Killswitch (2014)

Living in the world of Alien lately, I decided I wanted to go into something different and watch one more documentary before the end of 2016. With that in mind, I decided on the 2014 documentary/drama Killswitch.

Plot/ The Internet is under attack. This award-winning documentary explores the threat Internet censorship imposes on free speech, innovation, and democracy.

In this digital age, no topic should be at the forefront of society than net neutrality. If you are unaware of the importance of this topic, you are wrong and this documentary breaks down the importance of net neutrality in a way that everyone can understand. This is not a partisan political documentary in any way, it does a great job of presenting the information while being open about the infringement being applied by both sides of the political spectrum. The documentary is well made and does a great job at profiling the cases of Edward Snowden and Aaron Schwartz, both polarizing figures of the modern digital age. Yes, there is a lot of message bias; it does outline the cases of civil disobedience, and it definitely appears that more attention was placed on the story of Aaron Schwartz than Edward Snowden, but the information from both accounts must be heard and understood. In the end, this may not be the best documentary out there, but it is one of the most informative and important films to come along in some time. If you care about freedoms and Constitutional rights, you should watch this and embrace the message.

Snowden (2016)

Here it is, post number 1500 at the Ringmaster's Realm. As I said in yesterday’s post, I put a lot of thought into what movie I would review and decided on Snowden from Oliver Stone. To me, this was a very important story that must be told, and there is no one better than Stone to deliver the goods. No matter where you stand on Edward Snowden, he is a hero and should not be subjected to the hatred and ridicule he has faced. In fact, no whistleblower should be treated in this manner and if the United States government was not so corrupt, did not have so much to hide, and did not treat whistleblowers like criminals, this ordeal may not have ever happened. This is a perfect example and a powerful look at the Military Industrial Complex and the globalist community (led by the United States Government) that wants to enslave not only America, but also all of humanity.

Plot/ The illegal NSA surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.

Any time I sit down to watch a movie by Oliver Stone, I am excited about what minuscule detail will be brought out for the entire world to see. That was especially the case with Snowden. No matter what your political ideology is, the truths revealed by Edward Snowden opened the door for a more transparent society and again proved that you cannot trust the government. This is a great movie about a man that should be viewed as an American hero. Stone again delivers with his great eye for a story, and also proves he is not afraid to say things within his films that a great many people believe, but do not have a platform to speak from. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is outstanding as Snowden, and should be in line for recognition during award season. The rest of the cast is also top-notch and their performances are solid. The storyline and script is well developed, the cinematography and editing are tremendous, and the amount of information provided to the viewer is powerful. It was an easy watch and a movie that kept me glued to the screen. The only real negative with the movie is the fact that everything felt a bit compressed for the runtime. Yes, there will be viewers that discount the authenticity and will blindly believe that the surveillance infrastructure is fiction, but for them I would say wake up. Since the inception of the Patriot Act, no one has been free, and this story again proves that what many believe are conspiracies and indeed truths. In the end, Snowden is a powerful movie that should rank up there near the top of the Stone portfolio. It is a movie that must be seen full of information that should be embraced. Find it and watch it!

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012)

While I am fighting through this miserable cold, I decided to kick back and relax tonight. Luckily, Bren decided to find something interesting to watch. To my surprise, it was a documentary on a very polarizing subject. What was it? It was the 2012 documentary We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists.

Plot/ We Are Legion traces the collective's breathtaking evolution from merry pranksters to a full-blown, global movement, one armed with new weapons of civil disobedience for an online world.

It has been a while since I ventured into a documentary, and this one may be one of the best I have seen in some time. This one is extremely informative and definitely is a great gateway inside the mind of the collective. Whether you are a fan of anonymous or not, the ideals that exist within the mutual voice should be applauded. Information is power and ideas are bulletproof, thoughts that the globalists that are attempting to overtake society fear and want to destroy. If you do not believe me, listen to some of the speeches by President Obama and candidate Clinton, they want to hand over control of the internet and control free speech to usher in totalitarian control throughout the world. This documentary does a great job at showing the hactivist movement from their humble beginnings, through their development through Reddit and 4chan, and to where they are today. One of the areas that were surprising was the overall lack of supervision or structure within the organization, creating a dynamic that could is both helpful and harmful to the organization. Overall, it does only focus on a few of the more notable causes, but it does show the viewer the power of the movement. In the end, if you would like to see a documentary that is informative and highlights a movement that is often misunderstood, you have to watch this. It is well worth your time!

