Product Description

POWER AND TERROR: NOAM CHOMSKY IN OUR TIMES, a film by John Junkerman, gives the public a rare opportunity to see and listen to one of the most articulate, committed and hard-working political dissidents of our time, MIT linguist and political philosopher Noam Chomsky.

Chomsky has been called "the most important intellectual alive," by the New York Times, yet he has generally been ignored by the mainstream in America. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Chomsky found himself called upon to provide much-needed analysis and historical perspective regarding this moment in American history. In the months following 9/11, Chomsky gave dozens of talks on four continents, conducted scores of media interviews, and published a book called '9-11'-- a surprise bestseller in some of the 22 countries in which it was published.

Chomsky places the terrorist attacks in the context of American foreign intervention throughout the postwar decades-- in Vietnam, Central America, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Beginning with the fundamental principle that any exercise of violence against civilian populations is terrorism-- regardless of whether the perpetrator is a well-organized band of Muslim extremists or the most powerful nation-state in the world-- Chomsky challenges the United States to apply the moral standards it demands of others to its own actions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98368 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-06-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 72 minutes

Review
A lively introduction to the highly articulate political dissident and to his controversial views on 9/11. A glimpse of the tireless patience, passion and openness of the man behind the words. --Variety

Review
Chomsky's arguments are presented with meticulous empirical detail (as well as with modesty, patience and occasional burst of wit). --New York Times

Review
The authority of Chomsky's rhetoric has a sternly cleansing force that can't be dismissed. He wakes you to unseen connections, to scandals the government would like to bury (and usually does). --Entertainment Weekly

Customer Reviews

anything chomsky rates 5 stars ....
I viewed this MOVIE at the time, at its western
hemispheric debut, in Palo Alto, CA and was
disappointed in its craftsmanship as a movie and
a documentary. It felt like almost a home movie
presentation of Chomsky lecturing.

I have to recommend "Manufacturing Consent" as a
superior effort, but as I say in the review title,
anything "Chomsky" gets a 100% in my book. I would
see him in lecture, or any movie that was made about
him.

Noam Chomsky reads and digests books at the rate most
of us go through oxygen. He wrote his first book when
he was a child, and developed a very egalitarian,
democratic uniquely American, and possibly as much
Anti-American (a term he says only has meaning in
extremely totalitarian societies, and has much fun
with as he toys with the idea of Anti-Italianism)
but Chomsky is a rugged idealist, individualist,
without the contempt for the average working folk
and the experience to know what he is talking about.

I am not a liberal or conservative, but I do like facts
and I like to listen to people who know them, understand
them and can enlighten me about their view of the facts.
Chomsky is one person who, whether or not you agree with
him, which I do on most things, but do not on some major
issues, will - if you are willing to listen with an open
mind give you the free benefit of his incredible moral and
encyclopaedic knowledge, and wisdom. Having won as Nobel
prize in Linguistics qualifies him in my mind as well as
one who can abstract ideas and meaning at least as well
and as validly and any human on our planet and qualifies
him as one all of us in the world owe a listen to at least
once.

This man is a national treasure. This is where Power and
Terror is meaningful to me, in just recording Chomsky's
words appearances this movie is important. Where it fails
in my view is that it is too choppy, does not go into
Chomsky's philosphy deeply on any one issue, and does not
challenge Chomsky. In this way it reminded me of a first
effort in cinemetography of hero worship.

If one really wants to see the brilliance and multi-
dimensionality of Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent is better
for that. Power and Terror whets one's appetite for more
Chomsky, more truth, and raw discussion, which to me is
very important and very missing in our national debate.
Personally, I feel any media attention Chomsky can get
is good, so I urge people to see or buy anything that

features his point of view. This man is mischaracterized,
villified, insulted and demeaned by the right-wing radio
host such as Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, etc, men who
name-call and attack the person. If you are even honest
and right wing, and you think you believe what the right
says about Chomsky, then you at least owe it to yourself
to hear what he says and consider it before you pass
judgement.

A Good Introduction
Since September 11 2001 there has been a seemingly endless amount of discussion about what might have led to the events of that day. Naturally, veteran linguist, political commentator and activist Noam Chomsky has become a prominent figure in this discussion, which seems to have raised his profile significantly. This is heartening to me - I cannot think of one person more knowledgeable on the history of US foreign policy than Chomsky and, while only a small selection of this is demonstrated in this DVD, the movie - excerpts from 2002 talks cut with interviews - is certainly a useful introduction to his thinking on global politics. The filmmakers use a well-known New York Times Book Review quote in the introduction - that Chomsky is "arguably the most important intellectual alive" but that "his political writings are maddeningly simple-minded". This last point is close to the truth: Chomsky believes that all countries, especially superpowers, should apply the same standards to themselves as they apply to others. This may seem obvious but to many it seems incomprehensible, a point noted by Chomsky. It forms the basis of a lot of Chomsky's work and is very much in keeping with the man's humanism. And that humanism (and humanity) is one thing those new to Chomsky could not fail to notice: the man is not intellectually pompous, basely emotive or beat-you-about-the-head moralistic. Rather, he comes across as an ordinary guy (ok, a very intelligent and immaculately-researched ordinary guy) speaking his mind and listening to others speak theirs. If you are very familiar with Chomsky's work you won't find much new information here - it's more like a collection of his thinking relevant to 9/11, with a few observations made since. If you're not familiar with Chomsky and are interested in expanding your horizons, this is a great way to start - be prepared for some eye-opening facts.

Great for Chomsky fans
This film may not be for everyone, and maybe it's not for people just starting to read up on Chomsky or watch a documentary about him for the first time...

But it is classic Chomsky, and sometimes it's just pleasant to hear someone being consistent and making sense when they talk. More than anything else, that's what Chomsky means to me.

He's a walking encyclopedia -- knows his stuff. He knows the definition of words he uses. He has a consistent and passionate sense of humanity. He's not a politician, not a liar, and not a hypocrite. And because of this, we love him. Because of this, the world would be a better place with more Chomsky in it. So get this film, and enjoy the delightful sound of someone telling the truth.