It took hundreds of millions of years for petroleum to form on Earth. It took just 150 years for human beings to bleed the planet of roughly half of this oil. — Arresting in its honesty and erudition, CRUDE IMPACT examines ... more »the catastrophic prospect of ''world peak oil'' - or the point in time when the quantity of petroleum extracted from the earth begins to irreversibly decline. The film illuminates a vicious cycle of escalating dependency and need, as well as the behaviors and patterns fueling this cycle, such as consumer fetishism and the myth of endless supply, the tremendous rise in population, and the demands of many more quickly-industrializing nations. It also surveys the devastating and far-reaching effects of the rampant pursuit of oil, including increasingly aggressive political turmoil, irreparable ecological damage, economic turbulence, and gross human rights violations.
Elegantly weaving together an alarmingly accelerating pattern of consumption and depletion, the award-winning CRUDE IMPACT reveals a frighteningly dark future that can only be averted by becoming informed, spreading awareness, and revolutionizing the way we think and live.
DVD Features: Over an hour of additional interviews on globalization, 9/11, alternative fuels and more.« less
"This is a gripping documentary on the subject of peak oil--a sobering account of our dependence on ancient sunlight to power industrial civilization and the consequences we face as we top over the global oil production peak and enter the irreversible depletion phase. While there are other documentaries that treat the subject, I find Crude Impact notable, among other reasons, for its focus from the outset on the relationship between the size of the human population and the increasingly intensive extraction of resources.
I teach a semester-long high school seminar devoted entirely to peak oil and this is the documentary, among other excellent documentaries on this subject, which I have chosen for viewing by my students. Crude Impact is simply the clearest exposition of peak oil and its far-reaching consequences. The impact has been profound.
Interviews with leading experts in a variety of related fields forward the narrative, which is accompanied by arresting images, a judicious use of graphics, and haunting musical score. Indeed the concept of peak oil itself is not fully expanded until later in the documentary after an array economic, political, social, and economic threads are systematically explored--and the full impact of peak oil then becomes frighteningly clear.
If you are new to the notion of peak oil, this is a must view which should be shared with relatives and friends. In fact, it should be shared with everyone, even those already "peak oil aware," which I fear is all too few. Crude Impact is an impressive, if deeply disturbing, documentary.
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One of the few films that stick with you
I. M. Van Top | Amsterdam, NL | 04/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was at the screening when the film premiered on IDFA 2 years ago. The entire audience came out after the screening, to continue discussing the matter with the director in the hallway for another hour. I've never seen people so moved by an environmental film, and motivated to spread it's message. Truely a must see"
Get educated while being entertained
Charles A. Borwick | Seattle, WA USA | 04/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I know it's not politically correct to make entertainment even a factor when discussing a movie about a serious subject like this - but this movie is proof that you can tell people what they need to know while keeping them glued to the picture. In fact nothing is quite so fascinating as the truth when it is told with honesty and by people who are passionate about the subject. If you want to learn what the problem is, why the problem is, and even how we might go about solving the problem you need to watch this.
This is one of those movies that can actually get you to change your behavior. It made me more aware of my impact."
Made a HUGE impact on me
Lori Shorin | 04/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You hear the term "Peak Oil" and you may think you know what it means. To truly understand where we are TODAY, the doc Crude Impact is a must-see. Finally a doc that sounds the alarm BEFORE it's too late. Wake up. Watch this film."
Crude Impact
J. S. Shaw | London, UK | 04/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I loved this film and found it every bit as useful as Al Gore's movie. An absolute "must see" to understand some of the issues facing us today.