Rating: 
Summary: Wackos?
Review: A great overview of the student movement. (You can take "movement" however you want - orchestral or more primal). I was so inspired to see the historical sites I went to Berkeley over the weekend. In addition to all the positives the movement brought (according to the film's main players), the wreckage is pretty bad. Kids and burnouts smoking dope on the sidewalk and selling headbands and reggae red, black, and green hats. Capitalism at its finest. My favorite? A teen with a sign "It's my Birthday - need money for drugs." Wow man! Great guerrila theater :-). This would be more galling with the clock wound back and Kruschev poised on the edge of West Berlin (and possibly WW III) and probing elsewhere. (Yes, there actually were bad commies). I'm probably taking the counterculture's gains for granted, which is a testament to their lasting achievement. This film covers these achievements very well. I paerticularly liked the Berkeley movement viewed in the context of mainstream politics of the day (McCarthy, RFK, Chicago '68, Reagan). The extras are great too. This is the best view I've seen of the era and movement (where most of my PolSci Professors seemed to come from - ha). But since I was rooting for Reagan by the end, does that make ME a wacko? I really admire the folks in this film. The era's left are given a voice and humanized in a good way. Even the most theoretical-minded ("wacko") former students are brilliant in the recent interviews. They are inspirational in ways that standard pols are not. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: Wackos?
Review: A great overview of the student movement. (You can take "movement" however you want - orchestral or more primal). I was so inspired to see the historical sites I went to Berkeley over the weekend. In addition to all the positives the movement brought (according to the film's main players), the wreckage is pretty bad. Kids and burnouts smoking dope on the sidewalk and selling headbands and reggae red, black, and green hats. Capitalism at its finest. My favorite? A teen with a sign "It's my Birthday - need money for drugs." Wow man! Great guerrila theater :-). This would be more galling with the clock wound back and Kruschev poised on the edge of West Berlin (and possibly WW III) and probing elsewhere. (Yes, there actually were bad commies). I'm probably taking the counterculture's gains for granted, which is a testament to their lasting achievement. This film covers these achievements very well. I paerticularly liked the Berkeley movement viewed in the context of mainstream politics of the day (McCarthy, RFK, Chicago '68, Reagan). The extras are great too. This is the best view I've seen of the era and movement (where most of my PolSci Professors seemed to come from - ha). But since I was rooting for Reagan by the end, does that make ME a wacko? I really admire the folks in this film. The era's left are given a voice and humanized in a good way. Even the most theoretical-minded ("wacko") former students are brilliant in the recent interviews. They are inspirational in ways that standard pols are not. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: Wackos?
Review: A great overview of the student movement. (You can take "movement" however you want - orchestral or more primal). I was so inspired to see the historical sites I went to Berkeley over the weekend. In addition to all the positives the movement brought (according to the film's main players), the wreckage is pretty bad. Kids and burnouts smoking dope on the sidewalk and selling headbands and reggae red, black, and green hats. Capitalism at its finest. My favorite? A teen with a sign "It's my Birthday - need money for drugs." Wow man! Great guerrila theater :-). This would be more galling with the clock wound back and Kruschev poised on the edge of West Berlin (and possibly WW III) and probing elsewhere. (Yes, there actually were bad commies). I'm probably taking the counterculture's gains for granted, which is a testament to their lasting achievement. This film covers these achievements very well. I paerticularly liked the Berkeley movement viewed in the context of mainstream politics of the day (McCarthy, RFK, Chicago '68, Reagan). The extras are great too. This is the best view I've seen of the era and movement (where most of my PolSci Professors seemed to come from - ha). But since I was rooting for Reagan by the end, does that make ME a wacko? I really admire the folks in this film. The era's left are given a voice and humanized in a good way. Even the most theoretical-minded ("wacko") former students are brilliant in the recent interviews. They are inspirational in ways that standard pols are not. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: Required Viewing
Review: Any student of the 60's / Vietnam War must see this movie. Also must see "Hearts and Minds",
For those who have seen both, it's interesting that Mario Savio in this movie and George Coker in "Hearts and Minds" look so much alike they could be brothers - yet so ideologically apart - metaphor for America at the time!And if you really want to get into the dark side of humanity, see "No Substitute for Victory" - John Wayne's low grade but effective propaganda movie.
Rating:
Summary: Required Viewing
Review: Any student of the 60's / Vietnam War must see this movie. Also must see "Hearts and Minds",
For those who have seen both, it's interesting that Mario Savio in this movie and George Coker in "Hearts and Minds" look so much alike they could be brothers - yet so ideologically apart - metaphor for America at the time! And if you really want to get into the dark side of humanity, see "No Substitute for Victory" - John Wayne's low grade but effective propaganda movie.
Rating:
Summary: Roots of Rebellion
Review: Anyone interested in understanding the sixties counter-culture or American history in general needs to see this movie. Additionally, as a child of hippies, it gave me a greater understanding of my parents and myself.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting look into Berkeley in the '60s
Review: As a student of American History, this is certainly one of the most interesting films I've had the opportunity to view. From the footage of Mario Savio's arrest at the Regents' forum to the interviews with former Black Panther leaders and also Vietnam draftees, there is a lot of raw human emotion and reaction captured on tape. Truly an excellent documentary that seeks to be more than a documentary-- and succeeds in becoming a true reflection of life.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all time Favorites
Review: Berkeley in the Sixties is a well done documentary which does an excellent job of communicating the issues and events of one of the most pivotal decades of the twentieth century. Berkeley was the center of the social upheaval which defined the sixties and understanding what happened there helps us to understand the change and chaos which woke up America. Although a documentary, this video is amazingly easy to watch. While its appeal is no doubt greatest to those of us who were part of the events depicted, I think it would also interest anyone who would like to better understand what really happened during that time. It would be equally useful in an American history class or as an evening's entertainment. We have seen in several times in our home and it remains a favorite.
Rating: 
Summary: no closed captioning option
Review: Great, balanced documentary... but no closed captioning available. Not very progressive, folks, to omit such a basic feature from a dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Amazing!
Review: I can not describe this movie except in one way. I am a student, when I go to class I normally end up falling asleep whether it be with a TA lecturing, the Professor lecturing, or even a movie. However, this film...wow! I actually watched the whole film, and wrote a few papers on it, and referenced it my final. No BS! No matter who you are I would reccommend this film HANDS DOWN!
|
