Rating: 
Summary: The Danger Is Clear
Review: A lot about USA The Movie can be summed up in its title. It draws parallels between the attitudes of this country in the face of war and a kind of Hollywood-like
falseness that glorifies things that shouldn't be glorified. I'm not sure I agree with the filmmaker's take on recent events (although, truthfully, I can't always tell exactly where he stands) but I admire the unusual and artistic way of getting the point across. Audio tracks of speeches, radio interviews, poetry etc. play as large a role here as visuals. Most of the time the visuals of the story are accompanied by these audio elements to good effect. I'm kind of a radio buff so it was satisfying to hear the way that radio was integrated into the pace of the movie. In fact, most of the dialog takes place over the story rather than having characters talk to one another. That's not to say that there aren't "characters" (real people), but except for "Jim" the protagonist ( a kind of '60's drop out with an erratic state of mind) the others come and go pretty quickly. A few make a very powerful impression, especially a guru-like taxi driver who seems to be the voice of wisdom itself. When he breaks out into a spontaneous song of prayer while driving Jim to the subway, it is a very powerful moment. On the cover of the DVD is the quote "The danger is clear" which is taken from President Bush's speech that paved the way to our incursion into Iraq. In retrospect, hearing that speech at a climactic moment in the film brought home how we are living in a historically charged moment which will always be remembered.
Rating:
Summary: BUSH 2004??
Review: First, I am not a Bush supporter. I watched the DVD yesterday and since then I had time to think about the upcoming election. USA is a disturbing movie and equally fascinating. I started to watch it and immediately I got sucked in the story, the main character, the people, the humor, the sorrow and especially the radio. The sound is excellent (not what you're used to) it's well designed and naturally subtle. I own a good system but I discovered that the movie plays better without any compression, as is. I have to admit that I am not a political guru but the movie played each disaster in a way that won't allow you to forget and presented the facts with ease and simplicity. Above all, I've changed my mind about Bush. (I don't think that is the intention of this film) Here is why: I've never heard Bush give speeches like this. His words accompanied with Music bring out this man's essence and compassion. He really went through hell since he got in office. The movie plays his inauguration speech and it really shows how much he cares. I truly believe him despite what the media or any other candidate tries to reflect on his behavior. This movie is exciting and I will see it over and over. Over all, I really recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Hallelujah!
Review: Here's a short list of people I'm into: Amy Goodman, Howard Zinn, Martin Luther King, Jello Biafra and Sam Hamill. Here's a movie that has them all in it and more. Their voices are major part of this film. Even Dubya and Joe McCarthy have their say but it's a free country, right? This is a totally original feeling movie.
Honestly being from San Francisco, I never thought I'd live to see the day when a film (okay an independent DVD) like this would exist. It was also visually very different than any other video projects I've seen. It didn't have the usual documentary feel to it at all. In fact, it's not a documentary but it has a great deal of "real" elements in it. Still, it felt more "filmic" than not. The story takes place in present day America with all the craziness that implies. There is a strong emphasis on the tragedy of September 11th as the main character goes through a transformation that takes him from a RV driving, easy living American to a devastated soul trapped in an Apocalyptic landscape. He acts as our eyes and ears, At first he is blind and deaf to the plight of others being killed, displaced and bombed in retribution for 9/11; then as he has a sort of awakening it drives him to insanity. We should all be so lucky. I haven't seen any film take on this time of war this way. It leaves you feeling terrified by what human beings are capable of doing and how we're capable of so much violence despite our hopes for Peace On Earth.
Rating:
Summary: I'm using it to teach students
Review: I heard about USA the Movie through Democratic Underground while I was searching for media materials to use for my Non-Violent action curriculum. I wanted to utilize a broad spectrum of video and text resources to engage the students in my course. This film is a great example of a visceral and idiosyncratic way to present historical issues. I am using it along with some of the more clear-cut documentary style video pieces that are available to give the students a taste of the wide variety of ways that they can learn and get involved. Projects like this film inspire young people to express themselves in their own voice without feeling intimidated by standard styles. There's nothing more important than making kids feel that they too have something to say and that they have the freedom to say it. This movie definitely takes you on a trip. It's almost psychedelic in its approach and demands focus and attention (something that's important to teach young people these days in the post MTV hyper-stimulated world). It ends with an unrelenting list of grim statistics about war, violence and domination and Gandhi's plea to "live simply that others may simply live". Whatever the reaction may be from each student regarding the film I'm sure it will start a heated and fruitful discussion.
