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Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times

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Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times reviews
48
6.3 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary

Written by:

Directed by: John Junkerman

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 22, 2002
DVD: June 17, 2003

Running Time: 74 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

This documentary presents the latest in Chomsky's thinking, through a lengthy interview and a series of public talks that he gave in New York and California during the spring of 2002.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

83

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

At 73, Chomsky seems to understand everything about power and aggression -- except, that is, its centrality to human nature.

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75

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

With Chomsky as its star, this documentary cannot go far wrong, even though filmmaker John Junkerman intersperses Chomsky footage with some really bad Japanese pop music.

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70

The New York Times Dana Stevens

A searching and wide-ranging debate has unfolded about America's response to terrorism and, more broadly, about the history and future of its role in the world. Mr. Junkerman's film is best understood as a necessary, if partisan, text in that continuing argument.

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63

Boston Globe Janice Page

Would have benefited from putting a wider lens on the man and his detractors.

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60

LA Weekly Marc Cooper

Plays more like a disjointed radio show with pictures -- The power of Chomsky's intellect and message are poorly served when pigeonholed by the hagiography of some of his supporters.

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60

TV Guide Ken Fox

Anyone unfamiliar with Chomsky's work may be unsettled by his unblinking critique of the U.S. policy at a time when patriotism is the order of the day, and while he fails to offer any real solutions, his conscientious perspectives on the questions remain invaluable.

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60

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Chomsky deserves a more thoughtful documentary than Power and Terror, and in fact he got it in 1993's "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media" --The film's main flaw is the absence of other voices -- From a cinematic point of view, two sides of an issue are always better than one.

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50

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Michael Moore makes many of the same points, with far more impact, in "Bowling for Columbine."

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50

Variety Ronnie Scheib

Offers a lively introduction to the highly articulate political dissident and to his controversial views on 9/11.

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40

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Bumrushed onto American screens like late-breaking news, the Japanese TV doc Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times is a relatively thin slice of Chomskiana -- a chapter from any of the man's many interview volumes, or even an hour of his C-SPAN dialogues, has more political substance.

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40

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Doesn't aspire to do much more than disseminate Chomsky's ideas. On that level, it's a success, but on every other level, it's downright snooze-inducing.

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20

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Its important if inflammatory message will bore all but Chomsky's fellow travelers to death.

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20

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Dull and meandering documentary.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Rachel B. gave it a 10:
"The truth shall set you free" and Chomsky initiates that process in this movie. People feel liberated by receiving truth, rather than sound bites aimed to manipulate. We find truth piercing here as integrity wins over loud mouthed sensationalism common to mainstream media. Thank heavens for Chomsky; may there be many more like him.

Tony S. gave it an 8:
It's not meant to be entertaining, but it sure is pertinent to what's going down (and I mean down) right now March 20 2003. Somehow Chomsky still feels optimistic - I wish I could.

John gave it a 0:
This movie was horrible... one of the worst I've seen in a long time, and I'm actually interested in politics. It teaches Americans why terrorism exists? It teaches a one-sided theory, thats all.

Ryan A. gave it a 10:
This fantastic film, Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times, becomes a crucially significant film because, unfortunately, so few films like this are made. John Junkerman is proof that not all directors are either tools or cowards. The film itself is really for everyone; watching this film is necessary for anyone who can handle seeing a film of such profound honesty and integrity.

Omar A. gave it a 10:
This movie is a great teacher for why terrorism exists in the world. It is a must see for the general american public!! Thanks!

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