Film exaggerates corporate evil

"The Corporation" is a documentary film about how corporations do nothing but manipulate, deceive and use the public to make a profit. In this blatant attempt at trying to be the next Michael Moore, filmmakers Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan of Zeitgeist Films use clips of prominent corporate trials and animal testing to show just how cruel corporate America truly is. With a cameo from Moore, it's obvious that this very liberal film attempts to make all corporations ranging from Exxon to Nike appear to be vicious, greedy, nonchalant machines whose sole purpose is to procure money at any cost. The film's purpose is to make the audience aware of the dangers of corporations. Perhaps viewers, after watching this documentary about the sick world of business, will be inclined to turn away from corporations and to not listen to propaganda. Maybe they will not buy that Kathy Lee hat at Wal-Mart. It is then possible that corporations will not be so money hungry and that they will begin to think about the welfare of the people in society. Clearly this film is attempting to make society aware of the dangers of having corporations, but trying to connect corporations to many horrific historical events is going too far. For instance, the film asserts that IBM assisted the Nazis during the Holocaust. Certain historical links that the film made are frankly disturbing and somewhat far-fetched. While the filmmakers are living in their fantasy world, the rest of society will continue buying their Nike shoes and their McDonald's food. Corporations will always exist, no matter how much awareness is perpetuated by one of the dullest attempts at trying to create a socially-conscious documentary. "The Corporation" is an informative piece of art that does shed light on some of the more hidden problems with large-scale businesses today. For the most part, the film exaggerates the issues, ultimately making the documentary repetitious and boring. Grade: D+