Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

krismancini If you are one of those few (optimistic) people who are into self-improvement, this documentary is for you. It's practical, inspiring and life-changing. Get into it-- you will not regret it.

imdb-1978 Even though in my opinion there are enjoyable parts in the documentary -those being how the individual struggle for power is pointless and counterproductive-, it falls easily into the definition of a new-age, pseudo-scientific documentary.I always think when I hear some kind of statements like those put by some of the interviewees. And those thoughts end up revolving the question "if you know so little of science, why are you using science to sell your delusional spiritual idea?". Just go with the spiritual idea and don't bastardize (i.e.) quantum mechanics! Yeah, a bit like "The Secret". Thanks to films like this you'll have somebody telling you that "The 'electromagnetic aura' that your heart is producing communicates with me in spiritual ways". Or equivalent mumbo-jumbo. This should be like church and state: don't mix science with pseudo-spiritualism.There are fine interviewees like Noam Chomsky or Desmond Tutu. There's a nice message promoting empathy and coexistence through cooperation. However, those fine feelings don't surpass the perception of facing a documentary that is pretentiously deep, but doesn't even scratch the surface of the complexity of our current overpopulated civilization. Or the surface of the complexity of human behaviour, for that matter. In my opinion, it doesn't link humans with the nature of societies in a satisfactory way. In a way, I feel like "it's food for thought of simple minds". Even though that sounds quite arrogant.In the technical approach, I would say that somebody in the editing should learn the concept of 'aspect ratio' (that intermittent stretching that I doubt it's only in my copy of the film).

TxMike Tom Shadyac is one of those people we might hold up as a model for living the American dream. He was successful early, as a writer for Bob Hope when he was only 24. He went on to direct some of the big-money movies of stars like Jim Carrey and Robin Williams. He had it all, wealth and fame. But he also found out he wasn't really happier, he could just afford more "stuff" and travel by private jet.Shadyac had an accident, on his bike. He received some bruises that didn't heal well, he suffered from a syndrome that makes some people suicidal. He wasn't but he got to the point where he didn't really care if he lived or not, and in that process examined his whole life. And further, examined our world, and asked "What's wrong with it and how can it be fixed?" The title comes from an anecdote some years back, when writer Chesterton was asked for an essay on why the world is in trouble and his essay was only two words long, "I AM." And that is the theme of this film. It looks at humans but also the animal and plant kingdoms in general. It even dips into Scientific experiments that seem to indicate some pretty far out things about how everything in the world is connected. It is harsh on things like "the economy" and "wall street" where competition and profits are the only goal. Win or lose. Amass wealth just to do so.The message here is that other animals and humans do best when they cooperate, when they share their good fortune and talents, when we all work for the greater good and not just for our own glory. And as John Lennon famously wrote "All you need is love." I believe much of what is presented here is valid, but how do you change a world that has been headed down a path for such a long time? Children compete from an early age, sports or spelling bees. They are educated to get a good degree and a good, "competitive" job. Not that those things are inherently bad, it is just the focus needs to be placed into a positive perspective. In a way I have embraced many of these thoughts for a while. I quit "competing" long ago, and I like to greet everyone I meet with a smile and a good word, you never know when that little bit will make a difference. Can we do this with the whole world? It is a big question.Interesting film, makes you think.

billcr12 I Am is a documentary by director Tom Shadyac, best known for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Bruce Almighty. He suffered serious injuries in a bicycle accident which caused him to reevaluate his place in the world. In doing so, he came to the conclusion that he was part of the problem and as a result he sold his 17,000 square foot home in Beverly Hills and gave up a private jet, among other things. Through interviews with great thinkers, such as Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky, he analyzes the meaning of life and with several scientists, concludes that we are all connected in many ways. At one point, we meet his father, who, it turns out was one of the founders of St. Jude's Children's hospital, along with Danny Thomas. He has inherited his dad's need to make a difference in the world. His optimistic outlook for our future may be misguided, but I give him credit for being a good example to the rest of us.