MovieChat Forums > If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front Discussion > Very Balanced

Very Balanced

posted 12 years ago by thanasaki_mtl
5 replies | jump to latest

As much as it could be at least and especially compared to Michael Moore's docs and others with an agenda. It was what a real doc should be, reporting facts from both sides. i.e. a lot of other docs would have skipped announcing the fact that when they firebombed the tree nursery it had actually changed hands from the GM operation that existed previously.

Sure, there was a slight bias towards the environmentalists but it was still well done.

I don't condone the damage the ELF did, far from but I also don't agree with the gomvt's decision to brand him a terrorist and keep detained in a special prison.

I have both capitalist and anti-capitalist blood in me, mixed with environmental blood. We can find a middle ground to please all.

[–] lowellthomson 12 years ago

Agreed. Like "Land of Opportunity," "The Thin Blue Line", "Mr Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuchter", it really is an objective examination that, in retaining its objectivity, taps into the passion of some of the most polarized perspectives in the environmental debate.

A very human film.

[–] dogobgyn 12 years ago

How do you truly know that it wasn't biased though? Would you be aware if they omitted certain information?

[–] D_Parton 12 years ago

Now I'm not 100% on this comment but from my knowledge most of the logging shown in this documentary was pine. This sometimes shown over interviews about logging of ancient trees. Pine is usually grown and harvested over 20 year cycles.

Also the logger/conservationist mentions that tree cut down is approx 500 years old. I find that hard to believe from the look of it. I would be interested to know what species of tree grows to 500 years while looking so small and brittle?

Again I stress not knowing 100% but I think do have some experience with trees and that seemed fishy.

[–] rmatlan 12 years ago

Some of the flyover pictures were pine and the place firebombed because they thought it had genetically modified trees did, but there were massive trees early on that were from never cut forests. But your general point is a valid one.

Still it was pretty well balanced and a far better documentary than the Michael Moore documentaries. Not Errol Morris quality, but pretty darn good.

[–] Trackmaster 12 years ago

Oh come on, you've gotta be kidding me. How was that balanced? The whole thing was 90 minute love song for those terrorists.