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The Yes Men [2004]


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Funny and insightful documentary
Review date: 2007-08-21 Rating: 8 out of 10

This documentary looks at anti-corporate pranksters The Yes Men, who created a website intended to parody the World Trade Organisation but discovered that many folks didn't understand it was a joke. People thought they really were a part of the WTO, so when The Yes Men found themselves invited to speak at seminars and on news programmes, they went along with the intention of having a little satirical fun, offering lectures on subjects like slavery that they fully expected would get them chased out of town. And still, nobody got the joke, so they kept on doing it, hoping that by poking fun at some of the nastier aspects of globalisation they could shine a light on the damage being done by big businesses in their relentless pursuit of higher profits.

In the tradition of Michael Moore (who's on hand to offer his comments on the poverty produced by all this corporate greed), this is a funny film that has a serious side to it. What you get is not a look at big business types who are too stupid and humourless to understand when they're being satirised, but rather a kind of accidental insight into one possible reason why so many awful things happen in the name of money. The attendees at these lectures are not, it turns out, a bunch of idiots incapable of getting a joke, but actually intelligent and reasonable people so inured by the system they represent they simply aren't paying proper attention. No matter how absurd the suggestion (including selling your vote on the internet), it just washes over the crowd, most of whom seem more bored than anything else. It's interesting to see the contrast when The Yes Men give a presentation to a group of college students, who still don't get it's a joke, but at least they're angry about it and prepared to challenge the appalling notion that recycling human waste is a good way to provide food for poor countries.

If you're a fan of documentary film making, particularly when it uses humour to get its point across, this one is well worth a look. There are some very funny moments (I was amazed that Yes Men Mike and Andy were able to do what they did while keeping a straight face) and although it can be a little depressing to see how large a part apathy and inculcation play in allowing venality to run rampant, the film does at least offer some hope that things might change in the future.

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Reviews


A dose of reality
Review date: 2007-06-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

It isn't about whether this video is well made. It's what the video's about that matters. It gives a dose of the hysterically funny and, when you ponder on it, terribly frightening, reality in this increasingly corporate-controlled world that manages to create the world of 1984, where 2+2=5.

Picture a couple of clever young men giving a demonstration of a "survival suit" for the disasters of global warming to a bunch of corporate middle-level managers. The suit is an inflatable ball that turns the wearer into a giant silver thingie with stuff stuck all over it and no part of the wearer showing but a face. Now, picture the audience sucking it up, taking the entire thing seriously.

Picture the same young men showing another corporate group of elites an inflatable suit that gives the wearer a giant, head-height male-part-of-body [Amazon won't allow the correct anatomical word], while the onlookers accept the entire thing as plausible and for their benefit.

This is the reality shown by The Yes Men. If you're aware of how insane the corporate world (and everything it touches) has become, then this video is hysterically funny. If you aren't aware of just how off-center things have become, then you MUST watch so you can see how utterly in-their-own-world corporations and their minions have become.

"Changing the world one prank at a time"
Review date: 2006-10-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

"The Yes men" is an interesting documentary that tells us about the activities of some young men that took upon themselves an interesting task: identity correction. Does that sound strange? Well, as a matter of fact it is strange, but it is also very interesting.

This story is somewhat weird, but at the same time pretty straightforward. Andy and Mike are anti-globalization protestors that thought that the World Trade Organization was doing terrible things, but making public statements that were completely different to its actions. As a result, they decide to steal the WTO's identity, in order to give it a true face.

Andy and Mike set up a website with a very similar address to the website of the World Trade Organization, and their website is in fact mistaken for the WTO official website by many. That is the reason why Andy and Mike end up being invited to conferences all over the world, and giving lectures too weird to be real, but based on reality.

All in all, I think that this is a documentary you will like. It is funny and not overly serious, but makes you think. Not to be missed!

Belen Alcat

Hilarious, confronting, entertaining satire.
Review date: 2006-04-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is an incredibly funny satire on globilization and the business world in general. "The Yes Men" imitate spokespeople for the WTO and attend meeting and give lectures to actual business meetings. It is quite unbelievable what they get away with saying, and the enthusiam with which their extremely "un PC" comments are met. I can't recommend it highly enough- just see it!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Phil Bayly
Mike Bonanno

Creators:
Phil Bayly (Primary Contributor)
Mike Bonanno (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Tartan Video
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
EAN: 5023965355225
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2005-05-23
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003
Language: English (Original Language)

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