CCharlesIC Reviews

Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island (2022)

Living with paranoia for decades

[2/10 · 23 March 2023]

😢 What a sad joke.

Yes, radiation was briefly released, roughly the equivalent of a single Xray - if you were exactly downwind & on a 30 foot ladder during the hour it was released.

If the paranoia of this film were correct, the hundreds of workers at both reactors & their nearby families would have been greatly affected. Instead, the other reactor continued normal operations until 2019 - 40 years later!

I've no doubt rumors & empty innuendo have left some residents with fears, but those are groundless. It is a shame that this misinformation has terrified these persons for so long. Perhaps watching a lecture by Dr Geri Thomas would help, or the new Oliver Stone film, Nuclear Now.

Switch On (2020)

People want energy - just enough though.

[8/10 · 8 March 2021]

This is a follow-up documentary to the 2012 film SWITCH. The first documentary mostly dealt with energy use & innovations in developed countries. This documentary -SWITCH ON- deals with underdeveloped countries. There most residents recognize the value of having some energy, but also don't want the overwhelming number of options it can bring to overrun their lifestyles.

Both single mothers and village elders see how a little electricity can enable education, medicine, cleaner kitchens, and a stream of daily news and personal connections with events beyond their current horizons. This film shows how different portions of a grid (solar panels, batteries, electric stoves, public lighting, radios, cell phone apps) can change their lives and enable their local neighborhoods to become places of hope in the future.

Visit the accompanying website for classroom materials and further information on the value of clean energy in this ever connected world of the 21st century.

Pandora's Promise (2013)

Impeccable & Improbable Timing

[9/10 · 27 February 2021]

Imagine you begin filming a documentary, and suddenly an event causes the subject of your documentary to become international news - filled with negative connotations. What do you do? This experienced documentarian made the events of the Tohukô earthquake and tsunami, and the self-searching of all involved, a part of this film. I think his gamble worked out quite well.

The best viewpoint of this doc is Mr. Stone's own voice in the Director's Commentary. Just be open to allowing your own opinions be swayed when emotions become confronted by facts.

Switch (I) (2012)

Thoughtful, thourough, and accurate assessments

[9/10 · 27 February 2021]

A journey documenting world energy resources - treating each type with respect. While few of the really hard questions are asked about each energy source, weaknesses are mentioned alongside the strengths. An excellent overview of our choices.

Juice: How Electricity Explains the World (2019)

Doc with an EcoModernist slant

[10/10 · 15 June 2020]

Narrator & co-producer Bryce is well known among some circles as a person with a strictly pragmatic view of this world. If it works - great! If there are secondary issues - work through them. If you wish to avoid problems - ask the right questions beforehand. Tell the story simply if you wish to be understood.

Bryce has been following & writing about the energy sector for about 3 decades, and along with a bit of grey hair he has also gained insights into the hows & whys of energy use. Here he trots around the globe to specific locales which highlight certain societal traits of energy use. Along the way he learned a few new insights himself, which are also included in his new book "A Question of Power" released in March of 2020.

I'd recommend this documentary to any who are interested in the nexus points between energy, the environment, climate change, & the posterity of human society. BTW- EcoModernism is a belief that eco-friendliness is compatible with economic prosperity. If you understand the phrase "Prophets or Wizards", Bryce seems to lean towards the wizards as a pragmatic perspective of life in a peaceful & resource abundant 21st century.

Planet of the Humans (2019)

Lots to be rightly criticized -- but solutions are never revealed.

[6/10 · 23 April 2020]

While the film rightly shreds renewable energy sources (especially biomass), it's sadness at a lack of solutions is misplaced. Yes environmental groups are in bed with big corporate interest groups - we've known that for years.

What's not in the film is that Obama's Clean Power Plan was written in part by NG lobbyists (affiliated with NRDC!). At best it would have dropped CO² emissions to ~240 ppm - which would mostly eliminate coal but not NG.

Planet of the Humans does not address a way forward towards a clean energy utopia, but that's because the director & producers refuse to take a deep look at clean energy solutions themselves. For that it would be good to look at the 2013 film Pandora's Promise by one of Mr. Moore's mentors, Robert Stone.

