Just perfect...

Good idea lost in the noise

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This movie shows the bad side of Scientology. Even though Scientology does help people improve their lives, get rid of negative thoughts and Auditing process makes you feel better, it can go all wrong if you make a wrong step. This movie talks about such things that it makes me question if it really all is real, but there are a few famous ex-Scientologists here who most likely are saying the truth. It is interesting why some celebrities like Tom Cruise are not doing anything about Scientology, or perhaps they don't have a choice because they think their lives will be ruined by all the info that Scientology will reveal about them?This movie is worth watching if you want to know why Scientology is so hated by everyone.

If you wanted to know about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism. You might go to a church, temple or mosque and speak to a cleric or preacher and ask for more information. They would probably give you some leaflets and pamphlets. If you were interested in converting they would ask you to attend some talks, visit some classes so you will learn more.With Scientology, it will cost you hard cash. Want to know more? We take Visa and Mastercard.Of course Scientologists are more subtle at first. I first noticed them in adverts in computer magazines for Dianetics, where you unleash the full potential of the brain. They had a picture of Einstein in the ads.First time I saw Scientologists it was in Hollywood Boulevard. They just kind of approach you by handing out leaflets. It is the first step in getting you to do some initial audits and then sucker you into buying their books and courses. They have a big building just up the road.Over the last few years, the organisation has been criticised by ex members, ex sea-org workers who have posted their critique online and on YouTube type video sites. Scientologists so keen to go on the offensive to take down dissenters have problems shutting down people in the internet age.Going Clear was an expose of L Ron Hubbard, the pulp fiction writer who embellished his own status and started a cult and planned to make as much money as he could and keep it.It was also an unveiling of David Miscavige under whose leadership they have amassed billions of dollars in assets and tax exemption status as they are classified as a recognised religion despite the bullying tactics used against the IRS and other government departments.The key revelations are by ex church members some of them who were high up in the church, even involved in high profile smearing of rivals and critics. The dirty tricks brigade of the church is really eye popping. I am surprised the FBI have not branded them as a terrorist organisation.With Paul Haggis, the Oscar winning screenwriter I was aware of his public falling out with the church especially as the Scientologists are anti gay and Haggis had two gay daughters which seemed to be the source of the friction.Their is always the suspicion that these vocal critics have an axe to grind. They are ex members who have fallen out. Some of them lied, bullied and deceived on behalf of the church. One of them publicly denied that the church beat and humiliated people to another documentary crew a few years ago and now admits he lied.The church was given a right to reply but they declined. Membership of Scientologists is apparently falling and dissent is growing and becoming more public.No doubt that this was an interesting and wide ranging documentary, maybe a little too long. I did feel that the focus on Tom Cruise did smack a little like character assassination by using clips to make him look weird. In essence it has the problems of a lot of documentaries where you feel it was slanted to do a hatchet job even though it was deserved in this case.

GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF is directed by Alex Gibney and is based on the book by Lawrence Wright. While it doesn't really replace the book in any meaningful sense, it was a great companion piece that filled in a lot of gaps that a book was never going to fill anyway. Among these significant additions were archival footage of Scientology gatherings and L. Ron Hubbard, as well as interviews with many of the key people who provided anecdotes for the book. I suppose the edge that the film has is in being able to actually go behind the scenes with a look at how Scientology operates. Even still, the book goes into far more detail than the film had time to do. As for its documentary qualities, I thought it was well put-together, as is to be expected from veteran documentarian Alex Gibney. The interviews were sufficiently interesting, alternating between talking heads and archival footage. A couple of the crazier moments were courtesy of Tom Cruise, shown in one clip fervently saluting a portrait of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The film even manages to tug at your heartstrings as the discussion moved to the Scientology policy of disconnection, and one former member recounts her daughter saying that she would have to disconnect from her. And of course there were all the tales of abuse at "The Hole" perpetrated against the Sea Org, the Scientology clergy. All together, it paints a very dark picture of a religion that uses fear and intimidation to keep its members in line while, at the same time, catering to its celebrity members' whims. I would have liked a little more general discussion about religion and how belief is used to control people, something that is touched upon a little bit towards the end, but for what it's worth this film does a great job exposing Scientology for the fraudulent scheme it is.

This is exactly the kind of thing we need to expose the corruption in cult religions. I've been hearing about the corruption and felony crimes being committed inside the Church of Scientology for over thirty years, and the things seen in this video are no surprise to me at all.The sick twisted destruction of human character, the scaring of its members into submission, the deep-rooted evil coercion tactics and manipulation of people who leave and outside entities, and down right torture of human beings is indicative of the Church of Satan. People who join the Church of Scientology have no idea what they are getting too.With the Church of Scientology's real estate assets approaching multiple Billions of dollars, I have one question... What does that have to do with church? The fact is the Billions in assets is a fortress of protection against anyone EVER bringing the Church of Scientology down. I hope the government removes their tax exempt status, I hope the former members of the Church of Scientology sue them for billions, and I hope this video shoots up to number one and people all over the world see it, and I hope some congressman will have the GUTS to take the necessary steps to shut these people down! Side note to the filmmakers: Great job! Could you please try to do a documentary like this on the Catholic Church? Thank you.