An Inconvenient Truth

• Genre : Documentary...
  
• Running time : 100 min.
• Directors : Davis Guggenheim
  
• Studio : Lawrence Bender Productions
  
• Cast : Al Gore, Billy West
  

It's impossible to say whether future generations will one day look back on Al Gore as "the man who saved the planet," but they will at least be able to point to the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" as the key factor in leading the ex-Vice President back from the political wilderness.

Once an object of ridicule and scorn for many on both sides of the political aisle, Gore has recently achieved near-rock star status thanks largely to his unwavering commitment to awakening the people of the world to the very-real dangers posed by global warming. Armed with charts, graphs, photographs, and an unbridled passion that is truly infectious, Gore makes a convincing case in this film not only that global warming is indeed real but that if we don't act now to counter its influence, the world we live in will soon be a much less hospitable place in which to raise our kids and grandkids. Given the evidence that has piled up over recent years backing his claims, it's hard for even the most cynical among us not to see Gore in oracular terms.

"An Inconvenient Truth" is essentially a big screen version of the sophisticated slide show that Gore has been presenting for years to largely sympathetic audiences. What's most surprising, given his reputation for pomposity, condescension and stiffness, is just how relaxed, witty and avuncular Gore appears on screen as he ever so patiently and succinctly lays out material and data that could, in less capable hands, have come across as dry, arcane and incomprehensible to a less than scientifically literate lay audience. The movie also shows how some of the events in his own personal life - the near-death of his son in an accident, the bitter loss of the election in 2000 - awakened Gore's consciousness and led him to educate himself and take the lead on an issue that has always meant so much to him.

Like any good social crusader, Gore first raises public awareness of the problem then offers concrete steps that individuals, corporations and governments can take to help solve it. With the spirit of a revivalist preacher, Gore implores everyone with a conscience to come together and do his part to eradicate the threat before it is too late for any of us to truly make a difference.

Of course, the most common criticism leveled against the film is that it is little more than anti-capitalist leftwing propaganda, a slanted screed that provides only one side of the argument and that is essentially designed to make big business and the political right look like villains. And, indeed, unlike in, say, a "60 Minutes" segment on the topic, director Davis Guggenheim does not provide equal time - or, to be honest, any time at all - to dissenting voices to make their case. In fact, there are no interviews even with scientists who SUPPORT the claims being put forth by the film, a weakness that has allowed dissenters to charge Gore with playing fast and loose with the facts. This has also led to the second most commonly stated criticism against the film, which is that it comes across at times like a vanity production designed more to rehabilitate Mr. Gore's reputation than to make a legitimate scientific case for global warming. I guess it would be possible to make such an argument against the movie, but the literature sure seems to back Gore on his assertions, and his commitment to the issue certainly comes across as both deep-seated and genuine. He is, after all, no Johnny-come-lately to the scene, having devoted much of his adult life to the cause, long before it was trendy to do so.

An Inconvient Truth- Man is not very bright. We are going to kill our children & grand children by introducing these Mercury laden light bulbs which will cause a bigger environmental problem than they solve. Mercury in bulbs is more dangerous than Lead Paint, yet we are doing this? This proves the danger of a little knowledge being used the wrong way.

A new challenge for a mother in Cape Cod happened when their 10 year old went to school & was exposed to "An Inconvenient Truth". The film graphically depicts the flooding of lots of parts of the world including Cape Cod with a model illustrating the results of Global Warming. The film made a major impression on the 10 year old that came home in a panic asking mom how soon they'd have to move before their house was going to be washed away because of Global Warming.

This presents a difficult task for a parent to explain to a young child why they didn't need to panic. Luckily, the mother was able to try to explain to a worried child that very often Scientists form a consensus opinion which might or might not be proved over time by factual events (in other words a theory). Then she had to come up with an example. The best example she could come up with was flat versus round earth theory.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) argued in his writings that the Earth was spherical, because of the circular shadow it cast on the Moon, during a lunar eclipse. Another reason was that some stars visible from Egypt are not seen further north. Navigators knew the earth was round for many years because of the way a ship appears on the horizon, crows nest first because of the earth curvature.

Yet in 1547, a group of Scientists formed the Flat Earth Society. Even today, this group still tries to advance the theory the earth is flat (actually it is not round but spherical). This group still fights the round earth theory which is widely accepted today as scientific fact. These Scientists are still fighting what was known & widely accepted well before 1547.

Then she took her child outside their Cape Cod home and said, "Do you see it flooding out here now?" The child looked & admitted that they did not. The mother then said do you believe your eyes or should we start running now? Remember the story of Chicken Little & the sky is falling?

The important lesson to be taken away from Global Warming theory as presented by your school & scientists is that the world of theory & the real world we are living in are different. "An Inconvenient Truth" is if you choose theory over reality no matter how well it is presented, you are in effect Chicken Little.

Reality is a recent study by Swiss & German Scientists that conclusively proves that our sun is in a hotter burning cycle. Evidence includes polar ice caps on Mars are melting too. There is Archeological evidence that proves the sun has had these cycles before in Earth history & the earth has survived. This is real science backed up by NASA & Archeologists whether you like it or not.

Global warming is the religious view, that man controls the Universe. Sun Cycles are the Scientific View. This can be backed up with fact.

For most free-thinking, forward-looking people, "An Inconvenient Truth" will be both an eye-opening and a mind-opening experience. For those who don't fall into that category, it may soon be time to break out the surfboards and get ready to ride the waves down 5th Avenue.

I personally feel that this documentary could've been made less Republican-sidey and political. Not a bad attempt at all though. Very much true as we are seeing worse and ridiculous climatic changes lately. A must see movie unless you're carried away by too much personal emotion rather than watching the movie for what it is - Awareness of Global Warming!

My Rating

An Inconvenient Truth : 8/10