This film is more of a hit piece - some might call sloppy - on corporate behind-the-scenes advocacy on behalf of renewables. For the record, I've been aware of much of this situation for nearly a decade. One can look at Germany, California, & South Australia to see lots of cheap renewable energy which raises retail prices (because of intense grid modification & NG peaker plant usage) while grid stability must be balanced by neighboring utilities - generally with high fossil-fuel usage.

There is a way forward towards a clean energy utopia: abundant energy for the planet.... perhaps check out EcoModernism as an enviro-philosophy instead of Moore & Co's dismal and dreary outlook.

Thorium, the Far Side of Nuclear Power (2016 TV Movie)

An Unrealized Dream of a Technological Fixer.

[9/10 · 5 April 2020]

I first saw the French version of this (different subtitles) when it first came out. There's also a German version.

This film has an animated physicist named Alvin Weinberg (1915-2006) reminisce about the best project he ever worked on, the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment. A self-regulating, 100% safe, zero GHG emitting reactor to power human civilization for centuries to come. Everything Alvin says in animated form comes from his writings. [Note* Alvin knew all about climate change as he wrote a graduate school paper on GHG emissions, a few months later he was invited to join the Manhattan Project where he was one of several dozen invaluable contributors.]

There are also live action interviews with former colleagues and his son. These are mostly devoid of techno-babble and can be easily understood by a layperson. What really shows is the enthusiasm the elderly reactor workers have for the MSRE -- that one project they are most proud of. Why was it forgotten? Why aren't we pursuing this today?

Recommended for history buffs, nuclear students, or STEM obsessed grade schoolers. After all it's only nuclear physics -- not rocket science!

Unrest (I) (2017)

A much needed documentary which falls short

[2/10 · 9 January 2018]

This is certainly a well made film worth seeing, but there is one crucial point which was missed (or blatantly ignored) - ME is not CFS!

While this film purports to be about the nearly unknown illness ME (which Jen Brea probably has), it improperly mixes in the non-diagnosis of CFS which is a collection of other illnesses. A documentary should be about the subject - imparting knowledge while keeping the audience engaged with a few witty or emotional vignettes. This film mixes misinformation with pathos & a little charm. In so doing it only reinforces the misunderstandings which keep M.E. from being properly understood.

"None of the definitions of CFS defines M.E., so what do they define? What does a diagnosis of CFS actually mean? Why is every diagnosis of CFS merely a MISdiagnosis?"

"The physician and patient alike should remember that CFS is not a disease. It is a chronic fatigue state where the one essential characteristic of M.E. is acquired Central Nervous System (CNS) dysfunction, that of CFS is primarily chronic fatigue. ... This has resulted in much confusion, and many physicians are now diagnosing CFS as though it were a specific illness. ...CFS becomes like a desert mirage: The closer you approach, the faster it disappears and the more problematic it becomes." www (dot) nightingale.ca/understanding-m-e

This documentary does a disservice to all those with CFS or ME, in that research continues to attempt to study both together. This is like trying to study polio with the definitions of Multiple Sclerosis - it merely creates a medical mess. When watching Unrest viewers should know that the symptoms, emotions, and frustrations recorded by the cameras are real. Many give up going to doctors because eventually it's just not worth the physical and emotional effort - which is why this is so little understood. Those persons with ME deserve to have their illness understood and studied. Those persons with CFS deserve to have a better and more complete diagnosis instead of a vague, catch-all term.

It's a shame this documentary is mostly about the emotional anguish (which plays well) and not the proper depiction of an illness most doctors have never heard of. I have seen this film and the editing seems to be skewed towards winning popularity points (awards) rather than pulling back veils of misdirection and confusion. I hope there are other documentary filmmakers who will follow up on the extension of suffering caused by the conflation of the terms CFS and ME. This issue deserves to be uncovered and put to rest.

