Public Reviews
Stupid-o-meter
Average score for Age of Stupid from our public reviewers:
85%
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Any comments from climate deniers/sceptics will be deleted. The debate about whether climate change is partly man-made is over. One of the key reasons we are now so desperately short of time in which to act to avert runaway climate change is that decades were lost to the deniers' pointless, ill-informed, obfuscating arguments. See Climate Denial for more.
But, of course, if you hated our film and want to be very rude about it, go for it.
And if you fancy a barney, there's a fearsome debate about the film raging on the Guardian website.
I took two 12 yr olds and a 7 yr old to see this movie .... the 7 yr old ask afterwards if we were all going to die and the 12 yr olds asked what was the point of them trying if rich people were going to still use planes and use far more carbon that they would use in their childhood alone? That's a lot of my teaching undone! .... This is the generation who's age the film is calling stupid, not a good way to get them on side really. The film needed more positive suggestion not an excess of negative reflection, there is a whole new generation of creative, sideways thinking individuals emerging - waiting to be encouraged, united, respected and not made to feel it's too late and therefore depressed into inaction ..... a disappointing film.
Earth 2100 was a 2 hour rip-off on Age of Stupid that played on ABC tv last night. They patched together talking heads with comics and narration by a woman looking back from the year 2100. Parent company Disney also recently released Earth, the movie, a BBC rip-off. The deniers are riled anyways against ABC thinking of showing it again. Maybe they were behind the technical glitches in the broadcast. There is still a niche for Age of Stupid though, especially if a repeat showing doesn't happen. But DVD's will sell. Their script is online.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Earth2100/story?id=7697237&page=1
I'm just back from a local screening of 'The Age of Stupid', and wanted to say what a terrifyingly brilliant film it is. I'll do my best to spread the word and try to persuade as many people as possible to go and see it.
Bits of it made me weep, parts made me laugh, my jaw hit the floor on several occasions, but the overall message was breathtakingly powerful. Deeply impressive stuff. Can't imagine watching such a film and remaining unconvinced of the need to do whatever it takes to reduce our emissions a.s.a.p.
Makes me feel like something out of Asterix and the falling sky!
It goes well with Mad Max.
terrifying, but at last someone has the balls to give it us straight. when the hell will the world wake up and take action! i for one will be stoking up the action levels! come on!!!
I was so looking forward to the showing and came away very disappointed. I was hoping for some clear connection, at least suggested, between the problem of CC and the way we live, with growth and profit for the few fuelling our disastrous system and hierarchical institutions designed to protect the system and to forestall or prevent change. Secondly there was little to suggest how the system could be dismantled or replaced, or how we could begin a process leading to a new way of life. The danger is that that there is no time for liberal reformism, which leaves the basic system intact with a new coat of paint. Radical change will soon be forced on us by Nature if we fail to make such change ourselves - and it won't be pretty. The audience discussion after the film-showing was largely about plastic bags and a bit more home-insulation. What do you hope the film will provoke?
Surely we need to move towards an entirely new concept of rural-urban relationship with the majority engaged in growing food, co-operating with each other rather than competing, and living within an ecological system with a new humility. Cities have had ten thousand years and they are finished because they lead us into overshooting our environment, alienating us from Nature and destroying our planetary home.
Went to the premiere, and again to the local cinema with our village climate chage group. The film is fantastic for showing to those milions of people that are still asleep. It has to wake up every one who sees it, surely! We have booked an Indie screening for our village and are moving heaven and earth to get the seats filled...calling in all sorts of favours to push past the apathy and denial that surrounds us.
Thanks is not enough to you all for the devotion and sacrifices you have made and are continuing to do so. I hope you feel supported by the cushion of us all working away on the same train as you, invisible as we are!
