[Leanan]

Yeah, I wish they'd deal with depletion, instead of just blaming evil terrorists.

But other than that, it's pretty good.

[GVBV]

Yeah,
Thats a good Idea.........Tape the movie and send it to europe where MORE terrorists will have a better look at what else to do to our country,As if the ones still here haven't got enough good ideas right now!... uh Yeah DUH, thats a good Idea........... I wonder if anybody is really that dumb to respond to a request like that from our "Euro Friends" Shuuuure!!!!!!

ITS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT OUR FILM INDUSTRY JUST SEEMS TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE AND MORE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT TO DO TO SCREW UP OUR COUNTRY-
"LETS JUST GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!!!!"

[eastbay]

I almost never watch TV and I'm in the San Francisco area. I was all ready to sit back and enjoy this tonight after reading the previews.

I just scanned all 200 or so channels I get with Direct TV dish and FX isn't one of them. How's that for lousy luck.

EastBay

[joewp]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I') almost never watch TV and I'm in the San Francisco area. I was all ready to sit back and enjoy this tonight after reading the previews.

I just scanned all 200 or so channels I get with Direct TV dish and FX isn't one of them. How's that for lousy luck.

EastBay

[newdamage]

Just finished watching it on FX, and basically it's a very sensationalistic mockumentary (Michael Moore would be proud) that covers a possible oil crisis scenario. It basically uses a hurricane/terrorist attack (Peak Oil, what's that?) to get the ball rolling on another oil crisis, and then uses the global oil shortage to explore the effects over the course of a year.

What I think they got right:
1. Troops in the middle east for oil, not freedom
2. Recession, Depression, demand destruction, and panic
3. The dangers of relying on foreign oil
4. Oil artificially supporting suburbia
5. China as a legitimate competitor for oil
6. The importance of farming and sustainable living

What they got wrong:
FX made a movie about an oil crisis like the 1970's crisis. They did not make a movie about Peak Oil. The end of the movie just stops with Russia coming to the rescue with new supply and things getting back to normal. They never deal with the long term picture of oil being a limited resource with or without shocks caused by terrorism and natural disasters.

Though I guess it's still important to see that this was 2 hours on a national cable network about a possible oil crisis, so at the very least it'll force people who watch it to think about it and hopefully learn more.

[Sunspot]

OK, the movie is just ending. It's a Fox production, so we all know it's propaganda. Here's how:
The entire story is told as a flashback, with the future telling the story, and all through the movie it's obvious that the future will be just fine. So there's a comfort level given that, of course, things always work out somehow.
Not even a vague mention of PO. It's just another 70's type crisis.
It's propaganda, with the clear purpose of conveying to the viewer that if (when) these things start happening, chin up, it'll be tough, but we'll pull through. Yo' daddy the guvmunt will take care of you. So if (when) gas goes to six bucks, many will say "it's just like that movie, it'll go away".
I love the part where Russia comes to our aid and saves the day. Yeah, right. Russia is likely passing their second peak soon. They've already stated that they plan to end all energy exports by 2010. "Vast untapped reserves" my ass!
Still, it does bring up lots of issues to get Joe six-pack thinking. The connection between oil and agriculture and concerns about food. And the connection between oil and the wars, something still denied in most circles, especiall Fox-y circles. So some good has been done here.

[RonMN]

SHEER PROPAGANDA! Nothing less! it told us "keep working & dont complain...things will get better".

This movie told me one thing...it's comming! and it's comming soon!

[Fatherof4]

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but the happy ending theory thing sure turned out to be correct. This was not the big wake up call. I was pleased to see they touched on a lot of major issues. The farmer subsidies / food shortage thing was stupid. We're not going to run out of food because the American small farmer cannot afford to produce wheat. I guess it's a start... I'm not going to mention it around the water cooler tomorrow.

[jeturcotte]

It was pretty gripping, but I have to say that I was more disturbed about how they made no mention of peak oil at all... no mention that oil is a limited resource after all. Scary business!

[eastbay]

Channel 248 I'm not sure what package you need.

Thanks Joewp... I have the cheapest option there is. All I know is I get most news and business offerings which is about all I have tie for.

Sounds like I didn't miss much anyhow.

EastBay

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RonMN', 'S')HEER PROPAGANDA! Nothing less! it told us "keep working & dont complain...things will get better".

This movie told me one thing...it's comming! and it's comming soon!

[Laurasia]

Yeah, it showed how the food supply would be compromised in an oil crisis, and hinted a BIT about what would happen to suburbia, but couldn't they just once mention how we should keep on with this 'pulling together" motif BECAUSE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE THE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE PERMANENT?

Yours, thumping head against desk...

L.

[RonMN]

it was entertaining...but sheer propaganda.

It told us to "keep working & don't complain...things WILL get better".

And how did things get better...well, we got MORE oil ofcourse

This movie tells me the sh*t is gonna hit the fan sooner than i expected.

[Carlhole]

Oil Storm definitely seems like a message to America. However, I don't know why film producers have to dumb the Peak Oil threat down since current real events and probable near-term events are even more interesting and forboding than this faux-documentary's version.

Perhaps, they don't want to legitimize the term "peak oil" just yet because, so far, those scenarios lack any sort of "they lived happily ever after" closure.

[Cyrus]

TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE!!!!!

This film did not touch upon natural suply shortages, BUT ONLY A "70'S STYLE OIL CRISIS" (one in which natural supply is NOT running low).......

JUST PROPAFREAKENGANDA.

[Cyrus]

"FOOD NOT OIL".....

FOOD IS OIL!!

[Such]

I was also disappointed with the ending...

but its about the best you can expect from Ruppert Murdoch.

[EnemyCombatant]

I almost fell out of my chair when they said Bush had no relations to the Saudi Royal Family.

[Rhinestones]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cyrus', ' ')PROPAFREAKENGANDA.

[Such]

Hey, just remember... it's abut the best you'll get from Ruppert Murdoch.

Better to show this than nothing at all.