Search - Dark Planet: Visions of America (W CD) (2pc) on DVD

Excellent at what it sought to do!

J. Darby | 10/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dark Planet: Visions of America systematically went through four youth subcultures (here aforementioned), explaining the history, proponents for, detractors from, and impact of each genre.



Good:



-Very good overall view of each genre

-Very good insight into the significance and impact of each subculture

-Good arrangement of bands and experts for each genre to provide information and first-hand knowledge

-Good incorporation of historical footage (ex. Mel Gibson's interview, scenes from Romper Stomper, etc.)



Bad:



-Did not delve into the national socialist side of the skinhead culture beyond mentioning it and making it sound silly

-Seemed to promote an overall better feel for the Zealot movement without saying outright that it was predisposed to favoritism toward that group





If not for those two things (and the lack of information on national socialist skinhead metal was the most detracting), this documentary would easily rate a 5-star review.



For what this documentary sought to accomplish, which was providing and introduction and some beginner's information on each subculture and its impact, the film did a very, very good job and my hat is off to its director and producers."

Introduction for outsiders to skinheads, black metal, straig

infoterror | new york city | 08/24/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is not a teenage celebration of these genres, but an attempt to explain why they came about, namely what they think is wrong with society and how they hope to fix it. Its strengths are its structure and clarity; its weakness is the tedious nature of most people and subgenres. The Christians come out looking the best, with the black metallers following. I like (some) black metal, (some) hardcore and am not a Christian except in the Schopenhauerian sense of spiritual "quietude," however, I was impressed with the filmmaking and topic study of the independent underground documentary."