What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire (2007)

Absolutely the worst movie.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This doc just supports and solidifies what I already have learned, observed, researched, pondered, read, and realized for the last 30 years... And sadly, no, Jesus is not coming to save us! The only thing that keeps me from laughing and stating the proverbial "I told you so," is the fact I have a 6 1/2 year old son (who I love much more than Jesus), he breaks my heart with his love and concern for the planet already, asking and reminding me to recycle... while I know that unchecked population growth and capitalism will destroy what once was a unique and beautiful planet, and likely leave him a unpleasant future. We have only ourselves to blame...

I've seen a number of these "doomsayer" documentaries and I'm mostly in agreement that the human race is out of control and trashing nature to death. This one did a good job of outlining the major aspects of our predicament, but it lacked stunning examples to convince Joe Six Pack that the problems are severe enough to warrant the grim tone. It seemed to assume viewers were already advocates for sustainability, while at the same time acknowledging that most are too brainwashed by "Empire" to care. (As an aside, I've never seen the word "empire" used without "an," "the" or "our" preceding it; something about that annoys me.)I found about two thirds of the presentation solid and informative, but it strayed into preachy areas that were overwrought and repetitive, especially the "walkabout" segment toward the end. It kept seeming like a closing statement was made, then it cut back to more interview segments and the message got scattered. Also, some of the interviewees didn't exactly come across as ecology experts (e.g. artists), though they were on the right track. I'm more pragmatic than a Kumbaya type.When I watch these documentaries I'm looking for something that will sway the tiresome global warming & peak oil deniers, and leave no room for snide "tree hugger" remarks. We really have to get those people on board if there's hope of averting mass chaos. Skeptics of a finite Earth aren't all that bright, but they could be better convinced by irrefutable evidence vs. touchy-feely commentary, which this film lapsed into heavily at times. A lot of people simply lack the empathy to be concerned for nature, and they will only act out of self-interest. I can imagine this film being snickered at by them.To improve it, they could have trimmed the beginning and ending for a more concise message. Some of the interviewees were especially strong, and some could have been left out. I give it a 9 for thematics but a 5 overall for its repetition of New-Age mantras.

Now aside from the director's glum sounding narration (and with the gravity of the subject is warranted) this film is very engaging and thought provoking. Unlike Leonardo DiCaprio's 11th Hour and Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth, this film delves deep into why no technology will save us from the impending collapse of industrial civilization. The director focuses on four main crises: Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, & Population Overshoot. Among other things you'll learn: How oil is embedded in our food production and when it's gone so is our food; How extinction rates are one thousand times greater than normal background extinction rates; How agriculture itself is inherently unsustainable; How earth can only support one billion humans without petroleum; How the myth of the technofix keeps everyone believing in a "happily-ever-after" scenario that won't come true. This film gets ten out of ten for it's level-headed approach to what could possibly be the end of our domination of the earth. It is REQUIRED viewing for anyone concerned with humanity's future.

I gave this movie 10 out of 10 not because it is a great documentary or because it is written so well or because of the editing, etc. but because IT CONTAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY EVER FIND IN A DOCUMENTARY! This does not mean it is a pleasant experience. On the contrary, I don't think most people can handle what this move has to say. It is an unflinching look at the dominant culture currently in place on Earth and how we are on a collision course with the destiny of our own making.This movie is similar to "An Inconvenient Truth" in that it discusses climate change but it also talks about Peak Oil, Population Growth and Mass Extinction. Do you think that this is all bullsh*t? See the movie, read up on the people who were interviewed and what they have to say. Read Ismail by Daniel Quinn, read anything by Derrick Jensen. Make up your own mind, talk to people about what this movie has to say.This is the most important thing you can do with you time. Drop everything, find a copy of this movie and watch it now! No, I'm not associated with the film-maker. I just watched this film and it blew me away!