Customer Reviews

What the Bleep Do We Know

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I agree that the science in this movie is only hinted at and could be developed much more, but obviously the movie makers did not intend this film to be an educational film for those who study psychophysics. As a university student of psychology and physics, if I wanted to explore these theories on that level I would read up on it or take class on it. It makes no sense to me for reviewers who are familiar with this science to put the movie down because it is dummed down for an audience who isn't familiar with physics or psychology. If it weren't generalized as it was, it would only appeal to the minority of science students; and if it were more developed(as some suggested it should be) it would probably have to be at least 12hrs long. The science in the movie may be generalized, but it is accurate enough for beginners of these topics. Maybe not completely accurate to scholars, but again, to appeal to those who are unfamiliar with this science it must be general. I wouldn't explain these theories to a high-school freshman in their most complex form; instead, the theories must be necessarily generalized to give them a sense of the topic. This movie gives that sense, and I think it captures the humbling experience and sense of mysticism related to learning about advanced physics and psychology (as I have experienced them again and again). Those academics who expressed a dislike this movie because it is below their level of knowledge remind me of several Phd's I know who have practiced criticism to such an extent that it is like breathing to them. I agree with the statements in the movie that indicate that imagination does not need to be an enemy to scientific inquiry. May I remind all those overly-critical scientists out there that every scientific theory or model is incorrect and never all-encompassing. Every good scientific theory must be falsifiable, and will be falsified as time goes by. You would think that these alleged scientists would know that, as it is learned on day one of any introductory science class. Again, maybe these intellectuals have heard the word 'falsifiable' so many times, that they have forgotten what heck it means.

This movie defies classification in any standard genre. Part fable, part documentary, it pulls together several strands of research and wisdom into an improbable, thought-provoking and spectacular tour de force of science and spirituality. If you don't "get it", you just may not yet be ready for its profound message of the connectedness of all life. Anchored in post-Einstein science, this wonderful opus draws out the implications of quantum physics for human existence, in terms of the cosmic, universal nature of our being. If you don't accept that, according to quantum theory, the entire universe can be understand as manifestations of energy in various forms, you will not accept anything much the movie has to say. However, if you have read Wayne Dyer's book, There's A Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, "What the Bleep" will make perfect sense to you. I can unreservedly recommend this movie to anyone with a healthy curiosity about the purpose of human existence beyond the confines of traditional religion, conventional wisdom and the mundane details of daily life.

If you're interested in mind-scratching possibilities and actually know there's something called theoretical physics, you should definitely watch this movie. Alternatively, if you like the good old action or romance flick, maybe you should just stick with what you know. Granted, some of the ideas put forth were a little optimistic, and the cinematography not exactly up to the standard of The Matrix. However, I don't think the aim of the movie was to be a research paper (regardless of the documentary-style approach) or a blockbuster. It was meant to inspire thought about the world we live in and its interconnectedness. I've seen a couple really bad reviews on it, but I believe most of them are based on the fact that the authors just did not have a full understanding of the scientific principles presented in the movie and dismissed it quickly on its bad points without even recognizing the bigger picture. Give it a chance, it might change your outlook on life if you let it.

It was spiritual interesting book through the eyes of science. It was a whole new way to look at the universe.

The product is not what what I was looking for and there was no indication in the decription on what it was all about. How can I return it??
Marta

This movie does not present Quantum physics, nor does it even explain these things in layman's terms. No, instead it takes some concepts and then using the fact that 99% of the population wouldn't know the difference, inserts some new-age cultish crap into it and presents it as truth. What you wind up could be best described as "Quantum Mysticism". It's pure pseudoscience with no passing resemblance to actual quantum physics in any way.

A big tell for this is that the producers and directors were from "Ramtha's School of Enlightenment" and co-incidentally they interview "Ramtha" himself a 35,000 year old Atlantean Warrior or at least his spirit who's being channeled through a con-artist... I mean a medium. There are no actual scientists in this, or at least none that have published papers in the peer review. That right there is evidence that the ideas presented are not scientific.