Hackers (1995)

After going back into the world of the slasher, I decided to venture into another type of wormhole. While all of my work lately has been rather serious, I decided I needed something more comedic to help change my mindset. After some debate, I decided to dive back into the 1990s with the 1995 cyberpunk entry, Hackers.

Plot/ A young boy is arrested by the U.S. Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday. Years later, he and his new-found friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus.

It had been a long time since I entered this world and I forgot how entertaining and funny Hackers is. As a movie, there is a lot to like, with cool cyberpunk attitudes mixed with non-stop schlock and over-the-top performances all-around. The storyline and plot, while unbelievable, are both interesting and work well (especially as a flashback toward the authenticity of the 1990s), the soundtrack is awesome, the cast and performances are solid, and the characters are hilarious. Yes, you must suspend all you know of computers and reality, plus, remember the crazy style and wardrobes of the 1990s, and if you do that, you should have some fun with this one. In the end, this may be a schlockfest and one of the most unrealistic and unbelievable films of the era, but it is also a fun way to pass some time inside a fun time warp. If you have not seen it, check it out!

The Zero Theorem (2013)

Every once in a while, I enjoy taking a trip into the surreal worlds that could develop in our future. While many people find this type of film fantasy, I honestly believe that much of what we view as science fiction today will be reality in the future. One such movie I recently stumbled across is the 2013 flick The Zero Theorem.

Plot/ A hugely talented but socially isolated computer operator is tasked by Management to prove the Zero Theorem: that the universe ends as nothing, rendering life meaningless. But meaning is what he already craves.

When I sat down to watch this, I honestly expected an interesting journey into a dystopian future, but I found something that was more captivating and philosophical. While the movie was a touch confusing (especially early on), the individual payoff is worth wading through those moments. The viewer is the one that is left to make their decisions and find the answers to the dynamic questions posed within this surreal world.  Yes, this one will not be for everyone, but if you decide that you want to travel into this dystopia, you will find a bizarre world that boasts color, character, and philosophy. In the end, this movie has a much deeper message and meaning than most of the movies that come out and will definitely not appeal to everyone. If you do enjoy this type of movie, than you will find it extremely thought provoking and entertaining. However, if you are looking for just something for entertainment, you may want to look in a different direction.

Open Windows (2014)

Every once in a while I need to kick back and watch something that is different than my normal selections. Last night I decided to throw one of those into my weekend rotation. While I love straight horror, sometimes a little Crime/Thriller action is needed. Next up for review is the 2014 thriller Open Windows.

Plot/ A jilted fan soon finds himself pulled into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse after he accepts the opportunity to spy on his favorite actress via his laptop.

This movie is perplexing to review. While there were some interesting moments early on, but the final act was a twist that was not truly needed. Couple that with some decent performances, an intriguing storyline, and this was something that was different and thought provoking. Yes, there were some head scratching moments, pacing issues, and some scripting moments (not to mention the ending) that hurt the overall feel. In the end, this was decently entertaining and a movie that will definitely fall into the love/hate category of cinema. If you are looking for something to help pass some time on a slow evening, give it a shot.

The Matrix (1999)

Hello again, and welcome to 2015. Having taken a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season, and so some travelling, it is time to jump back into the world here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. 2014 was a great year, and there was a lot that I will miss, but I am sure that this year will be even better. To start the year off with a bang, I decided to venture deep inside a Sci-Fi classic, the 1999 hit The Matrix.

