Sadly Over-hyped

Let's be realistic.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Robert Baer is the expert, at least the one that speaks publicly, on Middle Eastern terrorism ... it's seeds, it's growth, and it's function. Baer is a veteran of over two decades of the 'quiet war' that is constantly waged by the US intelligence community in various theatres across the planet. The Middle East being the most important because of the oil that is in play there.I won't go into everything the documentary covers since it is a dense and overflowing documentary, simply packed with info that more than one viewing is needed to really get the gist of Baer's tutelage. If you want to know what's what, this is a good introduction.By the way, I'd point to Baer's being cut-off obviously and purposefully on 911 as he went into the true program we'd just witnessed the beginning to. When he started explaining to the interviewer that what was being pointed to as 'molten metal' running out of the Twin Towers while they were burning as proof of the heat of the flames, Baer told them they were wrong, said it was either thermate or thermite which is used to cut the steel beams and collapse the buildings ... and zap ... see ya. The terrorist hijackers couldn't have done this so that wasn't part of the agenda and so Baer was gone. Good luck finding the tape ... good luck finding Baer on TV where he isn't being talked over and simply used for a right-wing commentator to call him a lefty conspiracy nut.Baer has it right ... Baer knows ... read and watch Baer.

Cult of the Suicide Bomber stands as one of the best documentaries of the last 10 years along with the Power of Nightmares and Bowling for Columbine. The number one thing that makes this great is the access: you get to hear in their own words the thoughts of the failed suicide bombers as well as the families and recruiters of those that were successful. Baer has a laconic, Philip Marlowe delivery and you can tell that this is a subject he his passionate about and willing to take great risks to his safety to explore. Atmospheric, challenging and a rare example of really intelligent television. One criticism is that it would take more than the two programmes so far to actually get to the bottom of this phonomenon and in that sense it is a partial account. Watch it as it is really worthwhile but also read up afterwards.

The documentary, if it is factual and accurate, explains the plight of today's World. It is quite well-paced and it captures the emotions and motives of the suicide bombers and their families. Robert Baer needs to be congratulated for his courage. The scenes depicted in the film were heart-wrenching and pathetic. An entire generation of people have been duped into believing that suicide bombing is the pathway to martyrdom and salvation. However, I am not even trying to blame anyone for this, since it would point to a vicious cycle of blame games. I am not sure of the solution to this problem. But, I can clearly see the reason behind all these problems, Religion. Religion can be a very deceptive tool used by certain people to carry out their interests. The film shows how young kids look up to these suicide bombers as their heroes. I don't see any light ahead of the tunnel, if the cult of the suicide bomber is allowed to sustain and breed.

First off I am a big fan of Robert Baer. I have read all of his books and enjoy listening to his commentary whenever he gets called on to be a talking head on the news networks. So I was quite excited to find this doc on the torrents. Not the best documentary in the world, but certainly well worth seeing. It's a bit rough around the edges for sure, but I think with a few more docs under his belt he will hopefully develop his skill more. If anything, its worth seeing just for the scenes in Iran where standing on a side stage, prone to an audience of thousands, the cleric in the mosque is calling for the death to America. Holy crap! That's guts to stand there with literally thousands of people chanting for the death of you and your country.