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Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 6 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
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.
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Film Forum Profile Official Author Site
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...
Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
At 73, Chomsky seems to understand everything about power and aggression -- except, that is, its centrality to human nature.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Janice Page
Would have benefited from putting a wider lens on the man and his detractors.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
Michael Moore makes many of the same points, with far more impact, in "Bowling for Columbine."
Read Full Review >Variety Ronnie Scheib
Offers a lively introduction to the highly articulate political dissident and to his controversial views on 9/11.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >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.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
Its important if inflammatory message will bore all but Chomsky's fellow travelers to death.
Read Full Review >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!