Plot/ A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

I ventured back into the Matrix for the first time since I saw it when it came out. When I saw it then, I was amazed at the effects and how impressive every detail was. Now, while the effects are still stunning, the story definitely took on an entirely different meaning with the overall importance of the films message breaking through. Everything in this movie works, with a solid cast combining outstanding performances, over-the-top special effects, a detail driven storyline that continues to grow philosophically deeper the more times you see it, and the atmosphere is tight, which allows the characters to come to life within the fantasy elements of the movie. While the movie does have confusing moments and runs a touch long at 136 minutes, those are but minor flaws inside one of the most impressive Sci-Fi flicks of the era. In the end, if you have not watched this one, you are wrong; go out, find it, and watch it as soon as possible. If you are like me and have not revisited this one in some time, look it up; you may be surprised at what you find inside.

Goodbye World (2013)

With the report coming out in the New York Times earlier today that there may be a terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear devise in Chicago, thoughts of Jericho immediately popped into my mind. After watching that series last year, I still get chills when thinking about it, and the way the military industrial complex was realistically portrayed as the enemy. With the apocalypse in my mind, I decided to venture into the rabbit hole, with the post-apocalyptic themed Goodbye World (2013).

Plot/ When a mysterious terrorist attack causes chaos in the cities; a group of friends take refuge in their countryside cabin. But the challenges of living in a post-apocalyptic world soon take their toll on relationships within the group.

This flick was definitely different from my usual entries, as it is more of a character study in a post apocalyptic society, than a true apocalyptic based movie. Yes, there are mentions and allusions to the end times, but those aspects are not central to the story. What is central to the movie is the different ways this type of event will shatter lives and relationships while secluded from populous. The performances are solid, the characterizations believable and the storyline was layered; featuring the subtle intricacies in relationships that can spiral out of control when faced with isolation. Yes, the dialog is uneven, there were some clichéd moments, and some of the movie was too predictable. In the end, this is one of the better (and only) dramas that I have watched in some time. It is entertaining and educational, and a movie that should be taken seriously.

The Fifth Estate (2013)

A few months ago, I sat back and watched Underground: the Julian Assange Story, a movie focused on the early career of one of the most famous hackers known. I should have stopped there. While I do support the whistleblowers and what Assange stands for, I cannot sit back and watch him and his efforts be drug through the mud by an agenda driven Hollywood establishment. That is exactly what is happening here in The Fifth Estate.

Plot/ A dramatic thriller based on real events that reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century's most fiercely debated organization.

I rented this thinking it was going to be a biopic, focusing on Assange and WikiLeaks. Unfortunately, while that is what it was called, it was more of a propaganda piece directed toward attacking Assange and further polluting the waters against him. Like him or not, his ideologies make sense, and he should be supported. This film is way too complex for what was trying to be portrayed. Based on multiple books (by legal enemies’ none-the-less) the disjointed feel is apparent from the start. There were some decent acting moments and a couple of decent visuals, but mostly it was a dialog driven and complex political thriller with an agenda. In the end, this movie is nothing close to Underground:  the Julian Assange Story, which talked about his early life and first major hack, that movie has a soul. This one is an agenda driven propaganda fest and should be skipped!

Underground: The Julian Assange Story (2012)

I decided that I needed a small break from the typical Horror or Sci-Fi I watch on a regular basis. After returning from a stage version of Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, I decided that I needed something a touch more mellow. After some searching, I found an interesting movie title, one I had not seen before. That was the made for television entry Underground: The Julian Assange Story from 2012. 

Plot/ Julian Assange is one of the most significant figures of the twenty first century. But before he was famous, before WikiLeaks, before the internet even existed, he was a teenage computer hacker in Melbourne. This is his story. In 1989, he and two friends started an organization that would break into some of the world's most powerful and secretive organizations.

This made for television movie about the origins of Assange is phenomenal, especially for the budget. The acting is solid all the way around, the storyline amazing and the depth is perfectly harnessed by the soundtrack, cinematography and atmosphere. Honestly, as a made for television entry it is one of the best I have seen in some time. More importantly it delivers a message that the world must hear. Not based on the modern Wikileaks Scandal, this film is much more. It explores the darkness that exists on (what is now) the web and how much we as a society do not know, while showing the steps one will take to let the truth be free. No matter where you sit on the Wikileaks story or Assange, watch this movie. Watch it with an open mind and decide how far you would go to have the truth be told.