and shares in the project.
More info is available from [] Since the film's been launched 'Team Stupid' haven't stopped there and have launched the next step..... Not Stupid! All info, is on the web site.
In summary The Age of Stupid is well worth watching. It's educating, disturbing, inspiring, motivating and far from making people into eco geeks, just shows us how important yet ordinary we should consider the changes we can make in our lives as individuals now. Yet at the same time how essential it is for the world powers to get to grips with the truth and begin to make and agree a coordinatored, effective and meaningful plan about the action they are required to take NOW! Enjoy ......well enjoy isn't the right word, but I'm sure you know what I mean!
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