The New Fire (2017)

A New Fire is Spreading

[10/10 · 28 December 2017]

This is an incredible documentary: possibly the first of a kind as far as shining a positive spotlight directly on advanced nuclear power. You read that correctly. Though this was the directorial debut for David Schumacher, this pro-nuclear film is a collaborative project by persons who have previously won awards for making films and other audiovisual content.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the premiere at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana back on October 14, 2017. There was a light breeze on this partly sunny day in Indianapolis, though I drove through a couple rain showers back in Illinois to get there. The film has since been shown in Cambridge, UK; and in Zürich, Switzerland. It was shown several other places in the USA also.

The actual film was nearly what I expected, though many of the specific details surprised me. This documentary was centered on people and their passions, as any good tale should be. Here their common concerns include energy poverty, climate issues, and improving the human condition. Frustration with sharing this vision has driven each group of self-admitted science geeks to embark on a journey to fan the entrepreneurial fires of change - with the flame-less fires of neutronic activity. This emerging industry took some in Washington by surprise, and brought lots of attention to the huge economic and security benefits of advanced nuclear. But here's the thing... we aren't the only country trying to commercialize advanced reactors and reap their rewards.

There are several angles by which this documentary could be marketed. There's the obvious Women in Nuclear tie-in which greatly supports girls involvement in STEAM education. There's the entrepreneurial angle where young persons (women & men equally!) start a business with university-honed credentials. Or some may take a more traditional route, getting hired by a cutting edge multi-national company. Some will appreciate the zero GHG angle of climate change environmentalism. There's even an advocacy-by-opera moment! One of many enjoyable moments was hearing nuclear scientists discuss characteristics of a vehicles' automatic doors - something several in any audience might relate to.

I hope that The New Fire will be seen by many people and become a point of discussion between those persons who are interested in clean energy sources. Just as there are many types and sizes of automobile engines, there are many possibilities for clean, planet-friendly energy sources. These various advanced nuclear concepts are a few dozen of the many options we need to rationally assess and implement a better future.

Racing Extinction (2015)

Primer on the looming extinction.

[9/10 · 8 December 2015]

An excellent overview of the situation which all inhabitants of the earth are facing. While I didn't much care for the "Save the Whales" mentality which bookends this documentary, I do recognize that this is a point to which the general public can relate.

The core of the issue is found in the middle third of this film: acidification. To summarize; what good is saving whales, dolphins, tuna, or seahorses now if all sea life will be extinct in the 23rd century? Kelp and jellyfish excluded. That is the issue of ocean acidification which excess CO² exacerbates, so watch that portion of this documentary twice. Then perhaps watch a Ted Talk or read a book on this specific subject. I would recommend the talks given by Dr. Alex Cannara; Acidification, Climate & Energy found at youtu(dot)be/rzoW_cVg2hE.

If you don't catch this idea in the film, I'll spell it out here. Plankton (Pteropods) do three things; 1) they absorb CO² and sequester it in their tiny shells which fall to the bottom of the ocean should they not get eaten. 2) Pteropods are sometimes eaten and form the base of the oceanic food chain. Nearly half the human population lives near the ocean and is part of that food chain. 3) As these bit of plankton take in CO² for nourishment, they also give off oxygen. In fact, slightly more than half of all oxygen on Earth is resupplied in this fashion.

Currently Pteropods are already under duress as a species and numbers have begun to dwindle. Extinction in the 23rd century for nearly all invertebrates & vertebrates is looming - and human activities are 99% of the problem. As I wrote above, watch the middle third of this documentary closely. We have a few decades to avoid this extinction scenario. Let's act wisely.

Zatoichi Challenged (1967)

Several stories are bound in the fate of an orphan boy.

[10/10 · 10 March 2014]

**SPOILERS - but none that explain the whole film...

An enigmatic samurai repeatedly crosses Ichi's path (with Zato sporting that new sword from the previous film) as the hero becomes saddled with, and attached to, an orphan. Along the way the audience is confronted by yet another morality question: Should the long arm of the law reach out with blind, unswerving justice or redemptive morality? The opening song is sung by Katsu-san himself, doing justice to the musicality instilled by his father. Another song is sung by the pop-singer Nakao Mie. This entry has brilliant cinematography, strong secondary stories, and excellent acting by supporting cast. The great evil in this film involves the use of "forbidden materials" to produce pornographic art - each piece worth a small fortune. The final showdown is considered one of the best of the series.

