In the early 20th century while studying world mythology, Joseph Campbell discovered a pattern hidden in every story ever told and called it 'The Hero's Journey'. This film, titled 'Finding Joe', is about the ultimate hero's journey: the journey of self-discovery.
As you 'slay dragons and uncover treasures' you may just find that the holy grail you seek is closer than you think – namely, within yourself.
I AM is an engaging and entertaining non-fiction film that poses two practical questions: what’s wrong with our world, and what can we do to make it better? The filmmaker behind the inquiry is Tom Shadyac, one of Hollywood’s leading comedy practitioners and the creative force behind “Ace Ventura,” “Liar Liar,” “The Nutty Professor,” and “Bruce Almighty.”
However, in I AM, Shadyac steps in front of the camera to recount what happened to him after a cycling accident left him completely incapacitated. Though he ultimately recovered, he emerged with a new sense of purpose, determined to share his own awakening to his prior life of excess and greed.
Armed with nothing but his innate curiosity and a small crew to film his adventures, Shadyac set out to investigate how he as an individual, and humanity as a whole, could improve the way we live and walk in the world. On his quest, he met with a variety of thinkers and doers from the worlds of science, philosophy, academia, and faith, such as David Suzuki, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Desmond Tutu, Lynne McTaggart, Ray Anderson, John Francis, Coleman Barks, and Marc Ian Barasch.
Shadyac appears on-screen as an irrepressible everyman who asks tough questions but offers no easy answers. The result is a fresh, energetic, and life-affirming film that challenges our preconceptions about human behavior, while simultaneously celebrating the unconquerable human spirit.
Editor's note: Since I'm not religious I do not subscribe to the 'turn the other cheek' philosophy that is outlined in this film. I believe that peaceful people who are attacked because of their convictions have a right -an obligation even- to defend themselves and their loved ones. In addition to that I'm not a fan of Obama, but other than these two aforementioned 'flaws' I think the movie is great.
Volume I – Messages from the Past focuses on a hidden episode in human history, unlocking the secrets of the Precession of the Equinoxes and its significance. Zero Point uncovers the messages expressed through ancient monuments worldwide, examines various maps, monuments, and artifacts that seem to reveal great secrets about the nature of time, our past, and our future. It seems we are approaching a point in time known as the singularity but what does that mean?
Volume II – The Structure of Infinity takes a look at the fractal nature of the universe through an examination of the Mandelbrot set, the Fibonacci sequence, and the Golden Ratio, which can be found throughout the natural world and in the ancient megaliths.
Volume III – The Legacy of the Ark examines the secrets of the Ark of the Covenant. What was the Ark? What was its purpose and how did it work? By attempting to answer some of these questions it might be possible to gain an understanding of how to harness Zero Point energy.
Volume IV – Beyond explores the nature of consciousness, examining scientific discoveries that demonstrate the effect of consciousness on the material world, and considers the implications. Part 4 ventures beyond the limits of our perceptions and into a realm of infinite information that is the Zero Point Field.
A word of caution: part 4 has some intense background visuals and may be difficult to watch for some viewers.
In my opinion 'Branded' a.k.a 'The Mad Cow' and 'Moscow 2017' is a movie that should not be watched as entertainment but rather studied for its highly educational content.
It was written and directed by two marketing executives (Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn) and the movie's dystopian imagery comes straight from their extensive experience in the field. It was made by a Russian production company and after watching it you will understand why a movie like 'Branded' would never see the light of day in Tinseltown.
In a nutshell, one could say that this is a movie about introducing the principles of capitalism to a newly established democracy, by using the insidious methods of marketing. That, however, would not do the movie justice because it has so much more. In 'Branded' corporate brands are portrayed as other-dimensional entities that are creating people’s desire to consume, while simultaneously feeding off of them. Sound at all familiar? The fact that some of the other-dimensional entities are portrayed as reptilians will also have meaning to the esoterically and metaphysically well versed.
Next to being an excellent study of the inner workings of advertising, the movie gives a superb portrayal of how exceedingly easy it is for corporations and governments to manipulate and control the opinions and behavior of the masses (i.e. Social Engineering) by using all forms of mass media as their tools. The similarities between this film and what is occurring in today’s society cannot be overstated.
If nothing else, 'Branded' will most likely inspire you to examine your own behavior and particular style of consuming, and to ask yourself if your reasons to act or buy are mostly intrinsically motivated, or induced by external forces.
