When one makes a fanpic.. eh documentary of two prominent scientists who are also known or perhaps even more known for other reasons - they are atheists - it would be of great importance that the cover of the documentary correlates with the stated content and that the actual documentary is in tune with those as well. In this the unbelievers makes a tactical error as the title points to their atheism(but not literally), states to be about two scientists talking in public(the thought alone!) about the importance of science and reason, but is in fact about two atheistic scientists, Richard Dawkings and Lawrence Krauss on a tour through two mostly Christian countries(Australia and the US,) mixing the two up while talking mostly among themselves in front of an audience who are already biased to them anyway. If this isn't preaching to the choir, than what would be?
Any religious scientist might take offense at the suggestion that science and reason and unbelief are intimately connected. The one leads to the other, or perhaps vice versa. It isn't really openly admitted, but it is implied. It suggests an arrogance to claim that science and atheism go hand in glove and which is slapped in the face of any Christian by showing of a Christian cross on the cover thus admitting that it is the Christian religion this is aimed at. The rest got of the hook, for the moment.
The problem with this documentary is that it doesn't really know what it wants to be and, to be honest, it gets boring fast. This is the kind of documentary that just barely rises above the level of a family home movie and if the participants had not been known figures nobody would watch it but the family of the two. The only other audience that now might appreciate this will be the fanboys who will nod enthusiastically and tell how truly amazing and eyeopening this documentary is. Nothing that surprises.
The subtitle 'What are you willing to believe!' makes the documentary even worse as its provocative line, ending with an exclamation mark, is so at odds with the real content that is delivered. The unbelievers, mostly two men babbling away, never stimulates, challenges or adds anything new to what we already know and have been told over and over. On youtube discussions mostly, often in a more engaging way and with people who do not fall in line with Krauss and Dawkins so easily. A summary of some of the important debates would probably have been a lot more lively and to the point.
The result is a movie that is more like a homage to two atheist scientists regurgitating stock ideas. Which is a shame really for the two involved men are better than that. More annoying is adding some other famous people to the documentary just to beef it up a bit. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Woody Allen and the like make a less than one minute appearance so they can be credited and suggest some fireworks. If that isn't a cheap shot, than I don't know what is.
I think that there is a statement that captures the weakness of this movie very well: don't tell, but show. This movie is all about telling things we already know in a boring way in front of a predisposed audience, but doesn't show a new thing unless you are new to this all.
Any religious scientist might take offense at the suggestion that science and reason and unbelief are intimately connected. The one leads to the other, or perhaps vice versa. It isn't really openly admitted, but it is implied. It suggests an arrogance to claim that science and atheism go hand in glove and which is slapped in the face of any Christian by showing of a Christian cross on the cover thus admitting that it is the Christian religion this is aimed at. The rest got of the hook, for the moment.
The problem with this documentary is that it doesn't really know what it wants to be and, to be honest, it gets boring fast. This is the kind of documentary that just barely rises above the level of a family home movie and if the participants had not been known figures nobody would watch it but the family of the two. The only other audience that now might appreciate this will be the fanboys who will nod enthusiastically and tell how truly amazing and eyeopening this documentary is. Nothing that surprises.
The subtitle 'What are you willing to believe!' makes the documentary even worse as its provocative line, ending with an exclamation mark, is so at odds with the real content that is delivered. The unbelievers, mostly two men babbling away, never stimulates, challenges or adds anything new to what we already know and have been told over and over. On youtube discussions mostly, often in a more engaging way and with people who do not fall in line with Krauss and Dawkins so easily. A summary of some of the important debates would probably have been a lot more lively and to the point.
The result is a movie that is more like a homage to two atheist scientists regurgitating stock ideas. Which is a shame really for the two involved men are better than that. More annoying is adding some other famous people to the documentary just to beef it up a bit. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Woody Allen and the like make a less than one minute appearance so they can be credited and suggest some fireworks. If that isn't a cheap shot, than I don't know what is.
I think that there is a statement that captures the weakness of this movie very well: don't tell, but show. This movie is all about telling things we already know in a boring way in front of a predisposed audience, but doesn't show a new thing unless you are new to this all.