The orphan boy Ryota is played by Saitô Shinya - according to the book World Filmography: 1967; page 423.

Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)

The mythic tales of Zato-no-Ichi continues with several firsts in the series.

[9/10 · 5 January 2014]

This sixth installment is another great, and unique, entry in the series. In the opening scene we see a montage of how many of Ichi's days unfold: walking in total darkness he is suddenly surrounded by men with drawn swords. A minute later, and with no words spoken, he continues walking into the darkness blowing his masseurs whistle - as those men bleed to death on the roadside. This happens again - and again. Such is the life of this yazuka. A masterful bit of cinematography & choreography under the direction of Ikehiro. Ikehiro would direct two more Zatoichi films.

This is also the first film not to have a romantic interest for Ichi. Since the passing of his first love, Otane, in the 4th film; Ichi's heart seems no longer available to fall in love. In the early films, women were drawn to him because of his compassion for people, gentle humor, and acute moral compass. Toss in his self-sufficiency as a masseur, a keen-eared gambler, and lest we forget - swordsman extraordinaire; of course women felt they would be well cared for if he would accept them. However love seems to be only another word for curse where this zato is concerned. In the 3rd film, young Yayoi revealed she had had a crush on the slightly older Ichi as he trained under her even older brother. He seems to have harbored a crush on her too, and she proposes marriage to Ichi! Then at the finale, Ichi has to duel his former Sensai, Yayoi's brother. Both Yayoi and Ichi are emotionally crushed when the Sensei drops. Ichi has reinforced his image as a killer - not a lover - irreparably. Then in the fifth film a young and highly immature woman, Mitsu, clung to him more out of gratitude for her safety than love and not only was a generational gap revealed; but Ichi seems to have realized how rare and unlikely Yayoi and Otane's affections had been. The only romantic possibility in "The Chest of Gold" is dead Kichizo's sister, whom Ichi treats practically as a servant. What he does get, in a series first, is a "sensual massage" by a woman who had no interest in being "repaid in kind". The first instance of adult humor in the Zato series. Other firsts in this film are: an honorable boss - whom Ichi respects; a dishonest government official - in cahoots with yet another selfish boss; a village cooperative system - which amasses 1000 ryo after 3 bad years of crops(!); and a whip-wielding ronin (Katsu's real-life brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama!!) - Zatoichi briefly seems helpless against this new weapon.

Overall, this is a solid entry in a mythic Chambara series. If possible, get it as part of the Criterion Collection's 25 film set.

The Future of Water (2007– )

Thourough, and plodding, survey of the world's most valuable resource - fresh water.

[6/10 · 4 April 2013]

This documentary travels to China, Greenland, India, Spain, Netherlands, Tibet, Norway, and the Nile river basin looking at how fresh water resources are used and often misused. "All civilizations have been shaped by the struggle to control water, ...because no one - absolutely no one - can escape the power of water." Hydro engineers often make plans with little regard for the plans being made in neighboring countries for that same resource. Showing dams, muddy wells, glorious waterfalls, and desalination plants this documentary had excellent cinematography showing the problems and hopeful solutions. Claiming that 1 in 4 persons on this planet live a place where water is scarce; this film asks the question "...will power over water bring with it political power?" Based on the work of Prof. Terje Tvedt, who is also the presenter.

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (2013)

A Jumble of Great Stories.

[5/10 · 5 February 2013]

Yes, there are lots of actors/directors reminiscing with great stories. And excerpts of several classic movies. Also quite a few acknowledgments about how casting was accomplished, or occasionally mis-cast. But I'd have to rate this fairly low because there's no thread of narrative. It's like expecting to appreciate both the stories and writing style of Asimov, Hemingway, or Angelou by reading Cliff Notes. This production reminds me more of a studio insiders 21st century home movie - shot with an HD smart phone & edited with home computer. I'm still waiting for a proper 14 hour documentary, by Ken Burns.

...that said, it's got some great footage (both modern and archival) of several of the behind-the-scenes in-house departments which continue to create the sets of Warner Brothers productions. A mythic studio.