The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia (Doc. Review)

So, when I was assigned this... assignment... to watch a documentary, and share my thoughts through a review, I knew just where to go.

Vice is a channel on youtube filled with interesting and compelling documentaries. On their page, they have several categories of documentaries. The largest one, and the one with most views, and by far the most interesting topics, is the one labeled "Danger".

From dog shows on acid, to Japanese suicide forests, the horrifying yet enticing stories are enough to spend hours watching. I had already seen a few, but today I chose one titled "The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia", an hourlong documentary about civil disputes in Liberia.

The fine folks over at vice were interested in what was going on in Liberia, and had been in contact with a Canadian journalist living there. A man named Shane flew to Liberia with a camera man to check things out.

Right away it was apparent that Liberia was in a pretty effed up state.

Through archival footage, Vice explained Liberia's history. Originally created by the United States for freed slaves to go to if they decided to return to Africa. However, once there, the newly instated Africans enslaved the native people and instated the same plantain methods and systems used in America. Eventually, through revolution and war, a African born man, Samuel K. Doe was elected president and the slavery ceased.

Samuel K. Doe

Shortly after the election, however, American educated rebel Charles Taylor, and his companion Prince Johnson began calling for a revolution and an end to the leadership of Doe.

Johnson

Taylor

Through civil war and rampage they reached the presidential house where they tortured and killed Doe, all on camera, and it is said that afterwords they cut him up, and ate him.

Gruesome, I know.

Once Taylor was in power, Liberia began to see the rise of dozens of self appointed warlords, resulting in long, horrible civil war that would devastate the country. Which leads us to today.

Liberia is a post apocalyptic wasteland with a feel and appearance of hell on earth. Shane and his Journalist contact, spoke with several ex-warlords who are now community leaders, either through self change of the conversion to christ, these mass murderers have become leaders in their societies. They work on trying to rebuild and revitalize the villages, even with the presence of the United Nations, not much is getting done at all.

The U.N officials and soldiers instated there are actually making things worse. Besides being inactive in rebuilding efforts, they often abuse drugs and prostitutes in red light districts.

And not only that, but a large threat waits at bay in the dense jungles. Rebels are amassing forces, with child soldiers and powerful weapons. The only thing keeping them at bay is the U.N, but they plan on leaving Liberia in under a year, allowing the rebels to wage war on the poor Liberians and take complete control.

This whole thing really made me think.

A while ago, I was thinking what a great idea it would be to have a worldwide governing force to work for the good of the earth, only to realize we already have one. Or, the shell of one at least.

As we progress as a race, as a species, we need to come together on this small planet we were given. Our technologies and advancements have made it nearly impossible to coexist with all of our conflicting cultures and ways of life.

It will soon be time to face these worldwide problems as a species, as Earthlings, not as divided countries or states.

Think of how much further along to being a whole people if we had a successful and active world court and governing force to deal with conflicts of the utmost importance. We would be all that much closer to being equal. Until then, I think its time we started thinking of ourselves as one people and one planet. Otherwise, we might as well accept the end of all things.

Also here are the film aspects:

Filmed with a single handheld tape camera. The only lighting was from the one mounted on the camera. Mos questions were not scripted, and there were no sets or acting or anything like that. Lots of voiceover and interview.

Batman's Greatest Foe (Its not who you think)

For my first real assignment in my media class this year, I was told to annotate a current movie review, and then review the review and post said review on this blog. Earlier in the summer I had the fortune of being able to attend a Batman Marathon at my local movie theater, at which they would play the newest  Batman film at midnight. My first thought when the film was over, was: that was the best movie I have ever seen. Now, this might just be because Batman has been my favorite Super Hero, or rather, Hero, for a long long time. Everything Batman stands for is so different from other super heroes. Or at least how super hero's are portrayed in films and most of the mainstream comics. I was overjoyed with Christopher Nolan's portrayal of my long-time role model. Showing him as an outcast, all alone, and yet still protecting those who have discarded him, showing the ultimate example of good and nobility. I can't think of a single other super hero movie that exemplifies more moral conflict, sadness, pain, struggle, fight, and triumph as does the new Batman Trilogy.

I was shocked after reading the reviews for The Avengers, and seeing that they were extremely positive. What I saw was a brightly colored, shallow, family flick chock full of bad jokes not worth more than a couple dollars. Batman is not a comedy, unlike many of the super hero films they play in theaters today.

So, for my assignment, I of course wanted to review a review of The Dark Knight Rises. And what has better reviews that the Newyorker Magazine? Let me tell you one thing, and I am directing this at those with control at the Newyorker, what on earth where you thinking letting Anthony Lane's review of The Dark Knight Rises appear in print. I have never read a more ignorant, or ill informed article of any sort in my entire life, and I have read many ignorant articles. First off, the review contains absolutely no comment on aspects of the film other than criticizing Batman Himself. There is no mention of cinematography, acting (other than batman's), set, or costumes. I was in awe of the immaturity of the writers comments, almost directly asking director Christopher Nolan to make shallower movies Among complaints of Batman not getting "wasted with Iron Man" (who, by the way, is in a completely different universe) and the paralyzing stupidity of word combinations such as calling fear and anger "large abstract nouns", perhaps the most appalling sentence of all resides in the last paragraph. Let me remind you, this is a real review printed in the world famous Newyorker Magazine, this is not a joke. And I quote "Over three films we have waited for him to have Bat-Core sex, hanging upside down from a rafter and emitting cries of sonar."

What you've just said, is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling incoherent review, were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought everyone who read it is now dumber for having done so. I give you no sympathy, and may god have mercy on your soul. (Adapted from Billy Madison)
The annotated review: http://diigo.com/0sudu