Very best wishes, Vikki
Went to the people’s premier of Franny Armstrong’s film Age of Stupid last night, and have the feeling I have been at the birth of a social movement that really has the potential to send an unequivocal mandate to government. My activist spirit has been dormant for a while now; it’s disheartening when you can’t take politicians at face value, and have to spend time and energy speculating, theorizing or unravelling spin and outright deceit.
Last night, at the press conference following the film’s screening, I completely got Ed Miliband’s argument that his time was best spent lessening the impact of something that was going to happen anyway (coal-fired power), and believed it was heartfelt. (He is the UK’s Secretary of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change.) But I also appreciated the ruthlessness Franny displayed in showing the way forward; of delivering the smack on the bottom that forced this movement, mewling and crying, into life. (For a short summary of what happened at the press conference, see today’s Guardian article.)
If in a democracy a critical mass of opinion is reached, a government should respond or be dissolved. How much easier for a government to form opinion and manufacture consent. But last night felt like a showdown, and the people pulling the strings of new media defeated the stranglehold of the spin doctors. In this short interregnum between old and new media, the channels of mass communication went unguarded, and someone to contend with rolled in. (Interesting to see Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former press spokesperson, there on the green carpet, nailing his colours to the new mast!)
I thought Franny Armstrong was really impressive at the press conference last night – mischievous, persistent, courageous. Like a modern-day Socrates, she was a gadfly stinging the sluggish Ed Miliband, and UK citizens, to life. Anyway, she has roused me to action!
Her social movement and her ‘Not Stupid’ pledge has the feel of a gathering critical mass of opinion. If you want to be part of it, sign up here: http://www.ageofstupid.net/notstupid !
I have spent the last 40 years kinda waiting for the world to catch up... I never had kids as I felt the greatest thing we can do is reduce our numbers, before nature cruelly and very efficiently reduces them for us. I am so uplifted that so many young people now are taking action. The G20 Climate Camp was good for my soul! We hope to show this film at my Uni and I think we should be giving out free contraceptives to make the point?! Huraah - maybe the human race isn't genetically programmed to self-destruct after all. Hope for our beautiful garden planet..
I came here on a train (well 9 actually) and a boat. I haven't flown since 2006, and I don't intend to ever again. Yet, I fell in love with a Japanese man. If we get married, we would live in the UK. But, he will not give up flying and by bringing him to the UK I will be responsible for the flights he takes to see friends and family for the rest of his life.Does the climate demand that I break up with the love of my life?
I sincerely wish to thank and congratulate you guys on your dedicated aproach to the preservation of our beloved Earth.
Ambitious documentary that delivers a powerful message, though some segments are markedly less successful than others and parts of the film are occasionally confusing.
I saw the film last night, and unlike some of my friends who were a bit scooped by it even while admiring it, I found it totally uplifting to see so much sense, intelligence, humour and class in one elegantly short film. I am buzzing today. Praise to you all.
Great film – let’s do more than hope it makes the difference.
So many people seem to be shocked or awakened by Stupid whilst for me it feels like a good “I told you so” opportunity. The only thing I think your film avoided was the fairly obvious point that the world’s population increasing from 6 to 9 billion is some sort of foregone conclusion but we can still arrest global warming – whilst the population was briefly mentioned, I don’t think the message was strong enough compared to the rest of the film.
I am intrigued to know if the film has any practical suggestions as to what we should be doing or is it intended more to try and scare people into action, such as rushing to turn off their TV standby buttons. The problem is that too many people are saying that every little bit helps but in reality what we should be saying is “every BIG helps”.
Hey the Age of Stupid was brilliant, so glad I went to see it. I interviewed the two friends I took with me afterwards and I didn't even have to ask them any questions they just talked and talked.
I've run out of superlatives. Simply, an unforgettable evening. I was awake half the night thinking about it. The world seems a little different today, in the lovely spring sunshine. I'm so very proud of what Team Stupid have achieved, so far. And I'm honoured to have been involved.
