Orwell Rolls in His Grave (2003) Reviews

• Important, frightening, disgusting, true and you must see it

  mmrobins2004-06-03

  I've only begun watching documentary films like this recently due in large part to the success of Michael Moore's films. This film is right up there with Moore's films in quality, in thought provoking content, and in sad truth. This is the kind of film that it terrifies me to see but I'm glad that I saw it. I remember when I read 1984 in high school and I thought it was great that there was literature like that so that the kind of events that take place in 1984 could never happen in real life. Orwell would be rolling in his grave because those kind of events are happening now, and this movie makes is frighteningly, frighteningly obvious. I don't care if you consider yourself Repbulican, Democrat or Independent, if you have any care for truth watch this film. The news will never look the same again.

• Better then others of its kind

  zstern2004-09-22

  This movie surpassed my expectations. More straight forward documentary style so it is not as "entertaining" as some others but for those interested in the collapse of our democracy in recent years this is a must see. More disturbing then Far. 9/11 or murdochs war on journalism. This movie contained more new stories then did either of the other movies. Makes you not want to even watch TV anymore. It is well worth the 30 bucks that I spent. Its one of those things where you know in a limited way the things that are going on but to see them presented all in one place at one time is thought provoking to say the least. It also really is a movie that the media would not want you to see as evidenced by the statistics presented in the movie. Buy it, watch it then give it to everyone you know.

• Great documentary, more important than Fahrenheit 9/11

  nbabb2004-07-05

  This is an excellent documentary and, in my view, is more important than Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11, in that it points to a fundamental, systemic problem in American society; the free flow of information. The movie paints a frightening picture of influence over the media, exerted by large corporations, and demonstrates that there is indeed a "vast right-wing conspiracy", aiming to control the media diet of American citizens. Fed on managed, nutritionally devoid meals of sound-bites, sensationalism, and outright falsehoods, the average American citizen is made to exist in an unreality that is eerily similar to George Orwell's novel '1984'. Because of deregulation started in the Reagan era (if you see the documentary you will find that the word 'deregulation' is a misnomer), large multi-national corporations are now allowed to swallow up monopoly interests in various media outlets, thereby controlling the flow of information. This movie helped to confirm for me that American mainstream news is, at best, useless, and at worst, foisting upon us, an agenda that services the interests of the rich and powerful interests in this country. So, go out and see this movie, or buy it online. The guy that made this film deserves a medal. Also, check out the "Center for Public Integrity" which is a news organization cited in the documentary. It is a non-partisan organization that is interested in uncovering corruption, wherever it is found.

• Media studies students -- this one is for you.

  vertigo_142005-01-26

  Orwell Rolls in His Grave is, as another viewer wrote, more important than Michael Moore's recent documentary, Farenheit 9/11, because it really does a fantastic job of analyzing the role of the modern American media and its consequences upon democracy. Granted, Moore's documentary does make known the faults of the mainstream media, but the Farenheit 9/11 is much more of a criticism of American foreign policy, as well as related economic and social issues. 'Orwell Rolls in His Grave,' instead crucifies the whole system. It is not surprise that this documentary gained even minimal independent release, as it could have serious repercussions in rousing the public into a meaningful social upheaval and fuel the fires for a real grassroots movement in this country. As Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont says, along with others interviewed in this film, you cannot publicly attack the system. Michael Moore's films are easy to criticize because they are very propagandic, at least when he becomes condescending in trying to get his point across, whereas this one presents it all to you in solid, unbreakable form. Media studies students and others interested in critical analysis of politics and the media will find this to be a highly beneficial tool, as it covers all ground, including a brief historic outline of the political press in this country and, surprisingly, an overview of the organization of think tanks to illustrate how George Orwell's cautionary novel, 1984, has become a reality. With companion reading such as Howard Zinn's "The People's History of the United States," Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent," Ray Bradbury's "Farenheit 451," George Orwell's "1984" and "Animal Farm," and companion viewing of Robert Greenwood's recent documentary, "Outfoxed" (for the technical and procedural faults of the American mainstream media), these materials can the set the foundation for a responsible, appropriately judicious citizenry. Make this movie famous.

• Scary indeed!

  prudhocj2005-03-25

  I've known of this documentary for a while now and even tried to see it before the last presidential election. It is indeed scary. It brings together disparate stories and facts of the last 25 years tying them together in a coherent pattern that is downright ugly! I was especially impressed by the filmmakers focus on one of the biggest unreported stories of the last quarter of the 20th Century - that being how the Reagan cabal manipulated the 1980 election in order to win it and then paid off one of the members of the nascent "axis of evil" for their cooperation. This all culminated in the Iran/Contra scandal for which only one person took the fall, too bad he didn't (and still doesn't) have the honor and integrity to expose this treasonous story. Find this movie and show it to your friends.