Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85040 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-02-15
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 78 minutes

Customer Reviews

This movie is basicly perfect.
I think the goal of the movie is to share the experience of struggles to resist it around the world. It does this wonderfully. It also offers a great introduction to the problems of globalization by the elites to establish context. It doesn't go way in depth into the dynamics of globalization, I don't think that was their goal. That doesn't mean that if you already know about the issue that the movie loses its value. It's a Great movie and it's perfect for sharing with other people to teach and inspire them.

It is somewhat glamorized by the music and poetry, but I don't think its overdone. They combine different forms of media to create a powerful narrative. For that I think it should be commended, not criticized. It has the side effect of communicating well to a culture mind f*cked by the action drama of hollywood and tv.

Criticizing it for being made in the US is also not really helpful. Of course it can be difficult for people to relate to the experiences of people being crushed by globalization. But again, that is why this movie is so good, it helps people relate.

If you think the criticisms made would ruin the movie for you then maybe you won't like it and they will have been helpful for you. But I wanted to let you know that despite the criticisms, this movie is basically perfect for what it is meant to be and I would Highly recommend it.

News that the Media does not show
Documentary - This documentary is great for educational purposes and individuals who like to see both sides of the coin, including news that are commonly hidden by our media.

The Fourth World War is "a daring, courageous, heart-pounding intervention against empire" and its destructions of societies. It shows the blunt impacts conglomerates have on the global society, but also the power `small, powerless' individuals have once they get organized. It "is the untold human story of men and women who resist being annihilated in the current global conflict."

"While our airwaves are crowded with talk of a new world war, narrated by generals and filmed from the noses of bombs, the human face of war is rarely seen. This documentary weaves together the images and voices of the war on the ground - from the front lines of struggle for economic survival in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, `the North' from Seattle to Genova, and the `War on Terror' in New York and Iraq. The product of over two years of filming, The Fourth World War is a new kind of film for a new world. The intensity and immediacy of its images are beyond anything the mainstream media can shoot; the intimacy and passion of its stories are beyond anything it can feel. Narrated by Tony Award winner Suheir Hammad and Singer Michael Franti of Spearhead, it is a radical story of hope and human connection in the face of a war that shatters and divides." For further details, go to: www.bignoisefilms.com

powerful imagery of global resistance
One of the main complaints about the dvd is the lack of background information on struggles against globalization, neoliberalism, etc. Because of this I would not recommend this documentary to someone who does not already have some knowledge about these issues and the worldwide resistance. I came upon this dvd looking for a documentary to teach students about third world resistance to globalization, having already shown them documentaries on the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle. The imagery in this video is incredibly powerful, showing everything from the national strikes in Korea to Palestinian children throwing rocks at Israeli tanks. The Fourth World War mainly focuses on images like these, showing average "powerless" people standing up against riot police and the state. It gives minimal background information in the context of an unbiased look at the pros and cons of industrialization, globalization, wto, and what not. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to see 3rd world resistance and the devastating effects of capitalism that members of the first world rarely see. I would not recommend it as an introduction to such issues, unless your view already gravitates towards a radical leftist perspective. If anyones wants more background on such things I would check out the books Confronting Capitalism, and Globalize Liberation. Naomi Klein's documentary The Take also provides an in depth analysis of the how the IMF destroyed Argentina's Economy. Not Sure? Watch if for free before you buy it on Google movies. But don't be fooled, Google is a big evil corporate power cataloging your searches and routinely turning in dissidents to the Chinese government (both of those points are true, look them up if you don't believe me).