Review: Zeitgeist, the Movie

Written by Peter Joseph
Directed by Peter Joseph
Produced by GMP LLC
Running Time: 122 minutes
Official Website: http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

"Zeitgeist" is defined as the general trends and characteristics of a period of time. With a war on terrorism, economic hardships, and social unrest, how do you suppose the zeitgeist of the post-9/11 world will be remembered? This is the question that writer/director Peter Joseph attempts to answer in Zeitgeist, the Movie.

Released for free on the Internet, this ambitious documentary about the leading conspiracy theories of our current age quickly rose to the top of the Google Video most-watched list.

But is this conspiratorial smorgasbord of a film worth your time? Or is it a case of Internet hype run amok? Read on and find out.

Content

First off, I would like to applaud Peter Joseph for having the foresight to structure this film as he did. So many times documentaries of this nature--especially ones with this much information to relay--can turn into a disjointed mess, jumping from topic to topic at random. Zeitgeist's design is almost like that of a textbook, split into three self-inclusive parts:

In Part I, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," Joseph criticizes the religions of the world (primarily Christianity) for being unoriginal hybrids of belief systems predating them, and for beings institutions for controlling the human race. In terms of tone and effectiveness, this first part is the film's strongest. Combining the information with smooth visuals and comic relief elements such as a George Carlin routine, it is highly watchable and will certainly hold your attention.

In Part II, "All the World's a Stage," the film moves into 9/11 conspiracy theory. Joseph asserts that the attacks were allowed to happen by criminal elements within the US government to the benefit of the military-industrial complex. If you've seen any of the myriad of other 9/11 conspiracy films such as Loose Change or Terrorstorm, Zeitgeist won't provide much in the way of new information. However, as opposed to films dedicated solely to 9/11, Zeitgeist's three part formula means that this section is condensed at much as possible. As a result, only the most convincing and intriguing points are raised.

My primary concern with Part II is its noticeable change in tone from the first. Whereas Part I succeeds in delivering historical information and analysis in a logical fashion, Part II relies more heavily on pathos to make a point. For instance, it features a montage sequence of photographs of people jumping from the doomed Twin Towers. It's gut wrenching, to be sure, but serves only to cloud the debate with thoughts of sorrow and revenge. I find it ironic that a film condemning leaders for attempting to control mankind so freely utilizes methods for controlling your emotions.

Part III, "Don't Mind the Men Behind the Curtain," concludes the film with the assertion that nearly all of the major conflicts of the 20th century were purposely orchestrated by an elite cadre of bankers. Part III essentially groups together the remaining conspiracy theories not already covered in the previous parts. From "false flag" terror operations to RFID microchipping and the North American Union, it's a bleak as it is jumbled. The greatest strength of Part III is that Peter Joseph isn't afraid to name names. Often "they" are referred to in such vague terms that it's refreshing to put a name and a face to the people behind the theories being discussed. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, nearly all of the information presented in Zeitgeist can be found elsewhere, but what is does to separate itself from the rest of the pack is present this information in a highly polished, well edited package. As far as production values are concerned, it is among the cream of the crop.

The material will be unnerving for some viewers, but then this was clearly not meant to be a feel-good film. By poking holes in nearly all of the cornerstone institutions of American society, Zeitgeist is certainly controversial. But in its capacity to provoke thought, it's unquestionably successful.

Grade: B

~Khyron, 2008