I had taken lots of tissues, expecting to be crying a lot but it was only later that it really began to sink in, I couldn't get to sleep and got quite upset. I have a number of times in the past, but Age of Stupid really rammed it home. It is a slow burner of a film,
whose images and contradictions really only come to the fore once
you've had time to digest and think about the stories and images.
The film acted to distill, and make stark, the totally misplaced and confused framework through which we value things. So I think there will be quite a few positive changes
around here.
Oh, what a première. My daughter and I were in the Bristol Vue venue.....and bowled over. I wish you all success, and commend you, Franny and all your team for everything - you are all stunningly committed and wonderful people.
The approach of the film is so fresh and non-preachy which I found the best thing, but what got me the most was by the end of the film I was crying my eyes out. I found the whole thing so moving. It was like a wave that gradually built up before sweeping over me and then came crashing down (a bit like climate change really!).
If one/two people can make such a great film, with all the great characters, making such good points so clearly then I feel hopeful that many people can pull off a coherent and robust climate agreement at Copenhagen and much more besides. It gave me great hope for humankind.
Another inspired moviegoer.
I woke up having seemed to have 'thought the film' all night. Since watching the film everything we do seems to carry an extra layer of responsibility - and this is from an oldie who is already an activist. There's always more that can be done, and we'll be looking for it. Thank you for your amazing effort. This just could move the buggers....
Very disappointed by this film and the movement behind it. I was exhausted by the film's depressing tone and tired style, as well as the gleefully energetic but utterly useless activist noise around it. The makers of the film, as relatively wealthy and privileged Western urbanites have enjoyed global travel from making this, and other films - you can see that from the 'making of' video. Of course now they've done what they have done, the order from their ivory tower is that the rest of us have to curb our lifestyles... with the implication that those on earth who haven't yet had a chance to enjoy a bit of comfort, and perhaps see how other people live in other countries, will have to stay put and shut up. This is utterly unrealistic and the fact that such intelligent people made all this noise anyway, whilst knowing how totally unrealistic (and morally questionable!) it is, makes me quite angry, frankly.
On a point of fact, and again depressing because the team behind this film continuously post ego-massaging videos and photos of themselves on their, and as many other people's websites and news channels as they can - this knee-jerk air travel bashing is horrendously out of date. Only today in The Guardian (although the reports have been around for the last year or so) the following was written:
'a secondary result of the explosion of internet use is that the computer industry's carbon debt is increasing drastically. From having a relatively small impact just a few years ago, it is now leapfrogging other sectors like the airline industry that are more widely known for their negative environmental impact.'
This is only the beginning. The world wants information at its fingertips - for this the internet is a truly marvelous development. The human race wants to travel - the airplane is a truly beautiful invention. The world wants to live in comfort, have a car, have a fridge... and who am I to deny them that?
Nature is far bigger and better than us, and if our destiny is to be made to realise that we were stupid and that the human race will sooner or later extinguish itself, then so be it! Nature will move on, and perhaps something more interesting will follow... a really good (and much less arrogant) film would have pointed to this sublime and transcendent inevitability.
Very insightful especially about what it will be like for my generation, very scary and you made me feel motivated.
I saw your wonderful film tonight, and I want everyone I know to see it, so I shall tell them all.
The Age of Stupid was an incredible film.
But it isn't just great entertainment it contains an important message too.
Unless we act now, urgently, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions which are fuelling climate change, the human costs will be terrible and our children and grandchildren will neither understand, nor forgive, our stupidity.
Although I've seen it already (not at the premiere, which was full here in Plymouth, but at the repeat screening a week later) I'm going again on 11th June and taking as many as possible of my friends with me.
