Zeitgeist: The Addendum Movie Review...

I have a mini movie review.  My bride and I watched Zeitgeist: The Addendum a couple of nights ago on Netflix.  I must say I was riveted to the first half of this movie.  It dealt with, and explained how money is created and used in the United States and the world.  It then went on to describe business practices of huge investment companies and the subsidiaries they control.  The movie put forth a convincing explanation how our monetary system is based on debt.  Even the act of repaying debt causes more debt, wow.

The second part of the first half of the movie explained how big business goes into under-developed countries and offers them huge loans to improve their infrastructures in trade for considerations having to do with their natural resources, and in almost all cases, the outcome is worse for the countries inhabitants than before they arrived, and through the countries eventual inability to repay the loans, the big companies ultimately get a lock on their resources.  Needless to say, it painted a bleak picture of how greedy big money corporations are, and their total disregard for anything other than profit.

The information in this movie seemed plausible and had interviews with people that had first-hand information.  It didn’t leave me with a good feeling about our government, but I have become quite disillusioned with them by now anyway, due to their dastardly deeds of late.  The graphic interludes were almost over the top, but it added to the mood they were trying to present.

The second half of the movie, and especially toward the end, was an attack on Christianity, and all other religions.  I suppose at least they were an equal opportunity basher of beliefs.  As a Christian, I was disappointed they came at Christianity in the classic know-nothing style antagonists do if they are reaching for low hanging fruit.  They misinterpreted scripture, attributed ideas Christianity opposes to Christianity, maligned its leaders, and so on.  This to me was disappointing, as it subtracted from their overall credibility from the first half of the movie.  I left me wondering if they were missing the mark in their explanations of the world economic malaise as badly as they had misrepresented Christianity.

Along with their exposition on the evils of organized religion, they segued into their idea of what the inhabitants of planet earth should do to avert the looming crisis from the greed of governments and huge corporations.  They presented a guy that claimed to be a “social engineer”, and he unveiled his idea of basically a utopian society, where work was not necessary, but in his description, automation was king.  His society was not based on profit, but blissful coexistence, with the absence of greed.

Very notably, this wonderful society of his, sported tenets of caring for the fellow man told in such a way to make the viewer comfortable that this new society would be the author of kindness and generosity.  On one hand the movie blasted organized religion, then recited the same principles Jesus taught during his ministry, as a means of living in harmony and regaining our joy, except they left out the the idea that our joy is found in the Lord.  I can understand the idea that people reject God, but why not do so in silence.  Why the need to destroy something you don’t believe in?  If it isn’t real, no threat, right? (Rhetoric)  

All in all, I recommend this documentary as a source for understanding the corruption of our economic system.  I think the makers of this movie did a great job of simplifying something as clandestine and corrupt as the powers that be in this world. However, if you are a believer, and are offended easily, then the last half of this movie will hurt your feelings.  It isn’t blasphemous, (maybe a little), just negative and antagonistic, very needlessly.  I give this movie three stars ★★★.