Rating:
Summary: Really Different
Review: I think this movie is well worth checking out. It's not at all typical. In other words, if you're looking for something to chill out to or have some fun with, you should look elsewhere. This movie is very simple but very complicated all at the same time. It has a main character of sorts, a real person, not an actor, strangely enough named Jim Kirk. He's kind of an Everyman, not someone who's personality stands out but who acts as a through- line for the action. Jim is definitely a strange guy. One minute he seems calm and indifferent, even Zen-like, then he's laughing with a buddy about the tragedy of Hiroshima and then he's hanging out with a group of old hippie peace activists and he's fitting right in. All of his travels are set against the backdrop of the aftermath of 9/11 through the war in Afghanistan (remember that?), and the invasion of Iraq. The film also has very interesting and moving sequences that give you a sound journey through American history. The footage of Ground Zero is amazing and eerie. A lot different than what I've seen before on the news. There's not a focus on a plot in USA THE MOVIE. It really is more of a collage that leads to a kind of epic ending. All of this is accompanied by what the filmmaker calls "voices in time" : lots of audio appearances by well known people from history. I really haven't seen anything like it before but it's definitely the kind of DVD that is great to own because it's almost like a book. You can look at it many times and catch lots of things you might have missed the first, second or third times. And my favorite thing is the DVD cover!
Rating:
Summary: It stayed with me
Review: I watched my favorite show CSI Miami after watching USA The Movie. What surprised me was that the show irritated me for once. The two experiences side-by-side didn't go well together. So, I went to bed and had really strange dreams about the movie, especially the forest scene (which I don't want to give away). The next night after work I watched the movie again and I got into its rhythm and I was really hit by the message of how tuned out we all are. I've been thinking about it ever since but in some ways I wish I could stop.
Rating:
Summary: I strongly recommend it.
Review: I watched USA The Movie and I have to say that I was really impressed. America has been through a lot. America made too many mistakes and sometimes you just can't help it. The movie shows that clearly and it definitely shows the consequences. Great and memorable audio, amazing collage of human expressions and definitely a great story with an odd, strange fellow named Kirk. I strongly recommend you to see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Will we never forget?
Review: It's funny because I read all the reviews on this page after getting this movie and it's either a love it or hate it reaction. You'll probably either love it or hate it too. I think the best films are the ones that divide people because obviously they have some kind of impact. I'm in the five star camp because this film did a real number on me and made me want to go back and find out more about Afghanistan and Iraq. I have to admit that I was pretty tuned out when all that was taking place. Especially Afghanistan and I feel guilty about that. The music through the movie was beautiful. I kept getting lost in it especially during some of the historical flashbacks. Personally, I thought the audio was great. It seemed to me that the soundtrack with speeches, music and the radio was put together so that you feel like you're in the RV with Jim, the main character, or in his head. Everything not on the radio was very clear and everything on the radio sounded like it was really on the radio. Anyway, this is a very amazing DVD which made me cry.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Present I Got For The Holidays
Review: Like many folks I was so hopeful before the election. I really believed that we, as a nation, would realize our folly and correct our mistake. It was obvious. It couldn't go any other way. Well, needless to say, King George W. has been crowned again and I don't know what the hell has happened to our country. Stolen election or not, this time in history has me confused and has me searching for answers.
I got this DVD for the holidays from a friend who is like-minded. He had been raving about it for months: talking about how it really manages to nail the feeling of our times and somehow manages to bring home this feeling of lostness that seems to have grabbed ahold of America. Not that America thinks that it's lost, no, the country is certain that it has all the answers. But from a different perspective there is more and more confusion and it is all tied up in a weird smugness with a topping of fear.
But USA The Movie is somehow is comforting because any piece of art (and this really is art) that makes you feel that you are not alone in your thoughts and views is comforting. The movie takes a piece of historical torment and rides it all the way to the end where nothing is left. Human error? Nuclear annihilation? Global warming? Is their any way out of this mess? The film ponders these questions. It reminded me all too clearly how we were lied to by our "leaders", how we swallowed that lie and didn't really blink an eye. How some of us did rise up for a short time to say NO! but that was that. Once the ball got rolling with war and the march of so-called "freedom", what happened to the outcry? I ask myself that question too. Why did I, and so many others just let it go?
On an interesting note. When my friend and I talked about the movie some of the things that we discussed made us think that maybe we were talking about two different movies. We almost had an argument about certain things that were and weren't in it. At one point I thought that maybe I was getting pre-Alzheimer's because I couldn't remember seeing a couple of scenes he mentioned. On the other hand, the film is so packed with ideas and thoughts that it isn't surprising that some things might stay in one person's mind and slip another. Finally, we got together and checked our copies. Sure enough, they are different. The version my friend got for me is a newer one. So we had a very interesting time comparing the two. All in all, an absolute must view, whatever version you might have.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT AND POETIC
Review: See it and take your time. Then watch it again and again. This is a great piece of work that every American needs to see.
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