I wanted to say an enormous thanks for making the film. If you'd been in the Green Party (then called the Ecology Party) 25 years ago, as I was, you'd have known all about then Climate Change then, though it was known as the Greenhouse effect in the early 80s. (But perhaps you did? You just look so young to me that I imagine you couldn't possibly have) The snail's pace of the growth of public awareness since then has been enough to make me weep with frustration at times. "Live the change you want to see", has been my constant mantra. Now, at last, this awareness is opening up. There seem to be people who are still frustrated by the slowness, but to me, it’s lightning in comparison. Your film is helping that process tremendously, and the growing awareness in turn helps to create more dynamic talks, books, films anything and everything that helps it to spread.
And all the time we’re getting closer to too late! But this is the story, part of the great Saga of the Earth, and it’s not the first cliff-hanger to have occurred, but it is the first one that humanity has been so involved in, as having both caused it, and being aware of it as it’s happening….. That is what is so awesome to me. Now we, as a human race, have are beginning to shift our focus, and that is just what your film helps us, as individuals, to do so brilliantly. And it's only by individuals changing their focus that humanity as a whole will finally grasp it, and loose this reluctance to knowing. Then things will irreversibly change for the better.
You already know this already, I know, and it's such a relief that at last so many people really do. But please don't wear yourself out!
PB
I saw the screening on Tuesday night in San Francisco. Since seeing your movie, my vision of daily life, minute to minute is completely different. I see many things now, in terms of how they are contributing to climate change.
My friend who walks with me every other day, was the one to pass me info about the movie. She is originally from England and has relatives who saw the movie there and passed on info for us, thank god. We were discussing her plans to fly to Santa Fe, on......May 22nd! to see a friend's opening of her painting show and support her while there. Well, the bottom line is she won't be flying, but she may look into a train or driving and if not she will be watching my big screen of your party. We discussed dragging back our clothes lines into use. Both of us were thinking simultaneously of finding work to either help the movement and show your movie or at least get word out.
My friend who is quite sensitive told me that I was sounding like a born again Christian (derogatory in this case) about your movie and my awakening to Climate Change and finally GETTING IT. I just need to hone my skills as to be more specific and give the message without raising hairs and fear. So far, I have had several reactions from, I don't like to hear about this because it is too depressing to discussions about actual shows or articles others have seen or read that are alarming. Lots of us get it, just kind of, but not enough to be motivated to do something about it.
I have always felt very strongly against plastic water bottles. I know this may be only a tip of the iceberg, however it is something. I speak my mind about them to my friends. Several are hanging onto them. One woman who is very smart, an attorney, said "my husband still uses them, I buy them for him". She also said......... well they are recyclable. She didn't say this to defend her husband or herself. This was a sort of question as well as an answer. I realized that this was a good line which helps us glaze over and continue on with our behavior as always. So I said to her, you know, I know that, but because I have heard so much stuff against them and it always makes sense to me, I need to do my research and get the facts and see just how they are contributing to climate change and get back to you.
I am on a new path after seeing your film. I will be me more proactive, search out knowledge from scientists that really know, get my facts straight, make correct assumptions and speak so that I am heard and the message gets through rather then washed off as alarmist and annoying.
So this morning, I am stating to you, my first task. I will research the water bottle thing. I will write up my findings. I will create some visuals and post to that friend and anyone else that is interested.
Thank you for being you and having the smarts, creativity and energy to wake us up.
My husband is a physics teacher in the public schools here (San Francisco Unified School District). He is very excited about getting the school packets when they are available here. And I am jazzed about upcoming Sept. when the film will be available here in the states! When I post my plastic bottle thesis, your stupid widget will be right there.
Franny Armstrong's devastating and riveting documentary looks back from the future when the global warming already destroyed the earth and how humans failed to save it knowingly. Through six intimate tales on five continents and several animated sequences the director shows how we have all we need to make the significant and crucial changes in a race against time to save the planet but so far we have failed. As the film proves we indeed live in an age of stupid, ignorance and pure greed. A film everybody on earth has to see whether they want or not, everybody has been warned and everybody will be guilty. Be afraid, very afraid. YRCinema's coverage of the San Francisco International Film Festival.