If you want to learn about quantum physics in a way the general public can understand, I suggest seeing one of the documentaries made by Stephen Hawking. His mechanical voice is a bit jarring at first but after a few minutes you will get used to it.

Most of the reviews which had been written does not reflect the truth about this film because this is NOT a movie. It is a philosophy and a discussion forum, I would say it is more like a documentary. It opens up your mind and tries to show us how to view the world differently. It requires the thinking side of your brain, not a blockbuster. Take up the challenge and try it on, if the philosophy doesn't fit you, leave it. I personally enjoy this film alot because I am also undergoing a re-design process of my life and my personal goal. There are things in the movie which I am still not too sure or understand, but I take whatever I needs from it, what's best for me. I suggest you all do the same.

If you're thinking of buying or renting this as a Saturday night popcorn flick, then yeah, you're likely going to be disappointed.

If you go to the What the Bleep website first and read up on what it's all about, then at least you'll know what you're getting into.

The only way you're going to enjoy this...movie? documentary?... is if you are the kind of person who has an open mind to different views of our world, how it works and your place in it.

If it doesn't change your life or even make you think about it, at the very least it's a wicked discussion topic afterwards, that is, if you can wrap your head around it.

I bought it, I liked it, I've watched it twice and will watch it again - for no other reason than its given me something new to open my mind to that I've never even considered before.

I was lent this movie by a friend; both of us very involved with physics and science. He was well aware of my love of Quantum Mechanics so he figured I would find this interesting. I WAS BORED STUPID. I watched the "theatrical release" version first (then the next day, the longer 2 dvd version: in all cases, the "drama" only confused the issue and made the entire thing stupid, uncomprehensible, and moved things along far too slowly). I HATED it with a passion, not so much for the content (I will get into that later) but for the method of presentation. It was completely illogical and dull. Certainly the entire concept was created by The "Mad Hatter" while drinking tea with the Dormouse. And in my view, Alice would have done better to by-pass the mad tea party entirely. (and this should explain to readers where the title comes from: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).

The biggest hole in the entire presentation was the combining of Quantum Mechanics with the workings of the brain. Though interesting and able to present some unusual ways of viewing things (all valid in their own right). One knows full well the workings of the brain can be mapped and studied with the scientific machines we have today. Quantum mechanics deals with things in a subatomic level, things so small we cannot see them nor prove them. What we discover is discovered through very complicated mathmatical formulae. Obviously, quantum mechanics is real, since so much of the great technical developments we enjoy today are a direct result of it and its theories. Our brains function in what the movie calls "classic scientific manner" not in the Quantum physics manner. And yet, I must qualify that with a very real understanding that we do not fully understand the human brain at all, nor did they present any greater understanding of it in the movie. Our insights into the real functionings of our brains was still left a mystery (where do thoughts come from, or original creative ideas, or music, or poetry; where do the images of faith, hope, charity, compassion etc come from that inform our actions day by day --- none of this was answered either, nor can it be, really, without other explanations that lie completely outside the realms of science as we know it). And the origins of thought, belief, personality, and reality, etc. were all muddied with incomplete theories and possibilities. The interview with the producers of the film was more enlightening than the movie itself: they really were completely without any understanding of what they were doing, and made a joke out of the fact they really didn't understand anything, and thus came up with the "bleep" part of the title. People who have no real understanding of what they are presenting or filming usually don't create films that have much substance to them, and this movie was proof of that fact.

These theories were NOT presented in a correct way, not in a truthful way, and definitely not in their applied way. Various quantum ideas were presented, then applied basically, not to real brain function, but to thought and interpretation of thoughts and ideas. The idea that if I SEE something then it becomes real, and only then takes on that reality as I see it, is silly to the extreme. Talk with any blind person, and they will guarantee you that they will walk into a wall, or a tree, or fall off a cliff, whether or not they actually see it. Perception didn't change the reality. The fact you predetermine that the floor next to your bed is solid before you step on it, doesn't create a solid floor. It is solid to begin with. You may imagine it any way your desire, and you will still land on it with a "THUD," if you step incorrectly while walking. You may imagine your bed standing next to a cliff all you want, but when you step down, it will NOT be one, no matter what you thought. The implication that we create a solid reality only as we experience it is rather stupid, especially when placed in the atomic world we live in that follows all the "other laws of physics" that are defied by Quantum theory.
The greatest fault with this film and its message is it takes the science of one field (quantum mechanics) and tries to force it into the real world that does NOT follow the world of Quantum mechanics. Just as the laws of physic for the "classic world" cannot explain the subatomic world of Quantum mechanics, the theories of the Quantum world cannot be used to explain the "classic world." All scientist know this fact. The movie makers crossed the line forcing laws of a "different world" to explain another world.

As for all the gobble-de-gook about transforming the molecular structure of water because our thoughts were transendent, is really --- false! And the person claiming such an ability (now dead and unable to prove his ability scientifically) wouldn't give a straight answer on anything.

But putting science aside (since no real science was ever part of anything, nor did we really see any real physicists who specialize in Quantum theory, but had various people from all sorts of disciplines whose understanding of those theories would be suspect at best) there are some very interesting questions presented in the movie. I will honestly say, some of the conclusions to those questions really were rather flimsy and had very little to recommend them (and most of the conclusions actually concluded nothing at all, just a bunch of "perhaps possibilities"), but the questions themselves were quite interesting. How much do we really create the reality in which we live?

I rated it so low because watching all 300 minutes of the movie simply was too long for the nothing it contained. Everything they mentioned could have been entertainingly presented in about 35 minutes, as that is all that would have been necessary to create their understanding of quantum mechanics as it related to the premise they were using. And it would have been a billion times more entertaining.

As for the "have an open mind" condemnation by so many who have really reviewed the movie favorably; well, I have an open mind, and it may be more open than your own simply because I DO understand the science that they are talking about.

What was bothersome was the "welding of fake science to religion." I was not aware in advance that the movie had a real agenda of trashing religion and claiming that those who have any faith really are robbing themselves of the ability to become all they can be. (there is nothing wrong with presenting an agenda, but simply be honest about it from the start, don't cloak that agenda in flimsy garb and false science to back it up, or hide the real purposes behind the entire 300 minutes of the film). It is true that some people allow religion to do exactly that, controlling their minds, and allow religious leaders to dictate every thought they should have. That is not true religion. Yet, as for myself, the more I learn in physic and biology, the more intense my faith in "God" becomes. It does not work the other way around for me. Nor can I subscribe to the notion that "I am a GOD-FIGURE" and that each of us has a different god-figure, and they are all connected and all disconnected, and who knows what else. French philosophers summed up that idea centuries ago: to each his own truth. I do believe, however, we all have a divine destiny. There is an infinite possiblity we are all to achieve. And we do limit ourselves by how we interpret life and the situations we find ourselves living in every day.

So, even though the premise was nothing more than a bunch of babbling nothing, and the "scientific proof" of the theories they were presenting was not scientific at all, and even though the "New Age" beliefs I find empty and silly for the most part, the questions were still very important ones to ask. And maybe we need to ask ourselves those very same questions, and maybe we do need to clothe them in a different perspective from time to time so as to be able to discover a new answer, but we don't need to kiss the "blarney stone" to do it.

For those of you who are unable to think outside `the box' that our education system, institutionalized religions, governments etc. have brainwashed us into, then this DVD is not for you.

For those of you with an open mind "What The Bleep Do We Know?" is well worth it. Although it is called `New' Age today, the wisdom and perspective that is presented is in fact very ancient. For the ancients of Egypt, Greece, and later during the Renaissance, for example, science and mysticism were one and the same. However, "Bleep" is presented in terms that we in the 21st Century can understand. Since I have studied mysticism for several years now, "Bleep" is an interesting review of what I have learned and would be a good introduction to the novice.

Go ahead. Think outside the `box'. I dare you.